Highlights from the 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom Ceremony скачать в хорошем качестве

Highlights from the 2026 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom Ceremony

On the 24th of February 2026, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences hosted a gala dinner and awards ceremony held at the historic Banqueting House in London to announce the 2026 Laureates and Finalists of the Blavatnik Awards in the United Kingdom. It is the second time in the United Kingdom that all three Laureates in the Blavatnik Awards are women scientists. The 2026 Laureates are: Life Sciences: Thi Hoang Duong (Kelly) Nguyen, PhD (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology): Dr. Thi Hoang Duong Nguyen is a molecular biologist whose research provides critical insight into how telomerase — an enzyme that protects chromosome ends during cell division — functions during DNA replication, why it becomes dysregulated in premature ageing and cancer, and how specific regions of the enzyme could serve as future therapeutic targets. She was recognised for applying cryo-electron microscopy to render the first atomic-level model of telomerase. Chemical Sciences: Maxie M. Roessler, DPhil (Imperial College London): Prof. Maxie Roessler is a bioinorganic chemist who has uncovered the hidden steps in how cells generate energy through processes that rely on short-lived, highly reactive transfer of electrons. She was recognised for developing powerful, innovative electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques that revealed the intricacies of these electron states and could guide future chemical research, including the design of better catalysts and new functional materials. Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate: Paola Pinilla, PhD (University College London): Dr. Paola Pinilla is an astrophysicist whose research deepens our understanding of the first steps of planet formation, unlocking new insights into the origins of planetary systems like our own. Combining telescope observations with advanced modelling, she discovered pressure structures in protoplanetary discs that trap dust and enable planet formation, revealing where planets are forming in the universe and how water and the building blocks of life can form within these discs. Learn more at Blavatnikawards.org