Celebration held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Three of America's most promising young scientists were awarded top honors tonight at the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, one of the country's most significant prizes for early-career researchers. Presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences, the awards recognize exceptional scientific achievement and innovation by U.S.-based researchers aged 42 and younger.

This year's Laureates were selected from a competitive pool of 310 nominees representing 161 academic and research institutions across 42 states. Eighteen Finalists emerged from this national search, and three were named Laureates by an independent jury of leading scientists.

Each Laureate will receive an unrestricted award of $250,000, the world's largest unrestricted science prize. The remaining fifteen Finalists will each receive $15,000.

The awards gala honored researchers whose groundbreaking work is advancing solutions to critical global challenges ranging from understanding the human immune system, to mitigating the environmental impacts of plastics and toxic chemicals, to improving disaster preparedness and recovery. Notably, two institutions — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Kansas — celebrated their first-ever Laureates this year.

The winners of the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists are:

• Life Sciences Laureate: Philip J. Kranzusch, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Harvard Medical School (Microbiology) - Recognized for discovering that human innate immunity evolved from ancient pathways in bacteria, explaining the molecular basis for how human cells defend against infections and cancer.
• Chemical Sciences Laureate: Frank Leibfarth, PhD, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Polymer Chemistry) - Recognized for pioneering approaches to upcycle plastic waste and remove toxic 'forever chemicals' from water by developing reactions and catalysts that selectively control the structure and function of polymers.
• Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate: Elaina J. Sutley, PhD, University of Kansas (Civil Engineering) - Recognized for comprehensive, systematic computer modeling and engineering to address disaster mitigation and recovery, informing building codes and disaster readiness policies across the country.

Internationally recognized by the scientific community, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists have been instrumental in expanding the engagement and recognition of young scientists and providing the support and encouragement needed to drive scientific innovation for the next generation. By the close of 2025, the Blavatnik Awards will have recognized over 500 scientists from 120 international research institutions and awarded prizes totaling nearly $20 million.

"We are proud to recognize the 2025 Laureates for their significant contributions to science and their remarkable breakthroughs early in their scientific careers. This award is designed to empower them with the freedom to continue to explore bold ideas, driving scientific innovation forward," said Len Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

The Ceremony

The announcement was made at a black-tie gala, held this evening at the American Museum of Natural History, hosted by Len and Emily Blavatnik and presented by Subra Suresh, ScD, Former Director of the National Science Foundation and current President of the Global Learning Council in Switzerland. In his opening remarks, Dr. Suresh gave a hopeful message to the evening's honorees, "In times of real and perceived threats to science and our future, it is even more important to focus on what excites you, what inspires you, and what it is that brought you into this field. As our next generation of leaders, I say to you: this too shall pass. While we might presently be facing high mountains and deep valleys… Today's challenges are dwarfed when compared to all that is possible, and all that is yet to be discovered." 

In his ceremony remarks, Professor Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards' Scientific Advisory Council commented on the program's magnitude, "Since their inception, the Awards, administered by our Academy, have received close to 7,500 applications from over 450 research institutions across the U.S., the U.K., and Israel. Over these 18 years, the Blavatnik Awards have recognized over 500 scientists from 120 research institutions, a testament to the program's growing international reach."

Blavatnik scholars are driving economic growth globally by embarking on new scientific trajectories to pursue high-risk, high-reward scientific research. To date, Blavatnik Awards honorees have founded over 50 companies after receiving the award, six of which are publicly traded and collectively valued at over $10 billion.

Each Laureate shared their prize-winning research with New York's leading figures in philanthropy, research, academia, business, and the arts. Fifteen Blavatnik National Award Finalists were also recognized during the ceremony.

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 post-doctoral scientists in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In 2014, the Blavatnik National Awards were created to recognize faculty-rank scientists throughout the United States. In 2017, the Awards were further expanded to honor faculty-rank scientists in the UK and Israel.

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

Images from the ceremony and interviews with the Laureates are available upon request:

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 Len 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 16,000 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 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. The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists is part of a series of prominent awards and scholarship programs that the Academy and its partners present each year to accomplished early-career and established scientists worldwide. These initiatives, along with education and professional development programs for students and young scientists, reflect the Academy's broader commitment to strengthening and diversifying the pipeline for skilled and talented scientists globally. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.

ABOUT THE LAUREATES

Life Sciences Laureate: Microbiologist, Philip Kranzusch, PhD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School), is researching how human cells detect infection or cancer, thus deciding when to trigger an immune response—an essential function for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. Kranzusch has uncovered that key components of human immunity, including those targeted by vaccines and in cancer immunotherapy, evolved from ancient bacterial defenses against viruses. The Kranzusch Lab combines structural biology, biochemistry, and screening to define molecular rules of immune signaling, revealing a new framework for immunity conserved from bacteria to humans. By reshaping fundamental understanding of immune pathways, this work opens new avenues for therapies that harness the body's natural defenses against infections, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.

Chemical Sciences Laureate: Polymer Chemist, Frank Leibfarth, PhD, (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) imparts new function into old polymers to address urgent environmental challenges. Leibfarth's research has advanced three approaches to tackle plastic pollution: first, by developing methods to functionalize inert C–H bonds in plastic waste for upcycling of commodity polymers into stronger, more valuable materials; second, by uncovering a new class of recyclable plastics through the design of selective catalysts for bio-based monomers; and third, by inventing high-affinity polymer resins that selectively capture toxic 'forever chemicals' from contaminated water. These innovations have influenced state policy, enabled pilot-scale water treatment systems, and launched commercial ventures. Combining molecular-level precision with large-scale application, Leibfarth's work redefines the role of polymer chemistry in advancing sustainability.

Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate: Structural engineer, Elaina Sutley, PhD, PE, (University of Kansas) studies the impact of earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and tornadoes. Her research addresses the question: as population growth and climate changes make these disastrous events more unpredictable and extreme, how can we ensure that people living in hazard-prone areas are kept safe and with stable housing before, during, and after these forces of nature? Using an interdisciplinary and longitudinal approach, Sutley is helping to modernize building codes across the country to make homes more resilient, while helping policymakers make informed decisions about the most effective ways to prepare for and recover from these disasters.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trailblazing-young-scientists-honored-with-250-000-prizes-at-blavatnik-national-awards-gala-302576128.html

SOURCE The Blavatnik Family Foundation; The New York Academy of Sciences