In celebration of excellence and innovation in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases, ESCMID honours the contributions made by researchers, clinicians, and other pioneers in these fields. We are pleased to share with you in this special newsletter the announcement of the 2026 ESCMID Award winners. Read more about each winner below and congratulations to all!

Excellence in Science Award

Nicholas Day is the Director of the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit Tropical Health Network and an infectious disease physician and Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford. He has over 30 years’ experience conducting infectious disease research in over 40 countries including numerous South-South collaborative clinical research projects with the aim of providing robust evidence for health policy, developing local researchers, and creating sustainable research infrastructure.

Be sure to join his keynote lecture at ESCMID Global 2026 “Rickettsioses: widespread and neglected”.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Murat Akova is a Professor of Medicine and the Chief of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Türkiye. He served on the European Council of ESCMID and later on the ESCMID Executive Committee, including a term as President. He is currently the ESCMID Membership Counsellor and the Chair of the ESCMID Ethics Advisory Committee. Akova has been a long-time supporter of ESCMID and promotes our Society’s mission still to this day for which we are incredibly grateful.

Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Infection

Leonard Leibovici is the recipient of this award for his outstanding contributions in the field of infection. During his tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) from 2016-2025, the Society’s journal experienced measurable growth and is now placed among the top-ranked journals in infectious diseases. As a researcher, Leibovici focused on infections in neutropenic patients exploring the usefulness of different antibiotic treatment methodologies. He is a strong advocate of honest reporting and patient-oriented research.

Young Investigator Awards

Clark Russell is based in the University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research in the Institute for Regeneration and Repair. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of macrophage antibacterial defence against Gram-positive bacteria and how these can be therapeutically optimised using host-directed therapies.

Join his presentation at ESCMID Global 2026 “Host-directed therapies and patient stratification for common bacterial diseases”.

Sarah Dellière is an Associate Professor in Clinical Mycology at Université Paris Cité, with joint appointments at Hôpital Saint-Louis and the Institut Pasteur. Her work focuses on aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and emerging dermatophytoses, with a particular emphasis on host immunity, antifungal resistance and innovative diagnostic strategies.

Join her presentation at ESCMID Global 2026 “Beyond the Mold: Shifting Diagnosis and Therapy Through Host Immunity”.

Daniel Pan is an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Leicester and Specialist Registrar in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine at University Hospitals of Leicester. His research addresses respiratory virus transmission and public health, particularly SARS CoV 2 transmission and ethnic disparities in infection and outcomes.

Join his presentation at ESCMID Global 2026 “Can we develop better tests to measure individual infectiousness in respiratory virus infections?”

Iris Minichmayr is a pharmacist and Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the Medical University of Vienna, where she leads the Clinical Pharmacometrics research group. The goal of her research is to improve drug dosing, emphasising anti-infectives, drug exposure at peripheral target sites, and challenging patient populations.

Join her presentation at ESCMID Global 2026 “Antibiotics on Target: Predicting Efficacious Dosing in Challenging Patient Populations”.

Emerging Young Investigator Award

Grace Androga is a medical scientist that is drawn to the transformative impact that accurate diagnostics can have on patient outcomes. Her research focuses on the central nervous system and bloodstream infections with an overall goal of advancing diagnostic innovation, strengthening local capacity, and helping to make equitable diagnostics the norm.

Join her presentation at ESCMID Global 2026 “Re-thinking diagnostics to improve care in resource-limited settings”.

TAE Outstanding Trainee Awards

Ferenc Balázs Farkas is an infectious diseases resident and PhD student at Semmelweis University in Budapest. In addition to his clinical work, Balázs teaches medical and nursing students and engages in global health projects by working with local communities in Africa. He participates in the TAE as a national representative as well as holding other roles in local and national organisations.

Lottie Brown is an NIHR academic clinician and infection trainee at St George’s University and Hospital in London focusing on neglected fungal diseases like Pneumocystis pneumonia and mucormycosis. She has contributed to national fungal diagnostic guidelines in the UK, co-led international study groups, and participated in global policy efforts.