Scientists created the most accurate three-dimensional map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope. This map will teach us more about these obscure cloudy areas, and the hot young stars that shape them.  

Offered by the California NanoSystems Institute, CNSI, and the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, the Semiconductor Microelectronics Training Program is preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists for careers in one of the most in-demand industries. Through focused, hands-on training, the program, now in its second year, equips community college students with practical skills while supporting workforce development across California.

Six progressive microcredential modules are offered in partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Modules include introductions to semiconductor fabrication, lithography, deposition, etching, metrology and process controls, and CAD for integrated circuit design. By combining learning with cleanroom training, the program aligns with current industry needs while offering valuable networking with peers and industry leaders.

The 2025 Blavatnik Regional Awards Laureates are:

Life Sciences: Veena Padmanaban, PhD, nominated by The Rockefeller University

Recognized for discovering a molecular mechanism allowing sensory neurons to communicate with breast cancer cells to drive metastasis and uncovering novel actionable therapeutic targets.

Physical Sciences & Engineering: Valentin Crépel, PhD, nominated by the Flatiron Institute

Recognized for advancing theories describing stacked, single-atom-thick materials, enabling easier control of their behaviors for applications in quantum technology and opening up new avenues for developing materials useful in novel quantum computing platforms.

Chemical Sciences: Xiao Xie, PhD, nominated by Princeton University

Recognized for pioneering chemical biology tools to map protein phase separation and copper signaling, which uncover molecular mechanisms underlying cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Xie is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of 2015 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate, Christopher Chang, PhD.

The Finalists are:

LIFE SCIENCES

Maria Cecilia Campos Canesso, PhD, nominated by The Rockefeller University

Recognized for advancing our understanding of food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease by developing new tools to uncover how immune cells communicate in the intestine, laying the foundation for more effective treatments.

Ipshita Zutshi, PhD, nominated by New York University

Recognized for discovering how the brain integrates dynamic goals with sensory inputs (sound, vision) to guide memory and decision-making — providing a framework for understanding cognitive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

Ore Gottlieb, PhD, nominated by the Flatiron Institute

Recognized for shifting the paradigm describing neutron star mergers, giving scientists a roadmap for finding and studying these rare events.

Viraj Pandya, PhD, nominated by Columbia University

Recognized for groundbreaking discoveries on early galaxy evolution, reshaping our understanding of how galaxies formed and challenging longstanding theories of the early universe.

CHEMICAL SCIENCES

Lucien Dupuy, PhD, nominated by Rutgers University, Newark

Recognized for developing quantum-classical and machine learning simulations that elucidate how molecules respond to light, crucial to understanding diverse topics like DNA stability, photocatalysis, and energy conversion. Dupuy is the first Blavatnik Awards honoree from Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.

Yunjia Lai, PhD, nominated by Columbia University

Recognized for pioneering mass spectrometry innovations to map and screen environmental exposures and biological changes that drive neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Depression is often linked to changes in facial expressions. However, the link between mild depression, known as subthreshold depression, and changes in facial expressions remains unclear. Now, researchers have investigated whether subthreshold depression shows changes in facial expressions in Japanese young adults using artificial intelligence. The findings reveal distinct muscle movement patterns related to depressive symptoms which may help detect depression early, paving the way for timely and preventative mental health care.

Taste receptors are specialized proteins that facilitate the sense of taste. There are different groups of receptors for detecting different tastants. Understanding the structure of these receptors will help in elucidating their function. 25 different bitter taste receptors have been identified to date, out of which the 3D crystal structures of only three have been characterized. In this study, the researchers use an artificial intelligence-based structure prediction model to characterize the structure of these receptors.