The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences have announced the finalists for the eighth Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK. The Awards recognise scientific advances by UK researchers across three divisions – Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.
Associate Professor Chunxiao Song of Ludwig Oxford has been selected from a pool of 94 nominees as a finalist in the Chemical Sciences division for his development of a state-of-the-art sequencing methods to detect DNA and RNA modifications, enabling early cancer detection and leading to the founding of a $410 million biotech company.
Chunxiao said: ‘I was thrilled to learn of my selection as a Finalist for the 2025 UK Blavatnik Awards. My research team and I have worked tirelessly to produce technologies capable of detecting DNA and RNA modifications to enable early cancer detection and we are delighted that this work is being recognised for its ability to help patients and cancer therapy.’
He is joined by fellow Chemical Sciences finalists Liam Ball at the University of Nottingham, an organic chemist developing efficient methods for safe and sustainable synthesis of molecules vital to healthcare and agriculture, and Brianna Heazlewood at the University of Liverpool, a physical chemist who has developed instruments that characterise complex chemical reactions at extremely cold temperatures, providing new insights into the chemistry of space and other challenging environments.
On Wednesday 4th March, the three 2025 Laureates will be announced from the nine finalists at a gala dinner and awards ceremony. The three Laureates will each receive an unrestricted award of £100,000. The remaining six Finalists will each receive £30,000.
Professor Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, said: ‘I wish these nine Finalists a hearty congratulations and best of luck. They demonstrate great promise and potential through their bold, scientific research. Their work lays the foundation for treatments and discoveries that can help people, our planet, and the pursuit of science itself.’