HFSP Postdoctoral Fellow Sonomi Yamaguchi has been named an Inspiration Prize winner of the 5th Marie Sklodowska Curie Award, a prestigious distinction recognizing outstanding early-career Japanese women researchers with exceptional potential for international scientific leadership.
08 June 2026
The award, presented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, celebrates young female researchers who demonstrate outstanding scientific achievements and are expected to make significant contributions to science and society. Named after Marie Sklodowska Curie—the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to receive Nobel Prizes in two different scientific disciplines—the award aims to encourage the next generation of women scientists and raise the visibility of their accomplishments.
Yamaguchi, an HFSP Long-Term Fellow since 2023, conducts her research in the Department of Cancer Immunology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, USA, under the supervision of Philip Kranzusch. Her HFSP-funded project explores how previously uncharacterized immune receptors detect cyclic nucleotide signals that help cells recognize pathogens and respond to infection. By combining structural biology, biochemistry, and cellular screening approaches, her work seeks to uncover new mechanisms of innate immunity and advance understanding of immune signaling pathways relevant to human health.
The Marie Sklodowska Curie Award places particular emphasis on supporting women researchers during the critical stages of doctoral and early postdoctoral careers, when many are establishing themselves as independent scientists while navigating significant life transitions. Recipients are selected based on their scientific achievements, future potential, commitment to international collaboration, and desire to contribute to humanity through research.
Yamaguchi was one of two researchers selected for the 2026 Inspiration Prize. Her recognition reflects both the scientific excellence of her research and the growing impact of women scientists working at the forefront of discovery-driven research.
HFSP is proud to see one of its fellows honored by an award that shares its commitment to fostering scientific talent across borders and disciplines!
More information about the Marie Sklodowska Curie Award is available on the JST website. The official JST announcement can be found here.