Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Innovators in Science Award, a collaboration between Takeda and Nature.
The 2026 Takeda Innovators in Science Award is now open for applications, a global accolade that celebrates groundbreaking research in the fields of gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, neuroscience, and oncology. This award, in partnership with Nature, aims to promote scientific excellence and foster a culture of partnership between industry and academia.
Eligibility for the award is targeted at early-career scientists making significant contributions in the specified fields. Although specific degree or career stage requirements are not detailed, the award is generally for emerging scientific leaders, as suggested by the description of uplifting early-career scientists.
The application process involves submitting a research proposal or description of innovative work, likely through Takeda’s or Nature’s official websites or their announcement platforms. Exact steps for the application process were not provided in the search results.
The deadline for submissions is September 16, 2025. The grand prize winner will be announced live at the Innovators in Science Award gala on April 9, 2026, in Boston.
Three category winners will receive a $75,000 prize each, and the grand prize winner will receive an additional $175,000, totaling $250,000. Winners will also participate in a 12-month career development program administered by Nature, offering training in grant writing, research communication, and lab management. Furthermore, winners will have access to mentorship opportunities.
Shortlisted applicants will be announced in January 2026, and category winners will be announced in February 2026. Past winners of the award include Elham Azizi, Elaine Y. Hsiao, and Viviana Gradinaru.
Takeda, a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, aims to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through its dynamic and diverse pipeline. Takeda’s employees are driven by the company’s purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined it for more than two centuries.
For more information, please visit Takeda’s or Nature’s official websites or contact the provided contact information for Japanese and U.S./International media. Please note that Takeda's forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including global economic conditions, competitive pressures, changes to applicable laws and regulations, and other factors. Takeda does not undertake to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as required by law or stock exchange rule.
- The 2026 Takeda Innovators in Science Award is open for applications, focusing on groundbreaking research in the fields of gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, neuroscience, and oncology.
- The grand prize winner of this global accolade, in partnership with Nature, could receive a total of $250,000, along with a 12-month career development program.
- Shortlisted applicants will be announced in January 2026, and category winners will be announced a month later in February 2026.
- The deadline for submissions is September 16, 2025, and the winners will be announced live at the Innovators in Science Award gala on April 9, 2026, in Boston.
- Takeda, a leading biopharmaceutical company with a focus on improving patient experiences, encourages applications from early-career scientists making significant contributions in the specified fields.
- To apply, interested parties may have to submit a research proposal or innovative work through Takeda’s or Nature's official websites or their announcement platforms.
- This award aims to promote scientific excellence, foster a culture of partnership between industry and academia, and contribute to the general news about scientific advancements, finance, health-and-wellness, business, lifestyle, technology, education-and-self-development, and entertainment.
