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Croonian Medal and Lecture

This prize lecture is the premier lecture in the biological sciences.

  • Opening date

  • Closing date

  • Winners announcement

The award

The Croonian Medal and Lecture is the premier lecture in the biological sciences. The lectureship was conceived by , one of the original Fellows of the Society. Among the papers left on his death in 1684 were plans to endow two lectureships, one at the Royal Society and the other at the Royal College of Physicians. His widow later bequeathed the means to carry out the scheme. The lecture series began in 1738. The medal is of bronze gilt, is awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £10,000.

Eligibility

The Croonian Medal and Lecture is open to international citizens. It is restricted to senior scientists and nominations will remain valid and shall be considered by the award selection committee throughout three nomination cycles. Teams or groups may now be nominated for this award.

Nominations are closed

Nominations are closed and will reopen on 30 November 2026.

The Croonian Medal and Lecture

The Croonian Medal and Lecture by the 2026 winner, Dr David Baker, will take place on Tuesday 3 November 2026. To attend this lecture either in person or online, .

2027 winner

  • Professor Dame Janet M Thornton DBE FMedSci FRS

    Professor Dame Janet M Thornton DBE FMedSci FRS

    The Croonian Medal and Lecture 2027 is awarded to Professor Dame Janet M Thornton DBE FMedSci FRS for pioneering work in protein structural and functional bioinformatics.

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Past winners

  • Dr David Baker
    Awarded in 2026

    Dr David Baker

    For pioneering the design of completely new proteins as well as playing key roles in the development of protein structure prediction and protein engineering tools.
  • Professor Edith Heard FRS
    Awarded in 2025

    Professor Edith Heard FRS

    For being a leading figure in X-chromosome biology, including the epigenetic mechanisms behind X-inactivation which are critical for this important part of mammalian biology.
  • Edward Holmes
    Awarded in 2024

    Professor Edward Holmes FRS

    For being a global authority on virus evolution and emergence, who played a key role in the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 and was the first to publicly release the genome sequence.
  • Ottoline Leyser
    Awarded in 2023

    Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser DBE FRS

    For playing a central role in two of the most important discoveries regarding the nature and perception of plant hormones, and for her contributions to gender equality in science.
  • Stephen O'Rahilly
    Awarded in 2022

    Sir Stephen O'Rahilly FMedSci FRS and Professor Sadaf Farooqi FMedSci FRS

    For their seminal discoveries regarding the control of human body weight, resulting in novel diagnostics and therapies, which improve human health.
  • Barry Everitt
    Awarded in 2021

    Professor Barry Everitt FMedSci FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Brain mechanisms of addictive behaviour'.
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    Awarded in 2020

    Professor Edward Boyden

    Delivered lecture: 'Shining a light on the brain'.
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    Awarded in 2019

    Dame Kay Davies DBE FMedSci FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'From diagnosis to therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy'.
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    Awarded in 2018

    Professor Jennifer Doudna ForMemRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Re-writing the Code of Life: CRISPR Systems and Applications of Gene Editing'.
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    Awarded in 2017

    Professor Jonathan Ashmore FMedSci FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Now you hear it, now you don’t: the neuroscience of deafness'.
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    Awarded in 2016

    Professor Enrico Coen CBE FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Picasso, pottery and plants: Hidden rules governing the development of natural forms'.
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    Awarded in 2015

    Professor Nicholas Davies FRS

    Delivered lecture: 'Cuckoos and their victims: An evolutionary arms race'.