Biophotonics researcher and JenaVersum board member Jürgen Popp, Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT) and Professor of Physical Chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, has been awarded the Ellis R. Lippincott Award 2026. The international award is presented jointly by Optica, the Coblentz Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. The professional associations honour Popp for his pioneering contributions to translational clinical Raman spectroscopy. ‘Translation’ refers to the systematic transfer of findings from basic research into concrete applications, for example in medicine. Popp has made a significant contribution to establishing Raman spectroscopy as an important analytical method in biomedical research and further developing it for clinical use.

Popp and his research teams combine fundamental laser-based spectroscopy and imaging techniques with their transfer into clinically usable diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Their work focuses on areas such as infection research, oncology and precision medicine. Under his leadership, photonic methods – in particular Raman-based approaches – have been further developed into powerful tools for label-free real-time diagnostics.

The Ellis R. Lippincott Award is internationally recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in the field of vibrational spectroscopy. Since 1975, it has been presented to individuals whose work has had a significant impact on the research of other scientists. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 2026 at the SciX conference in Sparks, Nevada (USA).

Further international recognition in quick succession

In January 2026, the professional association SPIE honoured Jürgen Popp with the Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award. The award recognised in particular his contributions to the technological advancement of photonic diagnostics and its transfer into clinical applications, from intraoperative tumour detection to rapid infection diagnostics. ‘I am delighted to receive this award. For me, it represents above all the collaboration between many teams and partners,’ says Popp. ‘Translation can only succeed through close cooperation between chemistry, physics, life sciences and medicine, as well as between research institutions, clinics and industry partners, both nationally and internationally. Advances in biophotonic diagnostics can only be achieved through networks.’

Since 2006, Popp has been Scientific Director of Leibniz IPHT, during which time he has developed the institute into an internationally renowned research environment for photonic biomedical technologies. He is a member of the JenaVersum Executive Board and has initiated numerous strategic partnerships, including close cooperation between the JenaVersum research partners Leibniz IPHT and Jena University Hospital.