University of Chicago President, Paul Alivisatos, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience for his groundbreaking research in the field. The prize, shared with MIT’s Robert Langer and Northwestern University’s Chad Mirkin, recognizes their pioneering work in nanoscale materials for medical applications.

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters announced the award on June 12, highlighting how the research of Alivisatos, Langer, and Mirkin has revolutionized the field of nanomedicine. Their work has shown how engineering nanoscale materials can significantly advance biomedical research and applications, contributing to the development of therapeutics, vaccines, bioimaging, and diagnostics.

Every other year, the Kavli Prize honors scientists for breakthroughs in astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience, with each prize including a $1 million award split among the recipients. The ceremony to honor the awardees will take place in Norway in September.

Expressing his joy at receiving the Kavli Prize, Alivisatos acknowledged the collaborative effort that led to the discoveries being recognized. He credited the tools developed through the research for their significant impact on medicine and biological discovery. Alivisatos also expressed gratitude to his colleagues and the academic communities that supported his work over the years.

Ka Yee Lee, interim dean of the Physical Sciences Division at the University of Chicago, praised Alivisatos for his pioneering research that has transformed the field of nanoscience and made a substantial impact on society. The Kavli Prize is seen as a fitting recognition of Alivisatos’ fundamental contributions to the field.