Northwestern University has opened nominations for the 2025 Kabiller Prize in Nanoscience and Nanomedicine, recognized as the largest monetary award in nanomedicine globally. Alongside the $250,000 Kabiller Prize, nominations are also being accepted for the $10,000 Kabiller Young Investigator Award and the $3,000 Kabiller Rising Star Award.
The nomination period will close on March 1, 2025. Winners will be announced before the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) Rosemary Schnell Symposium on October 15, where they will present keynote lectures alongside other prominent researchers.
This year marks a decade since the inception of the Kabiller Awards in 2015. Past recipients of the Kabiller Prize include Jeffrey Hubbell (2023), David Walt (2021), Chad A. Mirkin (2019), Robert Langer (2017), and Joe DeSimone (2015). These individuals have made significant contributions to nanotechnology and its medical applications.
The Kabiller Young Investigator Award has honored emerging researchers such as Xiaodong Chen (2023), Bin Liu (2021), Molly Stevens (2019), Liangfang Zhang (2017), and Warren Chan (2015). The Kabiller Rising Star Award, introduced in 2021 to recognize early-career faculty members for their contributions to nanoscience, has been awarded to Ke Zhang (2023) and Natalie Artzi (2021).
These awards are presented biennially through the support of David G. Kabiller ’85, ’87 MBA, co-founder of AQR. He is a member of Northwestern University's Board of Trustees and chairs IIN’s executive council among other roles.
“For a decade, the Kabiller awards have celebrated the exceptional talent and vision of the global nanoscience and nanomedicine communities,” said David G. Kabiller. “These awards honor scientists who embody curiosity, risk-taking and gratitude — qualities that drive innovation and inspire future generations.”
Nanoparticles used in medicine are often smaller than 100 nanometers—much smaller than human cells—and possess unique properties that can be harnessed for disease study, tracking, and treatment. Spherical nucleic acid nanoconstructs exemplify this potential by entering cells to treat diseases effectively.
“The Kabiller awards have set a gold standard for recognizing excellence in nanoscience and nanomedicine,” stated Chad A. Mirkin, founding director of IIN. “These awards inspire innovation by celebrating researchers who are tackling some of the most significant challenges in health care and technology.”
Further details about nominations can be found at iinano.org/education/kabillerprize.