The Protein Society Unveils 2026 Award Winners Honoring Decades of Innovation in Molecular Machines and Drug Design

The Protein Society honors eight pioneers in protein research, from drug design to NMR imaging, ahead of its 40th Anniversary Symposium.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 11:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert

Celebrating Four Decades of Molecular Discovery

The Protein Society has officially named the recipients of its 2026 honors, marking a significant milestone as the organization prepares for its 40th Anniversary Symposium in Boston this July. This year's cohort of winners represents a global cross-section of scientific leadership, highlighting advancements that bridge the gap between fundamental biochemistry and life-saving clinical applications. By recognizing these individuals, the Society continues its mission to foster international collaboration and support the researchers responsible for unraveling the complexities of protein behavior, which serve as the foundation for modern medicine and biotechnology.

Innovations in Membrane Kinetics and Drug Resistance

Technological achievement remains a cornerstone of the 2026 honors, with Professor Paula Booth of King’s College London receiving the Christian B. Anfinsen Award. Over a 30-year career, Booth has pioneered the study of membrane protein kinetics, solving long-standing problems regarding how these vital molecules fold within cellular boundaries. Complementing these foundational insights, the Young Investigator Award was granted to Professor Laura Dassama of Stanford University. Dassama’s research focuses on the urgent challenge of bacterial multidrug resistance, utilizing computational and biochemical tools to identify novel lipid binding proteins in under-researched bacterial species.

Deciphering the Logic of Molecular Machines

The Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award, which recognizes contributions that reshape biological understanding, has been awarded to Professor Andreas Martin of the University of California, Berkeley. Martin’s work has been instrumental in characterizing the 26S proteasome, a complex eukaryotic assembly responsible for protein degradation. Through a combination of structural analysis and single-molecule assays, he has transformed the proteasome into one of the most clearly understood molecular machines in the field. This level of mechanical clarity is essential for researchers looking to manipulate cellular processes to treat neurodegenerative diseases and other protein-related disorders.