As the nomination deadline for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award is approaching (31 December 2024), we warmly invite research institutions, universities, and academic societies to honor exceptional contributions in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry by participating in this award.  

Honoring the Achievements of Professor Tu Youyou at MDPI    

Professor Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for her groundbreaking discovery of artemisinin, a life-saving drug that has drastically reduced malaria mortality rates. In recognition of her contributions to global health, MDPI established the “Tu Youyou Award” in 2016. The award recognizes outstanding scholars in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, continuing her legacy of scientific excellence.  

2024 Tu Youyou Award  

This year, the Tu Youyou award includes a prize of CHF 100,000. Nominations for this award are open until 31st December 2024. The winner will then be announced 30th April 2025.  

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn serves as the Chair of the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee. Prof. Dr. Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions in discovering bioactive compounds from plants, specifically anticancer compounds, cancer chemopreventive compounds, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters; he has also edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes. 

We are confident that, with Prof. Dr. Kinghorn at the helm, the 2024 Tu Youyou Award will continue to inspire excellence and innovation in the related fields. 

Frequently-Asked Questions 

To help you navigate the details of the Tu Youyou Award, we compiled answers to some frequently asked questions below. 

Q: Who can submit nominations? 

A: Personal nominations are not accepted. For research institutes and academic societies, the organization’s president can be invited to nominate on behalf of the institution. For universities, the head of the college, school, or faculty can be invited to nominate on behalf of the university. 

Q: How many candidates can each institution nominate? 

A: Each institution can only nominate a maximum of two candidates for each edition of the Tu Youyou Award. 

Q: Where can I find the nomination form and where should it be sent? 

A: The nomination form, which must be filled out in English, can be accessed here. Completed nomination forms should be sent to the Tu Youyou Award team (tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com). Any queries should also be directed to the Tu Youyou Award team.  

Q: How is the prize distributed if there are multiple winners? 

A: If more than one winner is selected, the prize of CHF 100,000 will be divided equally among the recipients. 

Celebrating Research at MDPI 

Research awards at MDPI seek to recognize the work of researchers who have made exceptional contributions to their field. To find out more about open awards, including the Tu Youyou Award, please visit the MDPI Awards webpage.