Born in 1965. Meschede (North Rhine-Westphalia). Doctor with doctorate in medicine from the Institute of Human Genetics at Bonn University. Worked in Central America (public hospital and development aid projects), ward doctor in children’s clinic, worked in a community practice. Local councillor in Bestwig, 1989-1994. Member of the regional executive and international commission of the Junge Union (JU), district Chairman of JU Sauer/Siegland. Member of CDU regional executive since 1997. Chairman of bioethics working party of EPP Group (since 1999). EPP-Coordinator in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (since 2009). MEP since 1994.