Researchers from our top-rated Chemistry and Biosciences Departments have been recognised as part of an international team awarded a prestigious 2026 Horizon Prize by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
The award celebrates the team's work developing new tools to identify and validate potential drug targets for two neglected tropical diseases: leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
The prize also recognises the creation of a sustainable global research community tackling these major health challenges.
The award-winning work was delivered through the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which brought together more than 500 researchers from 13 institutions across the UK, South America, India and Pakistan.
Led by Professor Paul Denny, the network united experts in chemistry and biology to address diseases that affect some of the world's poorest communities.
Although more than 1.5 billion people require treatment for at least one neglected tropical disease, funding and resources for developing new medicines remain limited.
The collaboration focused on leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, which together affect millions of people worldwide and currently have no effective vaccines.
Researchers developed innovative chemical and biological tools that enabled them to identify and validate several promising drug targets in the parasites responsible for these diseases.
The work has improved understanding of how the parasites survive, spread and respond to medicines. It has also helped identify new opportunities for developing future treatments, including repurposing existing drugs.
The team has produced more than 230 research papers and patents, secured over £20 million in additional funding, and generated knowledge that is helping to shape the next generation of therapies for neglected tropical diseases.
A key achievement of the network has been its commitment to equitable international collaboration and researcher development.
More than 150 early career researchers have received specialist training through workshops, collaborative projects and knowledge-sharing activities.
Training events have taken place across South America, South Asia and Africa, helping to strengthen scientific capacity in countries where these diseases are most common.
This award recognises the collective efforts of an outstanding international community of researchers.
By combining expertise across disciplines and countries, the research team have created new opportunities to tackle diseases that continue to have a devastating impact on millions of people worldwide.
Our Department of Chemistry is ranked sixth in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2027. Visit our Chemistry webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Our Department of Biosciences is ranked fourth in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2027. Visit our Biosciences webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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