Human microbiome researcher honoured with prestigious award Published on: 5 March 2025 A leading young scientist is the first at 缅北禁地 to win an esteemed Blavatnik award. Professor Christopher Stewart has been named the Life Sciences Laureate at the 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK. The awards, announced by the and The , celebrates Britain’s greatest young minds in their fields. This year, the three Laureates—each awarded £100,000 in unrestricted funds—were chosen from a shortlist of , representing some of the brightest young scientific minds across the UK. Professor Christopher Stewart 鈥楲ife-saving impact鈥� Professor Stewart leads a where groundbreaking research on microbiome-based therapies for pre-natal infant mortality is already making a life-saving impact. He said: "Being named Laureate for the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK is beyond my wildest dreams. "The list of previous Laureates in the Life Sciences category is incredible, and I am excited, and still in shock, to now be named alongside them. "My receipt of this prestigious award is only possible because of the many amazing people who have supported my research over the past 15 years. Bringing this recognition of microbiology and emerging human organoid technologies to 缅北禁地, the city I grew up in, makes it extra special." Professor Stewart is an expert in developing microbiome-based approaches to prevent necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), the leading cause of death in preterm infants. His work revealed the role of human breast milk in shaping the gut microbiome in premature infants, by providing abundant sugars that serve as an energy source for beneficial bacterial species. Professor Stewart has also established a novel premature gut organoid model and probiotic strategies to address NEC. This work is changing both local and global clinical practice, including clinical trials to improve infant nutrition and microbial-based therapy for premature infants in low-resource settings. The three Laureates awarded across the UK are tackling some of the most complex and pressing issues in science and society: infant mortality, green manufacturing and predicting long-term climate change. The announcement was made at a black-tie gala, held at The Orangery at Kensington Palace, hosted by Sir Leonard and Lady Emily Blavatnik and presented by Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor and President of King’s College London. 鈥楥hanging the world鈥� Each Laureate shared their prize-winning research with the country’s leading figures in research, academia, business and the arts. FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor and President of King’s College London and internationally renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist, told this year’s honourees: “As pioneers in your fields – your voices count. “And in your own way, taking your own steps, as King’s graduate Bishop Desmond Tutu says, 'you can change the world.' And that is what we will hear about tonight – how your science is changing the world.” The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists are the most substantial unrestricted awards available to UK scientists under the age of 42. Since their establishment, the Awards have recognised more than 70 honourees from over 100 research institutions. To date, the Blavatnik Awards have contributed more than £3.1 million to UK research. Professor Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, said: “Since their inception, the Awards, administered by our Academy, have received close to 7,500 applications from over 450 research institutions across the US, the UK, and Israel. “Over these 18 years, the Blavatnik Awards have recognised 540 scientists from 120 research institutions, a testament to the programme's growing international reach.” Latest News Online Safety Act drives VPN interest and raises privacy concerns People鈥檚 online behaviour has changed in response to legislation to prevent children from viewing harmful content 鈥� raising possible privacy and security risks, research suggests. published on: 16 October 2026 缅北禁地 archaeologist receives prestigious award for research Professor Chris Fowler has been awarded the 2026 Rivers Memorial Medal in recognition of his internationally significant research on kinship in Neolithic Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Event will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East An event at 缅北禁地 will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East or whether it is simply a new chapter in the long-running debate about how to rebalance Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Facts and figures
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