DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine mourns the loss of Prof. Rupert Gerzer, MD
It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Prof. Rupert Gerzer, MD, who passed away on November 23, 2025, at the age of 75.
As the long-standing Director of the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine (1992–2015) and visionary founder of the :envihab aerospace medicine research facility, he had a decisive influence on the profile of our research and created the opportunities for today's scientific work. With his death, aerospace medicine in Germany, Europe, and worldwide has lost an outstanding scientist, promoter, and pioneer.
Rupert Gerzer studied human medicine and qualified as a professor in pharmacology and clinical pharmacology at the University of Munich in 1987. He held the Chair of Aviation Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of RWTH Aachen University. Under his leadership, the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine became an internationally recognized center for space medicine. With the founding of :envihab in 2013, he created a globally unique research facility where the effects of environmental conditions on humans are studied – both for astronauts as well as for terrestrial applications.
In 2013, he created a globally unique research facility that investigates the effects of environmental conditions on humans – both for astronauts and with a view to terrestrial applications.
Rupert Gerzer was a visionary who combined cutting-edge scientific research with social responsibility. With :envihab, he demonstrated that space medicine is not only useful for researching health effects of weightlessness, but also for human well-being on Earth. His commitment not only strengthened the scientific reputation of the DLR, but also contributed significantly to establishing aerospace medicine as an interdisciplinary and socially relevant field.
On behalf of the entire DLR, we extend our condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends. We will honor his memory.