Professor Christopher Stewart has been named the Life Sciences Laureate at the 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK.

Presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences the awards recognize the UK’s most exceptional young scientists.

This year three Laureates each receiving £100,000 in unrestricted funding were selected from a shortlist of nine finalists showcasing some of the brightest scientific talents in the country.

Transformative Research with Life-Saving Impact
Professor Christopher Stewart leads a pioneering laboratory in New castle where his research on microbiome-based therapies is making a life-saving impact in preventing pre-natal infant mortality.

Being named Laureate for the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK is beyond my wildest dreams said Professor Stewart. The list of past Laureates in the Life Sciences category is incredible and I’m both excited and still in shock to be recognized alongside them. This award is a testament to the incredible people who have supported my research over the past 15 years. Bringing this recognition of microbiology and emerging human organoid technologies to Newcastle the city I grew up in makes it even more special.

A leading expert in microbiome-based strategies to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) the primary cause of death in preterm infants Professor Stewart’s work has uncovered the crucial role of human breast milk in shaping the gut microbiome of premature babies. His research demonstrates how breast milk provides essential sugars that fuel beneficial bacterial species supporting infant health and development.

Professor Stewart has also pioneered a premature gut organoid model and developed probiotic strategies to combat NEC. His groundbreaking work is transforming both local and global clinical practices including clinical trials aimed at improving infant nutrition and advancing microbial-based therapies for premature infants in low-resource settings.

The three Laureates honored across the UK are addressing some of the most critical challenges in science and society: infant mortality green manufacturing and predicting long-term climate change.

The announcement was made at a black-tie gala at The Orangery Kensington Palace hosted by Sir Leonard and Lady Emily Blavatnik and presented by Professor Shitij Kapur Vice-Chancellor and President of King’s College London.

Source: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2025/03/laureateblavatnikawardforyoungscientists/