Christian Drosten
Christian Heinrich Maria Drosten (German: [ˈkʁɪs.ti̯an ˈdʁɔs.tn̩] ⓘ, born 1972) is a German virologist whose research focus is on novel viruses (emergent viruses). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Drosten came to national prominence as an expert on the implications and actions required to combat the illness in Germany.[1]
Christian Drosten
Christian Heinrich Maria Drosten 
12 June 1972
Lingen
- Goethe University Frankfurt
- Gymnasium Marianum
Virologist, university teacher
- Charité (2017–)
The coronavirus update with Christian Drosten
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2005)
- German Radio Award (2020, )
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2020)
- University Teacher of the Year (Sandra Ciesek, 2021)
- Heinz Oberhummer Award for Science Communication (The coronavirus update with Christian Drosten, Sandra Ciesek, Korinna Hennig, Katharina Mahrenholtz, Beke Schulmann, 2021)
- Leibniz Medal (2021)
- Berlin Science Award (2020)
Early life and education[edit]
Drosten was born in Lingen and grew up on a farm in Groß Hesepe, Emsland.[2] After graduating from the episcopal college Gymnasium Marianum in Meppen, Drosten initially studied chemical engineering and biology in Dortmund and Münster. From 1994, he studied medicine at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and completed his third state examination in May 2000. He did his doctorate at the Institute for transfusion medicine and immunohaematology of the German Red Cross (DRK) blood donation service Hessen in Frankfurt am Main. His dissertation (Dr. med.) on the establishment of a high-throughput system for testing blood donors was rated summa cum laude.[3]
Personal life[edit]
Drosten lives in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg and has a son born in 2017.[45] His long-time partner is also a scientist.[46] His hobby is playing the guitar. During the height of the corona crisis, the popular punk band ZSK released a song about his work, which went viral.[47]