Ben Davis receives Yamada-Koga Prize

Professor Ben Davis has received the 2026 Yamada-Koga Prize. Ben holds a joint appointment between the Rosalind Franklin Institute and the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford.

Awarded by the University of Tokyo in recognition of outstanding achievements in the synthesis and functional creation of optically active compounds. The prize, established in 1995, is presented annually to a chemist whose work has made a significant contribution to the field.

Ben received the award at the 33rd Optically Active Compounds Symposium, held at the University of Tokyo on 29 June 2026, where he delivered the Yamada-Koga Prize Award Lecture, “Sugars & Proteins”. His research explores the chemistry of carbohydrates and proteins, developing new ways to understand and manipulate complex biological systems with potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.

Ben thanked the prize committee for the award, recognising the work of his team and the wider collaborative effort behind this achievement.

Professor Paul Matthews, Director of the Franklin, added: “I am delighted to congratulate Ben on behalf of the whole institute, this international honour reflects the great novelty and innovation in his pioneering work.”