OPENING OF THE 2026 RUPERT TIMPL AWARD COMPETITION

OPENING OF THE 2026 RUPERT TIMPL AWARD COMPETITION

The International Society for Matrix Biology created in 2004 a prize dedicated to the memory of the outstanding matrix biologist, Rupert Timpl, who left us on October 20th, 2003. The prize is called the "Rupert Timpl Award".

The prize is awarded biannually at the occasion of the Matrix Biology Europe meeting. It is given to a young matrix biologist at an early stage of their independent scientific career who has published the "Best paper in the field of matrix biology" during the two years prior to the year of the MBE meeting.

As an integral part of the programme, the laureate will give a plenary lecture, called the Rupert Timpl Lecture, at the MBE2026 meeting to be held in Oulu, Finland, 29 June – 3 July 2026 (https://www.mbe2026.org/).

 A prize of EUR 2,000 will be given, which is generously sponsored by Elsevier, the publisher of the journal Matrix Biology.

Nominees for the Rupert Timpl Award will have to meet the following criteria:

1.     Be an early-stage investigator with no more than 8 years of experience since completion of PhD, at the time of nomination. Eligibility can be extended for reasons such as parental leave, illness, national service, training, natural disasters. These will need to be addressed in the nominee’s CV and nomination letter (see below).
2. Have published - as first, co-first, or sole last author - a peer-reviewed primary research paper reporting original findings that have the potential to significantly advance the field of ECM research. The paper should have been published in the past two calendar years, at the time of the opening of the nomination call.
3. Starting out an independent career in ECM research.
4. ISMB membership at the time of nomination is a requirement.
5. Self-nominations are excluded.

 Please provide for your nomination:

1. A letter of support that includes a rationale for the nomination and the specific paper for consideration published over the two preceding calendar years at the time of the opening of the nomination call.
2. A copy of the peer-reviewed primary research paper submitted for consideration, including all supplementary information.
3. The nominee’s CV, with I) complete training and employment history and including the names of all direct research supervisors and institutions to avoid potential conflicts of interest, and II) a full list of publications with inclusion of names of all co-authors.

ISMB members are invited to send their nominations for the Awardee to the ISMB Secretary (julia.etich@uni-koeln.de) by April 29th, 2026, at 23:59 Central Europe Time.

 The nominations will be voted on by ISMB Council and the winner will be announced in June 2026.

April 7, 2026

• Next