FNIH Launches Montrone-Seigel Prize in Biomedical Sciences

North Bethesda, MD, May 5, 2025 — The FNIH is launching a new juried award, the Montrone-Seigel Prize in Biomedical Sciences, to recognize outstanding scientists whose basic, clinical, or translational research programs promise to achieve breakthroughs that advance human health and well-being.

The prize was established by two FNIH Board Members, Paul Montrone, PhD, and Fred Seigel, and includes a $100,000 honorarium. Their generous support enables the FNIH to sustain a long-standing tradition of highlighting talented investigators with stellar trajectories of research contributions.

“Scientific breakthroughs don’t just happen — they require bold ideas, passion, and support,” Mr. Seigel said. “Our goal is to help enable the scientists whose discoveries have the potential to shape the future of medicine.”

Dr. Montrone agreed. “Discoveries in biomedical science have the power to transform lives,” he said. “Recognizing the visionary researchers who push the boundaries is vital to accelerating innovation.”

The prize was previously supported by a prominent U.S. philanthropist. Past winners include Jennifer Doudna, PhD, who went on to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and Zhijian “James” Chen, PhD, who later received a Lasker Award. Other recipients include researchers recognized for their work in long noncoding RNA, mitochondrial science, and cellular mechanisms of aging. Learn more about past recipients.

“The Montrone-Seigel Prize is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the value of science and how the contributions of stellar biomedical investigators and the teams they lead contribute to improved health,” said FNIH President and CEO Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH.

Nominations for the Montrone-Seigel Prize in Biomedical Sciences will be accepted through Monday, June 16 , 2025 at 5 p.m. ET. The awardee will be recognized at the annual FNIH Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC, in October.

Learn more at FNIH.org/nominate.

About the FNIH:

The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) builds public-private partnerships that connect leading biomedical scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with their counterparts in life sciences companies, academia, patient organizations, foundations, and regulatory agencies (including the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency). Through team science, the FNIH solves complex health challenges and accelerates breakthroughs for patients, regardless of who they are or what health threats they face. The FNIH contributes to the development of new therapies, diagnostics, and potential cures; advances global health; and celebrates and helps train the next generations of scientists. Established by Congress in 1990 to support the mission of the NIH, the FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information about the FNIH, please visit fnih.org.