With the passing of Ludwig Feinendegen on August 17, 2024 ICRU loses a most esteemed member of the Commission who served from 1982 to 2005, contributing experience and valuable connections from his membership in NCRP (1969 to 1979), ICRP (1973-1985), his almost livelong connection with BNL and his extensive work with NCI, DOE and numerous collaborations with scientific organizations and governments in Europe and around the world.
Dr Feinendegen graduated from the University of Cologne in 1952, and trained in Internal Medicine, Radiology and Surgery at the University of Cologne, St Peter’s General Hospital N.J. and St Vincent Hospital NY. In 1958 he became an Assistant Physician and Scientist at the Medical Department in Brookhaven National Laboratory until 1962, continued to 1963 supported by EURATOM, where he then became a Scientific Officer in Brussels until 1964 and until 1967 in Paris. In 1967 he became Director and Professor of the Institute of Medicine at the Research Center in Jülich, Germany until retirement in 1993. His scientific engagements continued then in BNL as Senior Scientist and as Research Collaborator while serving as Assignee and Program Manager at the US Department of Energy in the office of Biological and Environmental Research until 1998 when he served as Visiting Scientist and Fogarty Scholar at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.
In 1979 Dr Feinendegen was appointed to the Committee for the Meetings of Nobel Laureates in Lindau which he served for 25 years, as Vice-President since 1999.
In honor of his work this committee published a biographical book in 2005 (Michael Feld, “ L.E. Feinendegen-Excellence for Power”) describing the stations of his work, his dedication to research and teaching and his original contributions, awards and honors in great detail- too numerous to quote in this communication.
It illustrates a very broadly educated gentleman who “understood to build bridges between science and medicine, researchers and physicians, students and Laureats” and who used his skills to the benefit of many societies, organizations and governments around the world. He enjoyed social interactions. With an open mind he was interested in all new ideas, never rejected a new idea without first analyzing with encouraging comments, suggestions and support and critique. His enthusiasm for inquiry and discussion was infectious.
At age 76 he published a 795 page multiauthor book as senior editor: “Molecular Nuclear Medicine- The Challenge fo Genomics and Proteomics in Clinical Practice”
Dr Feinendegen is survived by his wife who was his greatest supporter in 64 year of marriage and his two sons, Dominik and Christophe. We express our sympathy to all his family.