Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a global, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company, and The New York Academy of Sciences jointly announced the establishment of the Takeda Innovators in Science Award. This award will recognize and celebrate disruptive and transformative research conducted by promising early career scientists and outstanding senior scientists across the globe in Takeda’s therapeutic areas of focus neuroscience, gastroenterology and oncology, and in regenerative medicine.

Two prizes of US$ 200,000 will be awarded each year, one to an early-career scientist and the other to a well-established scientist who have distinguished themselves for the creative thinking and impact of their research. The programme is yet another tangible sign of Takeda’s increased commitment to promoting scientific excellence, and to fostering a culture of partnership between industry and academia.

“As Takeda continues to embrace innovative science and thinking within our own organization, we look outward to honour those who are leading the way as an inspiration in our pursuit,” stated Andrew Plump, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical and scientific officer Takeda. “We are privileged to partner with The New York Academy of Sciences to create the Takeda Innovators in Science Award, and look forward to recognizing and supporting the awardees’ contributions to transformative research.”

“As the New York Academy of Sciences celebrates its 200th anniversary and looks to a Third Century of Innovation, the Takeda Innovators in Science Award will serve as an iconic example of our long-standing tradition of partnering with prestigious global partners to advance science and address the challenges confronting our planet,” said Ellis Rubinstein, president and chief executive officer, the New York Academy of Sciences. “So we are delighted to call Takeda partners in the drive to improve human health through innovation.”

The New York Academy of Sciences will administer the award on behalf of Takeda. This includes soliciting nominations, arranging and overseeing all judging and managing related events and scientific symposia where the winners will be honoured. The Takeda Innovators in Science Award will be a limited submission competition in which top research universities and academic institutions around the globe with a well established record of scientific excellence will be invited to nominate their most promising young faculty and their most extraordinary senior faculty working in the selected therapeutic fields. Prize winners and finalists will be selected by a panel of independently selected judges with expertise in these disciplines. For the inaugural prizes, the nomination period will open in March 2017. The inaugural winners will be honoured at an Awards Ceremony and Symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences in November 2017. For more information please visit the Takeda Innovators in Science Award website.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been driving innovative solutions to society’s challenges by advancing scientific research, education, and policy.