Nominations Now Open for 2025 BIAL Award in Biomedicine with Increased Prize Fund

BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2025: Call for Nominations

The BIAL Foundation proudly announces its fourth iteration of the BIAL Award in Biomedicine, inviting submissions from researchers for their groundbreaking studies in the biomedical field. With an impressive prize fund increase to €350,000, this prestigious award recognizes exceptional contributions published within the last decade. Eligible works must demonstrate high scientific relevance and exceptional quality, making this an exciting opportunity for researchers around the globe.

Overview of the BIAL Award

The BIAL Award has gained recognition over the years as a notable accolade in the biomedical arena and is seen as a precursor to the Nobel Prize. Past winners have included researchers who later received the Nobel Prize themselves, underscoring the award's esteemed position in the scientific community. The nominations are open until June 30, 2025, providing ample time for scholarly institutions and individuals to submit papers.

Nomination Process

Eligible nominations must come from organizations or individuals such as Scientific Societies, Heads of Medical Schools, and esteemed members of the scientific community. Self-nominations are strictly prohibited, ensuring the integrity of the selection process. An independent jury will meticulously evaluate the nominees, focusing on empirical research papers published in peer-reviewed journals from 2016 onward.

Chaired by renowned neuroscientist Ralph Adolphs from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the jury consists of 12 distinguished members representing various prominent organizations including the European Research Council and the British Medical Journal. Adolphs encourages nominations from diverse backgrounds: "We welcome nominations for articles authored by scientists at any stage of their career, and from any country around the world."

Luís Portela, Chairman of the BIAL Foundation, emphasized the purpose of the award, stating, "This Award aims to distinguish the work that has most contributed to improving the health conditions of humanity." He mentioned the past winners of the award, underscoring that notable researchers like Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó gained international recognition for their significant contributions in the past BIAL Awards, for which they were later awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Previous Winners

In the prior edition of the award, an article published in Nature in 2019 was honored for its pioneering research into glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. This groundbreaking work was led by Varun Venkataramani, Frank Winkler, and Thomas Kuner from Heidelberg University. Their investigation has greatly enhanced our understanding of human cancer and continues to impact the field positively.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2025 not only seeks to honor outstanding scientific contributions but also aims to inspire future innovations in health sciences. With the prestigious nature of this award, it draws attention to the importance of biomedical research and its vital role in improving lives worldwide. Researchers are encouraged to take this initiative to showcase their work, contributing to a better understanding of the challenges faced within the biomedical field.

For more information regarding the nomination process and eligibility criteria, please visit the official BIAL Foundation website.