Regeneron公布2026年创意创新奖获奖者并发放15万美元奖金

Early-career scientists from
New York University
,
Stanford University
and
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
were recognized for their ambitious "dream project" proposals
TARRYTOWN, N.Y.
,
July 31, 2026
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(
NASDAQ
: REGN) today announced the recipients of the 2026
Regeneron
Prize for
Creative Innovation
(“the
Regeneron
Prize”). This annual award celebrates outstanding early-career scientists, nominated by their research universities, whose creativity and innovation set new standards in biomedical research. Winners are chosen by a panel of
Regeneron
scientists based on the scientific merit, originality and creativity of 'dream project' proposals.
"The
Regeneron
Prize exists because of a simple but profound truth that I've lived firsthand: behind every scientist who changes the world, there are people who believed in them first," said
George Yancopoulos
, M.D., Ph.D., Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer of
Regeneron
. "I would never have become who I am and never have had the audacity to pursue ideas that others thought were impossible, without the mentors and supporters who saw something in me and set me on this path. That's exactly what the
Regeneron
Prize does for these extraordinary young scientists, who I know hold the potential to help shape the future of human health."
This year’s winners are:
Simon Vecchioni
, Ph.D.
of
New York University
, winner of the
postdoctoral category,
who was awarded
$50,000
for his dream project proposal about using DNA crystal lattices as programmable tools for the early detection of cancer.
Siyuan Du
, Ph.D.
of
Stanford University
, a winner of the
graduate category,
who was awarded
$25,000
for her dream project proposal about using cryo-ET technology to map the structure and function of heterochromatin — a genomic region critical for gene regulation and genome integrity. Her findings could illuminate how abnormal chromatin states contribute to aging and cancer and point toward new strategies for reprogramming cell states.
Frank Peters
of
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
, also a winner of the
graduate category
, who was awarded
$25,000
for his dream project proposal which involved using lithographic optogenetics to spatially specify cell types during 3D-printing of vascular organoids, enabling the three-dimensional study of fully intact
in vitro
vascular networks.
The winners’ institutions also each received
$5,000
in awards to support their seminar series. Seven other finalists received
$5,000
each, resulting in a total of
$150,000
awarded this year.
“It is inspiring to see the exceptional work being done by early-career researchers like
Dr. Vecchioni
,
Dr. Du
and Mr. Peters,” said
David Glass
, M.D., Vice President of Research at
Regeneron
. “Their commitment to advancing science and improving human health is truly remarkable. We look forward to seeing the impact of their research in the years ahead.”
The
Regeneron
Prize for
Creative Innovation
was established in 2013 to foster the next generation of scientific leaders and is part of Regeneron’s
STEM-Fueled™
programs and partnerships supporting future innovators. Requests for applications are sent to academic institutions each December, and institutions may nominate two graduate students and two postdoctoral fellows. In addition to dream project proposals, submissions must include a curriculum vitae and publication samples for the selection committee to review each nominee’s scholarly productivity. For more information, please email
science.education@regeneron.com
.
About the Winners
Dr. Vecchioni
completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at
Columbia University
, where he studied with
Shalom Wind
. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship studying DNA crystals at
New York University
with
James Canary
,
Ned Seeman
, and Ruojie Sha. He will begin his first faculty position at
Imperial College London
this summer.
Dr. Du
completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at
Stanford University
, where she studied enzyme catalysis using X-ray crystallography in
Daniel Herschlag's
laboratory. She begins a postdoctoral fellowship at the
University of California, San Francisco
, this summer.
Mr. Peters
is a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering in Dr. Leo Wan's laboratory at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
, where he studies tissue morphogenesis using optogenetics to control cellular chirality. While there,
Mr. Peters
co-founded the
Flying Pig Society
, an organization committed to fostering innovation.
About
Regeneron
Regeneron
(NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous approved treatments and product candidates in development, most of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases, and rare diseases.
At
Regeneron
, science and responsible business practices go hand in hand. This conviction guides our
2030 responsibility goals
, focused on delivering life-transforming medicines, expanding access to care, and supporting colleagues, communities and the ecosystems essential to human health. Through
STEM-Fueled™
, including the
Regeneron
Science Talent Search
and the
Regeneron
International Science and Engineering Fair
,
Regeneron
helps cultivate the next generation of STEM innovators.
Regeneron
has been repeatedly recognized for these efforts by the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices and the Civic 50 list of America’s most community-minded companies.
For more information, please visit
www.Regeneron.com
or follow
Regeneron
on
LinkedIn
,
Instagram
,
Facebook
,
YouTube
or
X
.
Media Contact:
Tara Naugle
914-648-9917
Tara.Naugle@Regeneron.com
Source: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.