The 2025 Laureates of the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK have been announced.
As the largest unrestricted prize for UK scientists under the age of 42, the Blavatnik Awards celebrate 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 nine finalists, representing some of the brightest young scientific minds across the UK.
Among them, the three Laureates 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 recent prize-giving gala at Kensington Palace also highlighted the growing impact of regional universities in driving scientific breakthroughs.
Life Sciences Laureate
Microbiologist Christopher Stewart, PhD, Newcastle University, is a pioneer in global health, developing microbiome-based approaches to prevent necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), the leading cause of death in preterm infants. Stewart’s 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.
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. Stewart is the first Blavatnik Awards Laureate from Newcastle University.
Prof Stewart 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 Newcastle, the city I grew up in, makes it extra special.”
Chemical Sciences Laureate
Organic Chemist Liam T. Ball, PhD, University of Nottingham, is transforming chemical synthesis by developing innovative tools for making pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals with reduced environmental impact.
Ball’s pioneering work with bismuth, a non-toxic element, has enabled safer and more efficient herbicide development and drug production, including a streamlined process for the anticancer drug golvatinib. Ball has also made advancements in the synthesis of phosphine ligands, a critical tool for speeding up reactions through catalysis, making the process safer and more sustainable. By focusing on understanding reaction mechanisms, Ball’s work drives greener chemical processes, advancing medicine, agriculture, and sustainable manufacturing on an industrial scale.
Prof Ball said, “It’s an unbelievable honour to receive this award, which is a huge recognition of the hard work,
