Horizon Award Winners 2025
The Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2025 recognised outstanding individuals and teams whose work demonstrates the breadth, relevance, and real-world impact of applied microbiology. This year’s awardees span public health, food security, environmental conservation, policy translation, global impact, and diversity and inclusion, reflecting the many ways microbiological research and practice contribute to addressing global challenges. Together, the 2025 winners showcase excellence across science, innovation, and application, highlighting how applied microbiology continues to shape healthier societies, more resilient environments, and more sustainable systems worldwide.
Professor Joana Falcao Salles
Professor Joana Falcão Salles, Professor of Microbial Community Ecology at the University of Groningen, was named as the winner of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award as part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2025.
Her research focuses on soil and plant-associated microbiomes and their role in supporting sustainable agriculture. By integrating ecological theory with experimental and computational approaches, Professor Falcão Salles has advanced understanding of how microbial diversity underpins ecosystem resilience, disease suppression, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration, her work connects fundamental microbiome science with practical applications for food security and sustainable agricultural practice, reflecting the core aims of the Basil Jarvis Food Security and Innovation Award.
Read more: Professor Joana Falcao Salles named as winner of Basil Jarvis Award
Max Fisher
Max Fisher is a Senior Research Associate at ViaNautis Bio and a leading advocate for disability and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in science. Their work combines hands-on applied microbiology with sustained leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion across STEM.
Named the individual winner of the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award 2025, Max was recognised for their long-standing commitment to dismantling barriers to participation and representation in science, particularly for disabled and queer researchers. Drawing on lived experience as a queer, DeafBlind, and disabled scientist, Max has been a visible and influential voice on intersectionality, workplace culture, and inclusive practice in research environments.
Alongside their research career, Max has led and supported initiatives that promote accessibility, dignity, and belonging in STEM, including employee resource groups and sector-wide advocacy. In 2024, they were named the UK’s most influential disabled scientist in the Disability Power 100, reflecting their impact both within and beyond the laboratory.
Max’s work exemplifies the values of the Dorothy Jones Award, highlighting how inclusive cultures and equitable practices strengthen science and enable talent to thrive.
Read more: Max Fisher named as individual winner of the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award
MSE Working Group
The Microbes and Social Equity (MSE) Working Group is an international, interdisciplinary network focused on understanding how microbiomes intersect with social equity, justice, health, and sustainability. Founded in 2020, MSE brings together researchers, practitioners, educators, and community partners to connect microbiology with social science, policy, and practice.
Named the team winner of the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award 2025, MSE was recognised for its leadership in advancing equity and inclusion across research, education, and engagement in applied microbiology. The group’s work addresses inequities in microbial exposures, access to healthy environments, and participation in science itself, while fostering inclusive collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
Through seminars, publications, and community-driven initiatives, MSE continues to broaden how microbiology engages with real-world social challenges and contributes to more equitable and sustainable outcomes.
Dr José Luis Balcazar
Dr José Luis Balcázar, Senior Researcher at the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA) in Spain, was named as the winner of the John Snow Public Health Innovation Prize as part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards.
A leading researcher at the One Health interface, Dr Balcázar’s work focuses on antimicrobial resistance, particularly the role of bacteriophages in resistance dissemination and environmental transmission. His research has generated important insights into how polluted water systems contribute to the spread of resistance genes, while also identifying microbiological approaches that support bioremediation and improved water safety.
Through extensive research output and international collaboration, his work demonstrates how applied microbiology can deliver measurable improvements in public health and strengthen access to safe water, directly reflecting the aims of the John Snow Public Health Innovation Prize.
Read more: Dr José Luis Balcazar named as winner of John Snow Public Health Innovation Prize
Dr Manu De Rycker
Dr Manu De Rycker is a Principal Investigator at the University of Dundee and Head of Biology at the University’s Drug Discovery Unit (DDU). His work focuses on developing new treatments for neglected infectious diseases through applied microbiology and drug discovery.
At the DDU, Dr De Rycker leads kinetoplastid and antifungal drug discovery programmes. His research has enabled the development of cell-based assays and high-throughput screening approaches that have accelerated drug discovery for diseases including African sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. This work has contributed to two clinical candidates for visceral leishmaniasis and several advanced compounds for Chagas disease, developed in collaboration with GSK.
More recently, he has established a consortium to address the urgent global need for new antifungal therapies. His work exemplifies how applied microbiology can deliver tangible, real-world impact in tackling some of the world’s most neglected diseases.
Read more: Dr Manu De Rycker named as winner of the WH Pierce Global Impact in Microbiology Prize 2025
Professor Thomas Crowther
Professor Thomas Crowther, a British ecologist, was named as the winner of the Rachel Carson Environmental Conservation Excellence Award as part of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2025.
His work focuses on understanding the forces that shape biodiversity at a global scale and how ecosystems regulate climate and human wellbeing. As founder of the Crowther Lab, he leads an international network exploring the role of biodiversity in soil health, ecosystem resilience, and environmental recovery.
Professor Crowther also founded Restor.eco, a global platform supporting community-led ecosystem restoration projects by improving access to data, funding, and collaboration. Through research, large-scale restoration initiatives, and global partnerships, his work demonstrates real-world impact in protecting and restoring marine and terrestrial
Read more: Professor Thomas Crowther named as winner of Rachel Carson Award 2025
Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green
Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Infection Prevention and Control at Great Ormond Street Hospital and a leading figure in translating microbiological research into practical policy and practice within healthcare settings.
Named the winner of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award 2025, Professor Cloutman-Green was recognised for her sustained impact in bridging microbiology, policy, and real-world implementation. Her work focuses on preventing healthcare-associated infections through evidence-based interventions, environmental monitoring, and the development of rapid diagnostic and infection control tools now used across hospitals.
Alongside her clinical role, she holds an Honorary Professorship at University College London and serves in a number of advisory and leadership positions, including as a NICE Expert Advisor and a member of AMI’s antimicrobial resistance policy group. She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2021 for services to healthcare.
Professor Cloutman-Green is also a committed advocate for accessible science communication and collaboration. Through her writing and public engagement, she works to demystify microbiology, promote safer healthcare practices, and inspire future generations of scientists.
Read more: Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green named as winner of the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award