Two leading academics from the North of England have been honoured at the 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, a prestigious prize celebrating the UK’s brightest emerging scientific talent. Professors Christopher Stewart from Newcastle University and Benjamin Mills from the University of Leeds were among three winners recognised at a gala ceremony at Kensington Palace, each receiving £100,000 to support their research.

Professor Stewart, awarded the Life Sciences Laureate, is pioneering microbiome-based therapies to combat pre-natal infant mortality. His work has significantly advanced understanding of the role human breast milk plays in shaping the gut microbiome of premature infants, influencing global clinical practices and infant nutrition strategies.

Professor Mills, the Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate, has developed groundbreaking Earth Evolution Modelling techniques. His research simulates Earth's climate over billions of years, offering insights into atmospheric processes, climate change, and even the habitability of exoplanets.

The third recipient, Professor Liam Ball from the University of Nottingham, was awarded the Chemical Sciences Laureate for his contributions to green manufacturing. His innovations in chemical synthesis have improved the production of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, reducing environmental impact.

The Blavatnik Awards, established to recognise exceptional scientific achievement among UK researchers under the age of 42, are the largest unrestricted prizes of their kind. This year’s winners reflect the growing prominence of Northern universities in driving cutting-edge scientific discovery.


Sir Leonard Blavatnik, Founder of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation said:
“We created the Blavatnik Awards to honour promising scientists, early in their careers, where unrestricted financial support and public recognition will give them the confidence to take bold risks in their scientific research that address the world’s most complex and urgent scientific challenges.”