Protein Society Awards 2026TPS awards recognize excellence across the diverse disciplines that collectively advance our understanding of proteins; their structure, function, design, and application. The Awards honor researchers who have distinguished themselves with significant achievements in protein research and those who have made outstanding contributions in leadership, teaching, and service. TPS members and non-members may submit nominations, which are awarded by Executive Council, and recipients are honored at the Annual Symposium. Membership is not required to submit a nomination. The 2027 Awards nominations deadline is November 1, 2026. View eligibility and guidelines. Read the full press release here. Congratulations to our 2026 Protein Society Award Winners! Plenary Talk | July 22 | 1 - 1:30 p.m.
The Carl Brändén Award, sponsored by Rigaku Corporation, honors an outstanding protein scientist who has also made exceptional contributions in the areas of education and/or service to the field. The 2026 award winner is Professor Neil Osheroff (Vanderbilt University). Dr. Osheroff is an exceptional protein biochemist whose pioneering research has profoundly advanced our understanding of DNA topoisomerases and their roles as targets for critical anticancer and antibacterial drugs. In addition to his scientific contributions, he has taught more than 4,000 physicians and scientists over a distinguished 43-year career at Vanderbilt University and is widely recognized for his transformative impact on medical science education. Previous Recipients
2025 - James Fraser; 2024 - Tamir Gonen; 2023 - Arthur Lesk; 2022 - David Goodsell; 2021 - Sheila Jaswal; 2020 - Karen Fleming; 2019 - Minoru Kanehisa; 2018 - Jane and Dave Richardson; 2017 - Billy Hudson; 2016 - Gary Pielak; 2015 - C. Robert Matthews; 2014 - Stephen White; 2013 - Sheena Radford; 2012 - Helen Berman; 2011 - Michael Summers; 2010 - Nobuhiro Go; 2009 - Bruce Alberts; 2008 - Howard Schachman; 2007 - Lubert Stryer  The Christian B. Anfinsen Award, sponsored by The Protein Society, recognizes technological achievement or significant methodological advances in the field of protein science. The 2026 award winner is Professor Paula Booth (King's College London). Dr. Booth is a pioneer in the study of membrane protein folding, particularly membrane protein kinetics. She is recognized for her formidable scientific creativity and problem-solving ability, as well as her dedication for more than 30 years to scientific rigor and sustaining a leading presence on the cutting edge of the membrane protein folding field.
 Plenary Talk | July 22 | 12:30 - 1 p.m. The Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award, sponsored by Rigaku Corporation, is granted in recognition of exceptional contributions in protein science that profoundly influence our understanding of biology. The 2026 award winner is Professor Andreas Martin (University of California, Berkeley). Dr. Martin has advanced our understanding of the macromolecular assemblies that mediate protein degradation and translocation, particularly the eukaryotic 26S proteasome. Through ingenious biochemical reconstitution, single-molecule assays, and structural analyses, he has made the proteasome one of the most thoroughly understood molecular machines in biology.
 Plenary Talk | Jul 21 | 2:50 - 3:20 p.m. The Emil Thomas Kaiser Award, sponsored by generous individual contributions, recognizes a recent, highly-significant contribution to the application of chemistry in the study of proteins. The 2026 award winner is Professor Peng Chen (Peking University). Dr. Chen is an international leader in chemical biology, including his key innovative chemistry-based contributions to studying proteins in living cells as with control of time and position. His methods to target specific amino acids and/or subcellular compartments in cells and animals represents enabling technology for understanding and treating human diseases. Previous Recipients 2025 - Brian Kuhlman; 2024 - David Craik; 2023 - Jason Gestwicki; 2022 - Phillip Kukura; 2021 - Lei Wang; 2020 - Shuguang Zhang; 2019 - Shahriar Mobashery; 2018 - Michael Rosen; 2017- Thomas Muir; 2016 - Charles Craik; 2015 - Anna Mapp; 2014 - Carol Fierke; 2013 - Wilfred van der Donk; 2012 - No Award Given This Year; 2011 - Jeffery Kelly; 2010 - Suzanne Walker; 2009 - Donald Hilvert; 2008 - JoAnne Stubbe; 2007 - Michael Marletta; 2006 - Barbara Imperiali Previous recipients, sponsored by SynPep Corporation, include: 2005 - Ronald Raines; 2004 - Homme Hellinga; 2003 - Michael Hecht; 2002 - Steve Kent  Plenary Talk | July 21 | 2:20 - 2:50 p.m. The Hans Neurath Award, sponsored by the Hans Neurath Foundation, honors individuals who have made a recent contribution of exceptional merit to basic protein research. The 2026 award winner is Dr. Babis Kalodimos (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital). Previous Recipients
2024 - David Cortez; 2023 - Elena Conti; 2022 - Squire Booker; 2021 - Toshiya Endo and Amy Rosenzweig; 2020 - Martin Gruebele; 2019 - Dave Thirumalai; 2018 - David Baker; 2017 - Kazuhiro Nagata; 2016 - H. Eric Xu; 2015 - Marina Rodnina; 2014 - James Hurley; 2013 - Jennifer Doudna and Chuck Sanders; 2012 - Charles Brooks; 2011 - Johannes Buchner; 2010 - Wendell Lim; 2009 - William Eaton; 2008 - Robert Stroud; 2007 - Robert Sauer; 2006 - Christopher Dobson; 2005 - Roderick MacKinnon; 2004 - Carlos Bustamante; 2003 - James Wells; 2002 - Ad Bax; 2001 - Arthur Horwich; 2000 - Janet Thornton; 1999 - Peter Kim; 1998 - Ken Dill  Plenary Talk | July 21 | 1:15 - 1:45 p.m. The Marie Maynard Daly Award, the newest award sponsored by The Protein Society, recognizes groundbreaking research at the interface between protein science and human health. The 2026 award winner is Professor Stephen Fesik (Vanderbilt University). Previous Recipients
2025 - Yuh Min Chook; 2024 - Alexandra Newton; 2023 - Renã Robinson  Plenary Talk | July 21 | 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. The Protein Science Young Investigator Award, sponsored by Wiley, recognizes scientists within their first 8 years of an independent career at the time of nomination who have made an important contribution to the study of proteins. In 2026, the award winner is Professor Laura Dassama (Stanford University). Previous Recipients
2025 - Christopher Barnes and Jamie Spangler; 2024 - Gabriela Schlau-Cohen; 2023 - Polly Fordyce; 2022 - Nozomi Ando and Nicolas Fawzi; 2021 - Bruno Correia; 2020 - Mohammad Seyedsayamdost; 2019 - Gabriel Lander; 2018 - Brandon Ruotolo; 2017 - David Pagliarini; 2016 - Benjamin Garcia; 2015 - Nieng Yan; 2014 - M. Madan Babu; 2012 - Mei Hong and Tarun M. Kapoor; 2011 - Shu-ou Shan; 2013 - Feng Shao; 2010 - Charalampos Kalodimos; 2009 - Virginia Cornish; 2008 - Jamie H. Doudna Cate; 2007 - Benjamin Cravatt, III; 2006 - Vijay Pande; 2005 - Thomas Muir; 2004 - Erin O'Shea and Jonathan Weissman; 2003 - Yigong Shi; 2002 - Carolyn Bertozzi; 2001 - Kevan Shokat; 2000 - David Baker; 1999 - Jeffery Kelly; 1998 - Nikola Pavletich; 1997 - John Kuriyan; 1996 - Michael Summers; 1995 - Stuart Schreiber; 1994 - Peter Kim; 1993 - Ad Bax and Marius Clore; 1992 - Peter Schultz; 1991 - Carl Pabo; 1990 - Rachel Klevit; 1989 - William DeGrado  Plenary Talk | July 22 | 12 - 12:30 p.m. The Stein & Moore Award, sponsored by The Protein Society and with support from Wiley, is named for Nobel laureates Dr. William Stein and Dr. Stanford Moore. The award recognizes eminent leaders in protein science who have made sustained, high-impact research contributions to the field. The 2026 recipient is Professor Marius Clore (National Institute of Health). Previous Recipients 2025 - Timothy Springer; 2024 - Jeff Kelly; 2023 - Kevin Gardner; 2022 - Daniel Herschlag; 2021 - David Agard; 2020 - Jim Bowie; 2019 - Dame Carol Robinson; 2018 - Raymond Stevens; 2017 - John Kuriyan; 2016 - Jane Clarke; 2015 - William DeGrado; 2014 - Nikolaus Pfanner; 2013 - Robert T. Sauer; 2012 - No Award Given This Year; 2011 - Gerhard Wagner; 2010 - Peter Wright; 2009 - Peter Walter; 2008 - Susan Lindquist; 2007 - Paul Schimmel; 2006 - Arthur Horwich & F. Ulrich Hartl; 2005 - Avram Hershko & Alexander Varshavsky; 2004 - Wolfgang Baumeister; 2003 - Chris Dobson; 2002 - Paul Sigler; 2001 - Alan Fersht; 2000 - Brian Matthews; 1999 - Mo Cleland; 1998 - David Davies; 1997 - Mildred Cohn; 1996 - David Eisenberg; 1995 - Harold Scheraga; 1994 - Michael Rossman; 1993 - Walter Kauzmann; 1992 - Robert Baldwin; 1991 - Russell Doolittle; 1990 - Kurt Wuthrich; 1989 - Hans Neurath; 1988 - Fred Richards; 1987 - Emil Smith Item 7
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