MBE is hosting the MBE 2026 meeting in Oulu, Finland (June 29 – July 3, 2026). MBE shall include the Dick Heinegård European Young Investigator Award as part of the programme. This award is targeted at early career post-doctoral researchers and is named in memory of the great European Matrix Biologist, Dick Heinegård. The outcome of the competition will be decided at the meeting.
Each affiliated European Matrix Biology Society has been invited to hold its own competition to select their national nominee for this Award. Nominees will present the abstract orally during the conference. The Young Investigator Awards Committee of MBE will then select the winner of The Dick Heinegård MBE Young Investigator Award based on the overall quality of the science and the oral presentation. The award winner will receive a certificate and a cheque (~€2000), funded by the Matrix Societies of The Netherlands, Germany and France and the BSMB.
On behalf of the BSMB Committee I would like to request and encourage nominations for the BSMB candidate for the Dick Heinegård Award. Candidates must be current BSMB members, should have no more than 5 years postdoctoral research experience, and a demonstrable track record of excellence in matrix biology research. We ask that nominations reach me (anna.piccinini@nottingham.ac.uk) by February 27, 2026. Each nomination should include an abstract of the work to be presented at the MBE conference, a CV including publications and a completed MBE/FECTS bursary application form. Nominations received after this date may not be considered. A small panel of senior matrix biologists will adjudicate the selection process. The successful BSMB candidate will receive a full BSMB bursary to cover all reasonable expenses associated with attending the MBE 2026 conference.
Kind regards,
Anna Piccinini (BSMB awards Chair)
Jan. 19, 2026
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