Researcher Napoleone Ferrara Won 2026 Yergin Family Prize
The scientist whose work enabled anti-VEGF cancer therapies will be honored for his lifetime achievement in research.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cancer
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The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has named Napoleone Ferrara as the recipient of the 2026 Yergin Family International Prize for Biomedical Research. This award honors his lifetime achievements in science and his pioneering discovery of the VEGF molecule.
Why it matters
Ferrara’s discovery has transformed how doctors treat various cancers and retinal diseases by targeting the growth of blood vessels that tumors and other pathologies rely on. His work provides the foundation for standard therapies that have become a clinical staple in modern medicine.
The award recognizes the impact of isolating and cloning vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 1989. This foundational research led to the 2004 FDA approval of bevacizumab, the first anti-angiogenic cancer treatment.
The players
Napoleone Ferrara
A University of California San Diego researcher recognized for his foundational work on VEGF.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
A New York City-based institution that manages the Yergin Family International Prize.
Maria I. New
The scientist and namesake honored by the current iteration of this biomedical prize.
The details
The prize honors the discovery of the VEGF protein, which acts as a signaling molecule to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels. By inhibiting this process, clinicians can effectively starve tumors of their blood supply or manage abnormal vessel growth in the eye. This mechanism remains a cornerstone for current treatment protocols developed in the years following the initial 1989 discovery.
Timeline
1989: Dr. Ferrara successfully isolated and cloned the VEGF molecule.
2004: Bevacizumab received its initial FDA approval for cancer treatment.
2024: The prize namesake, Maria I. New, passed away.
October 5, 2026: The institution officially announced the prize recipient.
November 18, 2026: The award ceremony and lecture are scheduled to take place.
Health Landscape
The Yergin Family International Prize for Biomedical Research sits within a broader scientific tradition of honoring breakthroughs that move from laboratory bench to patient bedside. It highlights the lasting clinical arc of anti-angiogenic medicine, which has shifted cancer from a disease of uncontrolled growth to a targeted, manageable condition.
If you or a loved one are undergoing treatment for certain cancers or retinal conditions, discussing the role of anti-VEGF therapies with your physician can provide clarity on your specific care plan. These established treatments are widely available and represent a major shift in how clinicians manage vessel-dependent disease states.
The takeaway
This award highlights how foundational discoveries from the 1980s continue to save lives through current standard-of-care cancer treatments. Readers should remain aware that modern oncology increasingly relies on targeted biological therapies to manage disease progression.
What happens next
The award ceremony and Yergin Family Distinguished Lecture will take place on November 18, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the latest innovations in oncology, visit our Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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