2023 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Announced

28 scientists named National Finalists, including two from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences announced today the 2023 laureates of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, the largest unrestricted scientific award for America’s most innovative, faculty-ranked scientists and engineers who are under the age of 42. Two Dana-Farber faculty members are among the finalists: Cigall Kadoch, PhD, in the Life Sciences category, and Eric S. Fischer, PhD, in the Chemistry category.

Life Sciences: Kadoch, who was also a Blavatnik finalist in 2020, was recognized for identifying a group of disease-causing mutations in a multi-protein complex called mSWI/SNF. Kadoch combined biochemistry and genetics to define the structure and function of mSWI/SNF, providing a mechanistic understanding of how mutations can disrupt normal function to cause disease and a foundation for therapeutic development.

Chemistry: Fischer was recognized for his work in understanding how small molecules selectively degrade proteins and is converting that knowledge into a road map for new therapeutic interventions.

“I congratulate all the laureates and finalists whose outstanding research gives us hope for the future,” said Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries. He is head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation and a member of the President’s Council of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Nicholas B. Dirks, president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, said, “On behalf of the Academy, we are excited to honor our first laureate who was previously a Regional Award-winner, our first laureate in applied mathematics, and the first laureates from these three public universities. This year’s laureates are working to address major societal challenges—including problems related to energy and sustainability, climate change and forest fires, and transforming solid-state physics and semi-conductor physics—demonstrating the great significance of science for advancing the public good."

The 2023 Blavatnik National Awards received 267 nominations from 134 institutions in 38 U.S. states. Nominees must be faculty-level scientific researchers, 42 years of age or younger.

Three independent juries—one each for life sciences, chemistry, and physical sciences and engineering—were composed of some of America’s most distinguished scientists. The juries selected three winning laureates and 28 finalists.

The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists will celebrate the 2023 laureates and finalists in a ceremony on September 19 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.