Young scientists from across the UK shortlisted for largest unrestricted science prize

Three Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists Laureates will receive £100,000 prizes at a 24 February gala in London.

2026-02-10

(Press-News.org)

10 February 2026 – London – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the Finalists for the 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom. The Awards recognise scientific advances by UK researchers across Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.

On Tuesday, 24 February, Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, will reveal the three 2026 Laureates at a gala dinner and awards ceremony in London. Now in its ninth year, each Blavatnik Awards Laureate will receive an unrestricted £100,000 (US$135,000) prize, while the remaining six Finalists will be awarded £30,000 (US$40,400) each.

An independent jury of expert scientists selected this year’s Finalists from a pool of 91 nominees representing 46 academic and research institutions across the UK:

Chemical Sciences Finalists

Michael J. Booth, PhD – University College London (UCL)

Nucleic acids are molecules that carry genetic information and are vital to modern medicine. Chemist Dr. Michael Booth engineers nucleic acids that respond to light and magnetic fields, enabling remote control of genetic activity, smart drug delivery, and biological computing. His discoveries are opening new, safer approaches to developing powerful nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Mathew H. Horrocks, PhD – The University of Edinburgh

Protein aggregates, or small clumps of misfolded proteins in cells, often trigger neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, but are challenging to study. Biophysicist Prof. Mathew Horrocks has developed powerful microscopy tools to watch these aggregates form and damage neurons in living cells, enabling new strategies for early diagnosis and the development of targeted treatments for neurodegenerative disease.

Maxie M. Roessler, DPhil – Imperial College London

Essential life processes like energy production and photosynthesis rely on short-lived, highly reactive electrons. Bioinorganic chemist Prof. Maxie Roessler has developed new techniques using powerful electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to detect these fleeting states, revealing hidden steps in how cells generate energy and age. By uncovering these fundamental chemical processes, her work is guiding future chemical research such as designing better catalysts and new functional materials.

Life Sciences Finalists

Nicholas R. Casewell, PhD – Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Snakebite causes serious injury or death for hundreds of thousands of people each year, especially in rural areas with limited access to treatment. Toxinologist Prof. Nicholas Casewell has advanced laboratory techniques, including AI-informed approaches, to study snake venom and develop safer, more effective, state-of-the-art treatments that can reach vulnerable communities worldwide.

Thi Hoang Duong (Kelly) Nguyen, PhD – MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Ageing and cancer are closely tied to the function of telomerase, an elusive enzyme that protects chromosome ends during cell division. Using cryo-EM, molecular biologist Dr. Thi Hoang Duong Nguyen generated the first atomic-level model of telomerase, revealing new insights into how it works, why it becomes dysregulated in disease, and how specific regions could serve as future therapeutic targets.

Pontus Skoglund, PhD – The Francis Crick Institute

Human evolution has been shaped by migration, disease, and culture. Ancient DNA scientist Dr. Pontus Skoglund uses advanced computational tools to study ancient DNA and reconstruct human genetic histories in Europe and Egypt, revealing hidden migration patterns, links between disease and society, and new genetic insights from early civilizations, deepening our understanding of human history and biology.

Physical Sciences & Engineering Finalists

Radha Boya, PhD – The University of Manchester

Scientists have long theorized about the unusual behaviour of molecules in extremely tight, atomic-level spaces, but lacked the tools to test these theories. Nanoscientist and materials physicist Prof. Radha Boya has created atomically thin channels (capillaries) in which water and gas behave in surprising ways, flowing faster and separating differently. Her discoveries offer new models for brain signalling and enable advances in brain-inspired computing and molecular filtration.

Paola Pinilla, PhD – University College London (UCL)

Planets form from dust and gas around young stars, but theoretically, dust should fall into the star before growing larger. Astrophysicist Dr. Paola Pinilla discovered “pressure bumps” that trap dust and allow planets to form. Using telescopes and computer models, she shows where planets are forming and how water and life’s building blocks reach them, revealing how planetary systems like our own begin.

Iestyn Woolway, PhD – Bangor University

Lakes supply drinking water and support billions of people worldwide, yet the impacts of climate change on lakes have been difficult to study. Climate scientist, Dr. Iestyn Woolway has conducted crucial work on forecasting freshwater response to climate change, revealing how these changes reshape lake ecologies while informing authorities how to preserve them.

This is the first year an institution (Bangor University) and a Finalist (Iestyn Woolway) from Wales have been represented among the Blavatnik Awards Finalists.

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are the largest unrestricted prizes available to UK scientists aged 42 or younger. Since launching in 2017, UK scientists honoured by the Blavatnik Awards have received nearly £3.7 million (US$4.96 million) in prize money. Internationally recognised by the scientific community, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are instrumental in expanding engagement and recognition for young scientists and in providing the support and encouragement needed to drive scientific innovation for the next generation.

The Blavatnik Awards in the UK sit alongside their global counterparts, the Blavatnik National Awards and the Blavatnik Regional Awards in the United States, and the Blavatnik Awards in Israel, all of which honour and support exceptional early-career scientists. By the close of 2026, the Blavatnik Awards will have awarded prizes totalling over $20 million to over 500 scientists and engineers worldwide.

“The Awards were created to honour outstanding, early-career scientists, accelerate their research, and ensure that discoveries with the potential to dramatically improve society are recognized, supported, and implemented,” said Sir Leonard Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

“I congratulate these nine Finalists for their groundbreaking work and daring ideas. Their research exemplifies the spirit of innovation — pushing boundaries, opening exciting frontiers, and laying the foundation for discoveries that will transform lives and advance science for generations to come,” said Professor Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council.

Blavatnik scholars are driving global economic growth by pursuing high-risk, high-reward research. To date, Blavatnik Awards honourees have founded over 50 companies after receiving the award, six of which are publicly traded and collectively valued at over $10 billion.

Members of the public interested in learning more about this year’s honourees' research may register to attend a free public symposium titled “Leading with Discovery: UK Scientists Shaping Global Science” at the Royal Society of Medicine on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, from 10:00 to 15:00 GMT. To attend this FREE public symposium, register HERE.

– ENDS –

Notes to Editors

To follow the progress of the Blavatnik Awards, please visit the Awards’ website (www.blavatnikawards.org) or follow us on Facebook and X (@BlavatnikAwards).

For media requests, please contact:

The New York Academy of Sciences - media@nyas.org

Hawthorn Advisors - BFF@hawthornadvisors.com

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists 

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in 2007 and independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding scientific talent in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In 2014, the Blavatnik National Awards were created to recognise faculty-rank scientists throughout the United States. In 2017, the Awards were further expanded to honour faculty-rank scientists in the UK and Israel. For updates about the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, please visit www.blavatnikawards.org or follow us on X and Facebook @BlavatnikAwards.

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation 

The Blavatnik Family Foundation provides many of the world’s best researchers, scientists, and future leaders with the support and funding needed to solve humankind’s greatest challenges. Led by Sir Leonard Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery, and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Over the past decade, the Foundation has contributed over US$1.3 billion to more than 250 organizations. See more at www.blavatnikfoundation.org.

About The New York Academy of Sciences 

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that, since 1817, has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM-related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the areas of life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at nyas.org.

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