Dr. Joel Berley Launches 2026 Scholarship to Empower Aspiring Medical Leaders Nationwide
With a focus on leadership, innovation, and service, the scholarship offers a unique opportunity for emerging changemakers to receive both financial support and national recognition as they pursue careers that will shape the future of healthcare.
Honoring a Legacy of Excellence in Medicine and Mentorship
Dr. Joel Berley's distinguished academic and professional journey has long served as an inspiration to the medical community. A graduate with honors from Rutgers University and holder of a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Harvard University, Dr. Joel Berley went on to complete a rigorous chief residency at Montefiore Medical Center. Today, he is widely regarded for his contributions to oral surgery and his commitment to cultivating the next generation of medical pioneers.
The establishment of this scholarship underscores Dr. Berley's belief that education and mentorship are the cornerstones of a thriving healthcare system. His vision: to support young minds who are not only academically driven but also deeply motivated to improve patient outcomes and reimagine the healthcare experience.
About the Scholarship: A Commitment to Purpose and Progress
The Dr. Joel Berley Scholarship for Future Doctors will award a one-time grant of $1,000 to one exceptional undergraduate student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership potential, and a heartfelt dedication to making a meaningful impact in medicine.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university and pursuing a pre-med or health-related academic track. The cornerstone of the application is a reflective, original essay responding to a thought-provoking prompt that evaluates clarity, insight, and the student's vision for transforming healthcare.
Essay Prompt:
'What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, and how do you envision making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients or the healthcare system as a whole?'
Essays must not exceed 1,000 words and will be assessed on creativity, relevance, depth of thought, and articulation of a forward-thinking vision for medicine.
Important Application Details
The application process is designed to encourage students to reflect on their motivations and purpose, beyond just academic performance. This award seeks to honor individuals who aspire to serve with empathy, lead with integrity, and innovate with boldness.
A Message from Dr. Joel Berley
'This scholarship is more than a financial gesture—it is a challenge to students who dream of redefining medicine. We are seeking individuals whose curiosity, compassion, and drive will leave a lasting impact on patients and the entire healthcare landscape,' said Dr. Joel Berley. 'It is my hope that this opportunity inspires tomorrow's medical leaders to rise and lead with purpose.'
How to Apply
Qualified students are encouraged to submit their essays and applications directly through the official website:
Website: https://drjoelberleyscholarship.com
Email: [email protected]
For additional information, application instructions, and FAQs, please visit the scholarship site or contact the support team directly.
About Dr. Joel Berley
Dr. Joel Berley is a Harvard-educated oral surgeon with decades of clinical and academic leadership experience. As the founder of Plantation Oral Surgery, Dr. Berley has become a respected authority in oral and maxillofacial surgery while remaining committed to fostering educational advancement and leadership development within the healthcare sector.
Contact:
Spokesperson: Dr. Joel Berley
Organization: Dr. Joel Berley Scholarship
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a60e486-1285-41e2-8099-7e1b7cd33479
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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
'Disabling' Chronic Illness in Children Not Taken Seriously: Experts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new study by Rutgers University has highlighted that a significant number of young children are experiencing ongoing symptoms after COVID-19 infection, signifying that greater research needs to be poured into evaluating the risk and treatment of long COVID in children. The study, released on July 23, coincides with Pediatric Long COVID Awareness Week, running from July 21 to 25, run by the advocacy group Long Covid Families. Over the course of the week, the group has been bringing together families, clinicians, researchers, and advocates to raise more awareness on the wide-reaching impact of long COVID in children. "This is a public health crisis for children. And it demands action," Long Covid Families said in its promotion of the condition's awareness week. "Because people operate under the false assumption that if you are young and healthy, like kids, COVID is an inconsequential nothingburger and we should not worry about it," Dr Ziyad Al-Aly, a professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, told Newsweek. "Of course, this is not accurate at all," he added. Long COVID in children "always demanded more attention and seriousness." File photo: a young girl is unwell lying in bed with a teddy bear. File photo: a young girl is unwell lying in bed with a teddy The Study Found The study assessed 1,011 children, of whom 472 were aged 2 or younger, and 539 were aged between 3 and 15. It was found that 101, or 15 percent, of the 677 children who had previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified as likely having long COVID. Long COVID is recognized as symptoms and health complications following COVID infection that persist for several weeks or months after the initial infection. It can result in a wide range of symptoms, affecting multiple systems in the body. Co-author of the study, Lawrence Kleinman, who is also chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Rutgers University, told Newsweek that he was not "surprised by these findings and would not be surprised to learn in the future that they understate the prevalence of long COVID." Previous studies estimated the prevalence of long COVID in children to be between 10 and 20 percent—suggesting it has become one of the most common chronic illnesses in children. Asthma, often described as the most common chronic illness in children, affects 16 percent. "Our methods were designed to be conservative, that is to maximize the likelihood that we distinguished long COVID from other causes," Kleinman said. "That means that our estimates are likely to be lower than the actual rate of long COVID." "At the beginning of the pandemic, no one knew that long COVID existed," he added. The first reports from China included" inaccurate reports" that children were spared COVID, he said, adding that the reports "grew into a myth which in turn created a mindset that COVID in kids didn't matter." As a result, there "was a misconception that children could not get COVID - but we know that's not true," Melissa Stockwell, another author of the study and chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health at Columbia University, told Newsweek. "We are still very behind in raising awareness about long COVID in children," she added. Another reason why long COVID was not taken seriously in children is that "the symptoms associated with long COVID in children were not properly defined," Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Yale School of Medicine, told Newsweek. She added that the study underscored "the need for the society to take long COVID in children seriously." However, Dr. Gerald Teague, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, told Newsweek that the study's investigators "did not confirm COVID infection with diagnostic tests nor did they measure antibodies to COVID in the participants," which would have provided a more accurate screening of the condition. He also noted that children not flagged as having COVID in the study may have had "asymptomatic infection." Although, despite some concerns, he said, with the study, that it was a "proof of concept that long COVID may be a bigger problem than we thought." The Impact Of Long COVID On Children "There is great concern for the younger generation, both about the long-term impacts of the pandemic itself, but also for those with Long Covid," Stockwell said. Long COVID in children can manifest in a number of different symptoms, ranging from "annoying to disabling," Kleinman said. The chronic illness can cause "pain, distress, or disability" in children, directly impacting the child's interaction with their family and friends, and may "hurt school performance, athletic performance, or even the capacity of children to conduct normally routine activities," he added. These factors are of great concern, Al-Aly said, as "we worry about kids' educational attainment, forming friendships, sports, and others, and all of these facets of normal development could be impaired in long COVID." "This may negatively affect kids in their most formative years—leaving them scarred for a lifetime," he added. Long COVID can leave some children bedbound for years, Iwasaki said. "If you have ever spoken to a parent of a child with long COVID, you quickly learn how devastating it can be to the lives of the children and their family," she added. What Experts Think Should Be Done One key part of tackling the issue is down to "improving vaccine uptake," Al-Aly said. However, the Trump administration has recently removed COVID vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women, as part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) campaign. Kennedy Jr, a well-known vaccine sceptic, said, when announcing the update on X: "It's common sense and it's good science." Another important step is increasing understanding, Stockwell said. "We really need pediatricians to understand what long COVID looks like in children and understand that symptoms are actually different in different-aged children as well," she added. Treatments are the next vital step, Kleinman said. "We need to develop and identify effective treatments for long COVID in a rapidly iterative and long-term approach to quickly identify promising treatments and to evaluate their effectiveness and safety in practice." That treatment, though, needs to "get at the root causes of the disease," Iwasaki said. She added that long COVID is a disease "driven by the virus and the host responses to the virus involving the immune, neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and pulmonary systems." From a policy perspective, "flexible attendance at school, proper training of teachers and pediatricians, insurance coverage and more funding for research" would all help tackle the issue, Iwasaki added. More broadly, supporting children with long COVID and preventing further cases will require "investment in health and health care services, physical and occupational rehabilitation, and mental health services," Kleinman added, saying this "will be critical for the population health of our children for the foreseeable future."
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business Upturn
Sobi Announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Doptelet® (avatrombopag) for the Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Pediatric Patients One Year and Older with Persistent or Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
Doptelet Sprinkle (avatrombopag) was approved as an effective formulation for children one year to less than six years. The primary endpoint was met in 27.8% of patients, confirming the efficacy in children and adolescents with persistent or chronic ITP WALTHAM, Mass., July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sobi North America, the North American affiliate of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi®), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Doptelet® (avatrombopag) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in pediatric patients one year and older with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to a prior therapy. 1 The approval also includes a new formulation, Doptelet Sprinkle (avatrombopag) oral granules, for use in children ages one to less than six years. 1 'Doptelet represents a significant advancement in the treatment of children and adolescents with persistent or chronic ITP,' said Rachael Grace, MD, MMSc, Pediatric Hematologist and Director, Hematology Clinical Research at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, and lead investigator of the AVA-PED-301 study. 'This therapy offers simple, flexible administration because it is oral, available as a tablet and now as a new pediatric sprinkle formulation and has no food restrictions. The approval of Doptelet for pediatric ITP offers families a new treatment option that can help address challenges in managing ITP in pediatric patients.' Doptelet Sprinkle is the approved dosage form for patients aged one to less than six years, while Doptelet tablet is the approved dosage form for patients aged six and up. 1 The pediatric approval is based on results from AVA-PED-301, a global, randomized, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of Doptelet in the treatment of pediatric subjects with ITP. The study showed that 27.8% of Doptelet patients achieved the primary endpoint of durable platelet response* versus 0% of placebo patients in the absence of rescue medication (p=0.0077, 95% CI 15.8-39.7). Also, 81.5% of Doptelet patients achieved the alternative primary endpoint of platelet response** versus no patients in the placebo group (p=<0.0001, 95% CI 71.1-91.8). At Day 8, 55.6% of Doptelet patients (95% CI: 41.4%, 69.1%) had a platelet count ≥50×10^9/L in the absence of rescue therapy (p<0.0001) versus no placebo patients (95% CI: 0.0%, 16.1%). Doptelet was generally well-tolerated. In pediatric patients with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia, the most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) were viral infection, nasopharyngitis, cough, pyrexia, and oropharyngeal pain.1 'Since its introduction in 2019, Doptelet has been a cornerstone therapy for chronic ITP in adults,' said Duane Barnes, President of Sobi North America. 'This approval not only reinforces our commitment to innovation but also allows us to expand the treatment experience for patients and their families by offering Doptelet in two formulations.' Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by low numbers of platelets, leading to bruising and an increased risk of bleeding. It is estimated up to 100 people per million live with ITP. In children, ITP occurs in five out of 100,000 children per year and up to 25% of newly diagnosed pediatric ITP patients develop chronic ITP. Currently, no cure is available, and patients usually relapse after various treatments. Indications Doptelet is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of: Thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease who are scheduled to undergo a procedure. Thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment Thrombocytopenia in pediatric patients 1 year and older with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment Important Safety Information Doptelet is a thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist and TPO receptor agonists have been associated with thrombotic and thromboembolic complications in patients with chronic liver disease or immune thrombocytopenia. In patients with chronic liver disease, thromboembolic events (portal vein thrombosis) occurred in 0.4% (1/274) of patients receiving Doptelet. In adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia, thromboembolic events (arterial or venous) occurred in 7% (9/128) of patients receiving Doptelet. Doptelet should not be administered to patients with chronic liver disease or immune thrombocytopenia in an attempt to normalize platelet counts. The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials were viral infection, nasopharyngitis, cough, pyrexia, and oropharyngeal pain. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sobi, Inc. at 1-866-773-5274 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or Please see the full Prescribing Information for Doptelet. * A durable response consisted of patients achieving a platelet count >=50,000/uL for six of the last eight weeks in the 12-week core phase of the AVA-PED-301 study. ** Efficacy was also evaluated by platelet response, defined as the proportion of subjects achieving at least two consecutive platelet assessments ≥50×10^9/L in the core phase in the absence of rescue medication. About Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare, acquired autoimmune condition characterized by a low platelet count and an increased risk of bleeding, and represents a multi-faceted disease burden for children and adolescents. Bleeding can range from minor symptoms, such as bruising, to more severe findings such as intracranial hemorrhage. ITP can also have a significant impact on quality of life including severe fatigue and restrictions on physical activity due to risk of bleeding. About Doptelet® (avatrombopag) Doptelet is an orally administered thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that mimics the biologic effects of TPO in stimulating the development and maturation of megakaryocytes, resulting in increased platelet count. It is approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease who are scheduled to undergo a procedure and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of severe thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) who are scheduled to undergo an invasive procedure. In June 2019, Doptelet was approved by the FDA for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment and in 2021, Doptelet was approved by EMA for the treatment of primary chronic ITP in adult patients who are refractory to other treatments (e.g. corticosteroids, immunoglobulins). About Sobi North America As the North American affiliate of international biopharmaceutical company Sobi, the Sobi North America team is committed to Sobi's vision of being a leader in providing innovative treatments that transform lives for individuals with rare diseases. Our product portfolio includes multiple approved treatments focused on immunology, hematology and specialty care. With U.S. headquarters in the Boston area, Canadian headquarters in the Toronto area, and field sales, medical and market access representatives spanning North America, our growing team has a proven track record of commercial excellence. More information is available at or at About Sobi® Sobi is a global biopharma company unlocking the potential of breakthrough innovations, transforming everyday life for people living with rare diseases. Sobi has approximately 1,900 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. In 2024, revenue amounted to SEK 26 billion. Sobi's share (STO:SOBI) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More about Sobi at and LinkedIn. Contacts For details on how to contact the Sobi Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Sobi Media, click here. References 1. Doptelet Prescribing Information. Doptelet U.S. Product Information. Last updated: July 2025. Morrisville, NC: AkaRx, Inc. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Wellcome Photography Prize 2025: Winning Images Reveal Powerful Stories of Science and Health
Sujata Setia, Mithail Afrige Chowdhury and Steve Gschmeissner awarded £10,000 each for images exploring domestic abuse, climate migration and the hidden dangers of cholesterol A Thousand Cuts, Sujata Setia, 2023, Urban Travel, Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, 2023, Cholesterol in the Liver, 2022, Steve Gschmeissner Click Here to download press images and captions LONDON, July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wellcome's 2025 Photography Prize celebrates three image makers whose work reveals the human stories behind science and health. UK-based artist Sujata Setia, Bangladeshi documentary and street photographer Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, and UK-based electron microscopy specialist and science photographer Steve Gschmeissner have each been awarded a £10,000 prize for powerful images that reflect how science and health shape people's lives in complex and deeply personal ways, from the from the hidden toll of domestic abuse to the everyday realities of climate migration, to the microscopic processes that underpin heart disease. Now in its 28th year, the Wellcome Photography Prize celebrates compelling imagery at the intersection of science, health and human experience. From documentary photography to microscopy and medical imaging, it highlights diverse perspectives on global health and the vital role of visual storytelling in creating a healthier future. The top 25 entries are now on display in the Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 exhibition, which is free and open to the public at the Francis Crick Institute in London, running until 18 October 2025. Each of the finalists has received a £1,000 prize, with a total of £52,000 awarded across the competition. Lara Clements, Associate Director, Engagement, Wellcome, says, 'The Wellcome Photography Prize offers image-makers a platform to showcase the impact of science and health on lives around the world. This year's winning works stood out not only for their technical accomplishment, but for the care and collaboration behind them. Sujata Setia's portraits raised powerful questions around dignity, confidentiality and sensitivity. Mithail Afrige Chowdhury's image exemplified the value of being embedded in the community and explored themes of adaptation, illusion and fantasy in a compelling way. Steve Gschmeissner's biomedical image impressed us with its precision and raised important questions about how scientific imagery is shared and understood by the public. We hope audiences will find the winners' work moving, educational and inspiring, and enjoy the full exhibition at the Francis Crick Institute.' The Winners In the Storytelling Series category, Sujata Setia was recognised for A Thousand Cuts, a deeply collaborative portrait project developed with survivors of domestic abuse within South Asian communities. Each image is a composite of personal testimony, visual symbolism, and traditional craft. Setia worked with the women and with the charity SHEWISE to create portraits that protected anonymity without erasing identity, applying the Indian paper-cutting technique sanjhi to overlay each photograph. The results are intimate, powerful reflections on generational trauma, silence, survival, and the politics of representation. From the account of a woman forced into marriage twice by her father and left with lasting PTSD, to a mother determined to break the cycle of violence for her daughter, the series captures how abuse can become ingrained and normalised, and how art can offer a means of reclaiming narrative. Sujata Setia says, 'This is a monumental recognition. A Thousand Cuts being selected for Wellcome Photography Prize affirms that health cannot be separated from the histories that shape it. And that domestic abuse is never a singular event; it leaves a direct, trans-generational imprint on health. As a child who grew up in a home where violence was a daily occurrence, I carry that trauma like another limb. This recognition validates not just my story, but the invisible, intangible, yet deeply scarring legacy of gender-based abuse. Domestic abuse is one of the most widespread global crimes; and yet remains among the least publicly acknowledged health crises. I hope this moment becomes a catalyst for deeper dialogue and scholarship around the interrelation between domestic abuse and health. That is our collective hope.' Mithail Afrige Chowdhury was awarded the Striking Solo Photography prize for Urban Travel, a deceptively gentle image of a mother and daughter on a rooftop picnic in Dhaka. With few parks left in the city due to rapid urbanisation, this staged moment, a simple attempt to give a child a taste of nature, becomes an act of resilience. Nearly half of Dhaka's population today are climate migrants, displaced by increasingly extreme weather, and Chowdhury's work highlights the everyday consequences of these shifts: the loss of green space, of childhood rituals, of breath. The photograph is tender, composed, and yet filled with tension, a portrait of care and adaptation under invisible pressures. Mithail Afrige Chowdhury says, 'When I got the news, the first thing I did was charge my camera—not to take a photo, but to restart something I thought I'd lost. I won't dwell on personal or professional hardships, but this moment means more than I can say. I made this image two years ago, as part of a major project on climate change, urban sustainability, and public health. Then life intervened, and fear slowly pulled me away from the work I loved. But now, I can wake up with an objective. Because someone has my back. And that makes all the difference. Awards can feel technical but this recognition from Wellcome feels deeply human.' The winner of The Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging was announced as Steve Gschmeissner, whose electron microscopy image Cholesterol in the Liver reveals cholesterol crystals (shown in blue) forming inside lipid-laden liver cells (purple). These microscopic shifts, invisible to the naked eye, can have deadly consequences: when cholesterol hardens from liquid to crystal, it damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease and strokes. Gschmeissner's colourised SEM image transforms this biological process into something visually striking, part data, part artwork. With a career spanning over four decades, and more than 10,000 images published in scientific journals, stamp collections, fashion collaborations, and music albums, his work exemplifies how imaging can bridge science and culture. Steve Gschmeissner says, 'When I discovered that Wellcome had reintroduced the Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging category, I was delighted to enter such a prestigious competition. I was thrilled to be shortlisted, and winning first prize is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my 50-year career of trying to bring the wonders of the microscopic world to all.' This year's prize drew submissions from over 100 countries. The Top 25 entries featured over 30 individuals from 18 countries, spanning Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Myanmar, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, the UK, USA and beyond. The winners were selected by an international judging panel comprising leading voices from photography, science, health and journalism. The panel was chaired by Melanie Keen, Director of Wellcome Collection, and included Caroline Hunter, Picture Editor at The Guardian; Daniella Zalcman, Photographer and Founder of Women Photograph; Benjamin Ryan, Independent Science Journalist; Elizabeth Wathuti, Environmental and Climate Activist; Esmita Charani, Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town; Helen Fisher, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at King's College London; Noah Green, Science Educator at the Beautiful Biology Initiative; and Mark Lythgoe, Director of the UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging. Wellcome Photography Prize Exhibition Curated by Laurie Britton Newell and Ligaya Salazar, the Wellcome Photography Prize exhibition features images that reflect a wide spectrum of health experiences, from everyday routines to global challenges. Using techniques such as portraiture, cyanotypes, drone photography, and light and electron microscopy, the image makers show how health is lived, documented and researched around the world. Many of the works respond to Wellcome's core focus areas, mental health, climate and health, infectious disease and discovery research. Together, they reveal how these issues overlap and take shape in different cultural and geographic contexts. The result is a layered and often unexpected portrait of health today, told through voices and perspectives that are frequently overlooked. Among this year's highlights are Marks of Majesty: Vanessa by Julia Comita and Stephanie Francis, a portrait honouring the life and choices of a person impacted by breast cancer who opted for aesthetic flat closure, challenging assumptions around gender, illness and identity. Beautiful Disaster by Alexandru Radu Popescu shows a lake of toxic mining waste in Romania that continues to expand each year, an image of both striking beauty and environmental damage. Resilience Artist by Pyaephyo Thetpaing captures a craftsman in Myanmar who creates lacquerware using his foot, offering a broader reflection on health, disability and the role of cultural tradition in healing. In the scientific imaging category, Ice and Fire Chronics by Ingrid Augusto, Kildare Rocha de Miranda and Vânia da Silva Vieira shows the structure of the parasite that causes Chagas disease, which affects millions across the Americas. Blooming Barrier by Lucy Holland presents goblet cells inside the gut of a child with Hirschsprung's disease, offering insight into how cell structures influence lifelong digestive health. From Butterflies to Humans by Amaia Alcalde Anton reveals the brain of a butterfly mid-metamorphosis, part of a study into neurogenesis with implications for human brain development. In addition to the Top 25 entries, the exhibition also features Things We Left Unseen, a youth-led photography project developed by Cape Town-based public health organisation Eh!woza. Created in collaboration with young people in the township of Khayelitsha, the project explores health, stigma, and daily life through the eyes of a generation growing up with high HIV and TB burdens, but also with hope and agency. The exhibition is hosted at the Francis Crick Institute, reflecting a shared commitment to making science more visible through culture. Ali Bailey, Director of Communications and Public Engagement at the Francis Crick Institute, said: 'We are delighted to host the top images from the Wellcome Photography Prize, showcasing the power of visual storytelling in health and science. The images explore a number of themes that resonate with Crick research, from the health effects of air pollution to neurogenesis. We hope visitors will be moved by the stories behind these incredible photos and also inspired by how beautiful science can be.' Notes to Editors: Media Contacts Sophie Balfour-LynnSuttonSophiebl@ Mary-Kate FindonWellcomemediaoffice@ Winners' Biographies Sujata Setia (Storytelling Series) Sujata Setia is an Indian-born, UK-based artist who's socially engaged, research-led practice combines photography with traditional artistic interventions to explore subaltern histories, cultural imperialism, and the politics of representation. With a background in journalism and a Master's in International Relations from King's College London, her work draws on academic research and community collaboration to centre marginalised voices, particularly through a feminist lens. Her acclaimed series Changing the Conversation marked a shift away from her earlier portraiture, interrogating the cultural and political construction of beauty. In 2024, she was awarded the Culture King's Grant to develop a lens-based, interdisciplinary project exploring the role of workplace structures for embroidery women artisans in Kashmir. She also recently received the Centre for British Photography Realisation Grant to further expand the scope of A Thousand Cuts, a powerful body of work amplifying the voices of survivors of gender-based abuse. Setia's work has received major international recognition, including the Sony World Photography Award (Creative category, 2024), LensCulture Critics' Choice Award (2024), Prix Pictet nomination (2023), BJP Female in Focus (2022), and Photographer of the Year at the Tokyo International Foto Awards (2021). Her photography has been exhibited widely—from Somerset House in London to Times Square in New York—and featured in leading publications including The Guardian, CNN, BBC, and Forbes. Beyond her visual practice, Setia contributes to education and advocacy through teaching ethical storytelling and photography at EFTI in Madrid, and through collaborations with organisations such as SHEWISE and WERESTART in the UK. Her work consistently seeks to reshape public narratives around identity, power, and care through interdisciplinary, justice-focused art. Mithail Afrige Chowdhury (Striking Solo Photography) Mithail Afrige Chowdhury is a documentary and street photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Raised in the city of Khulna, his photography is deeply rooted in the lives of ordinary people. 'Since then, I have always tried to understand people's lives—their pain, joy, and the complexities shaped by social, economic, political, and environmental changes.' He began photography in 2015 and chose to document what he knew best: life around him. His work has captured the Rohingya refugee crisis, the effects of climate change on Bangladesh (an ongoing project), major festivals, urban water crises, slum fires, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Mithail has won numerous international photography awards, including the Life Press Photo Award (Ukraine), Xposure International Photography Competition (UAE), Compass Photo Competition by the University of Oxford (UK), and contests in China. His work has been featured in The Guardian, The Daily Sun, The Times of India, Global Photography, and publications from the University of Oxford, ASCE, and Saturday Magazine. Steve Gschmeissner (The Marvels of Medical and Scientific Imaging) Steve Gschmeissner is a UK-based photographer and electron microscopy specialist whose career spans over four decades in scientific imaging. After earning a degree in Zoology, he spent 25 years at the Royal College of Surgeons, eventually leading the electron microscopy services, followed by 15 years leading the EM unit at Cancer Research UK. In 2002, Gschmeissner retired early to dedicate himself to freelance photography, specialising in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Over the past two decades, he has built an archive of more than 10,000 images, widely published across scientific, medical, and popular media. His work has featured in everything from textbooks and advertising to art, fashion, and music, appearing on album covers for Peter Gabriel, artworks by Damien Hirst, on US Postal Service stamps, and as visual inspiration for an Iris van Herpen's fashion collection. In 2021, he was awarded the Lennart Nilsson Award for his lifelong contribution to microscopy. His images continue to bridge the worlds of science and visual culture, offering new ways of seeing the invisible. Full list of Finalists - Top 25 Entries Striking solo photography Searching for Life – Sandipani Chattopadhyay (India) Urban Travel – Mithail Afrige Chowdhury (Bangladesh) Marks of Majesty: Vanessa – Julia Comita & Stephanie Francis (USA) Musa – Marijn Fidder (Uganda/Netherlands) The Light Will Come – Dora Grivopoulou (Greece) Cricket is My Emotion – Ziaul Huque (Bangladesh) Pie-by-Sam – Reatile Moalusi (South Africa) Beautiful Disaster – Alexandru Radu Popescu (Romania) Resilience Artist – Pyaephyo Thetpaing (Myanmar) Stereo EEG Self-Portrait – Muir Vidler (UK) Transparent Curtains – Oded Wagenstein (Israel) Self, Five Years On – Georgie Wileman (UK) A storytelling series The Loss Mother's Stone – Nancy Borowick (US Virgin Islands) A Dream to Cure Water – Ciril Jazbec (UK) Nemo's Garden – Giacomo d'Orlando (Italy) A Thousand Cuts – Sujata Setia (UK) I Spend 150 Hours Alone Each Week – Madeleine Waller (Australia/UK) The marvels of scientific and medical imaging From Butterflies to Humans – Amaia Alcalde Anton (UK) Ice and Fire Chronics: The Chagas Disease Invader – Ingrid Augusto, Kildare Rocha de Miranda & Vânia da Silva Vieira (Brazil) Cholesterol in the Liver – Steve Gschmeissner (UK) Blooming Barrier – Lucy Holland (UK) Submarine Fever – Jander Matos & Joaquim Nascimento (Brazil) Organoids – Oliver Meckes & Nicole Ottawa, Eye of Science (Germany) I've Got You, Under My Skin: Microplastics in Mammalian Tissue – P. Stephen Patrick & Olumide Ogunlade (UK) Brixton Road, Lambeth – Marina Vitaglione (France/UK) Exhibition Details Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 exhibition is curated by Laurie Britton Newell and Ligaya SalazarAt the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT17 July – 18 October 2025Open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm (Wednesdays until 8pm)Admission free About Wellcome Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health. Follow the prize:Instagram: @wellcomephotoprize Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 | Wellcome About the Francis Crick Institute We are delighted that the Crick are hosting this year's Wellcome Photography Prize exhibition. The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute with the mission of understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work helps improve our understanding of why disease develops which promotes discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King's College London. The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a brand new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
