At the end of November, the Hugo van Poelgeest Prize will be awarded for the 17th time to a scientist working on animal-free research in the life sciences.
Do you supervise a (young) researcher who deserves this recognition? Nominate them now for the Hugo van Poelgeest Prize 2026!
The prize pools consists of three prizes
The nominees have the chance to win two prizes:
- the jury prize of €5,000
- the audience award of €1,500
In addition, the top three nominees will receive a professionally produced promotional video about their research. This video can be used by the nominees themselves and will also be used during the public voting and jury process.
Who can nominate and be nominated?
The Hugo van Poelgeest Prize is intended for early-career researchers who completed their Master’s degree no more than 8 years ago.
They can only be nominated by their supervisor.
In addition, the research must meet the following criteria:
- It demonstrably contributes to the transition towards animal-free science
- It helps reduce the use of animal testing and improves translation to humans
- The researcher is based in the Netherlands
Does your candidate meet these requirements? Download the nomination form via the button below and submit it no later than 14 June 2026.
Are you a young researcher yourself? Feel free to share this with your supervisor and ask them to nominate you.
Hugo van Poelgeest Prize procedure
Below you will find the timeline for the Hugo van Poelgeest Prize 2026.
- Submission of nominations: until 14 June 2026
- Announcement of top 3 nominees: early July 2026
- Filming period for promotional videos: July & August 2026
- Award ceremony: mid/late November 2026 during the event
Award ceremony in November
The Hugo van Poelgeest Prize will be presented during our annual event in November. We are still working on the name of the event. Do you have a great idea? Send us an email!
What is the Hugo van Poelgeest Award?
The Hugo van Poelgeest Prize is the oldest Dutch award for animal-free research in the life sciences.
Since 2019, we have been involved in organising the prize, which is now awarded every two years. The focus is on the new generation of scientists: researchers who show that things can be done differently, and choose to act on that.
Who was Hugo van Poelgeest?
Hugo van Poelgeest (1879 – 1954) was actively involved in animal protection for many years and worked to improve the welfare of animals. The prize was established by Mrs Van Poelgeest-Spatkova to honour his legacy after his passing.
Winner of the 2024 edition
On 15 November 2024, Giulia Moreni won both the jury prize and the audience award for her research into viral infections using human-based research models. These models replicate the functioning of human organs, such as the airways, brain and intestines. Her decision to work with human stem cells is both an ethical choice and a highly effective scientific approach.
Combined with her strong ambition for an animal-free future, this made her the clear winner of both awards. Read here more about her research.
