#Portugal #Porto #BIAL Award #Biomedicine #Ralph Adolphs

Nominations Open for the 2025 BIAL Award in Biomedicine

The prestigious BIAL Foundation has officially commenced the fourth edition of its acclaimed BIAL Award in Biomedicine for 2025, inviting nominations until June 30. This year's award has seen a significant increase in its value, offering a remarkable €350,000. The award aims to recognize exceptional published work in the vast realm of biomedicine over the past decade with a focus on quality and scientific relevance.

The BIAL Award has become recognized for its role in honoring groundbreaking discoveries that significantly enhance human health. Notably, it has been likened to a precursor to the Nobel Prize, having previously recognized researchers who later received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Details of the Award

An independent jury, chaired by the esteemed neurobiologist Professor Ralph Adolphs from the California Institute of Technology, will select the winning research. The jury comprises 12 additional members appointed by various esteemed associations, including the European Research Council and the Portuguese Council of Rectors.

Research articles must be nominated by scientific societies, medical school deans, biomedical research institute directors, prestigious academy heads, and prior winners of the BIAL Award, among others. Self-nominations are strictly prohibited, ensuring that only the most impactful works are put forward.

Professor Adolphs encourages organized groups of scientists worldwide to nominate noteworthy papers, emphasizing that nominations are welcome for articles authored by researchers at all stages of their careers and from any country.

Previous Winners and Their Impact

Luís Portela, the president of the BIAL Foundation, articulated the award's mission to honor research that significantly contributes to human health improvement. He referenced Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó, whose work earned the 2021 award and later resulted in a Nobel Prize victory.

The previous award ceremony celebrated groundbreaking research published in Nature in 2019, which provided crucial insights into human cancer, particularly glioblastoma—a highly aggressive brain tumor. This collaboration was led by notable scientists Varun Venkataramani, Frank Winkler, and Thomas Kuner from the University of Heidelberg.

Conclusion

As the nomination deadline approaches, the BIAL Foundation eagerly awaits submissions of significant scientific contributions. The 2025 BIAL Award in Biomedicine promises to continue its legacy of celebrating transformative research that stands to elevate global health outcomes. For more details about the nominations and eligibility criteria, visit the official BIAL Foundation website.