China’s research rise puts talent and international collaboration at centre of next phase, NSFC chief says
China’s growing contribution to high-impact research reflects the country’s expanding pool of research talent and increasing investment in science, according to Dou Xiankang, president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Speaking at the sixth New Cornerstone 50² Forum, held by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation in Shenzhen on 19 September, Dou outlined the current state of Chinese science and the reforms planned by the country’s main funding agency for basic and applied fundamental research. China’s growing presence in top journalsDou said that while individual papers are not sufficient to measure the strength of a country’s research system, publication patterns in leading journals can provide a useful indicator when considered at scale. He cited data from the first half of 2026 showing that researchers in China accounted for around 20% of papers published in Cell, Nature and Science — collectively known as the CNS journals. When looking only at papers for which the final corresponding author was based in China, the proportion was approximately 20%, compared with around 47% for the United States, according to figures presented by Dou. However, he said the picture changes when the contribution of Chinese researchers working in international research teams is taken into account. Among CNS papers with a US-based final corresponding author, Chinese researchers accounted for 39% of first or co-first authors. When papers with final corresponding authors based in Germany, the UK and Japan were also included, the proportion of papers with a Chinese first or co-first author rose to about 45%. Using a broader measure of major contributors, Dou put the figure at approximately 56%. Taken together, he argued, the figures suggest that Chinese researchers are now closely connected to a substantial share of the world’s highest-profile scientific research. Talent at the centre of research breakthroughsFor Dou, the key question is what will determine China’s next phase of scientific development. “The source of breakthroughs in scientific research is talent,” he said, arguing that China’s future research performance will depend increasingly on its ability to stimulate the creativity and initiative of its most innovative researchers. He pointed to several developments underpinning China’s growing research capacity, including rapid economic growth, increased investment in science and research, more flexible research policies, the expansion of high-level academic staff at universities, and improvements in scientific infrastructure and instrumentation. China has also seen a substantial increase in the number of internationally trained researchers returning to the country. Dou said that, by last year, the number of Chinese students going overseas to study and those returning had reached a dynamic balance — a development he described as evidence of the country’s growing scientific and economic strength. Data presented by Dou also pointed to the growing scale of China’s active research community. The number of active researchers publishing in leading international journals surpassed that of the US in 2021, he said, and is now around seven times the level in Japan. Dou also highlighted the age profile of highly cited researchers. In China, researchers aged over 55 accounted for 44% of the group, those aged 40 to 55 for 47%, and those under 40 for 9%, a distribution he described as comparatively healthy among major research systems. The figures form part of a broader shift in China’s research system towards greater support for younger scientists. NSFC shifts funding towards early-career researchersDou outlined a series of reforms at the NSFC, which has become one of China’s principal funding bodies for basic research, applied fundamental research and frontier interdisciplinary research following reforms to the country’s national research system. Funding has increasingly shifted towards younger researchers. According to Dou, almost 90% of NSFC-funded projects this year are led by early-career researchers, while researchers under the age of 45 account for around 75% of total funding. The NSFC has also expanded its Young Scientists Fund (Category C), which is designed to provide early-career researchers with an initial opportunity to establish an independent research programme. An additional RMB36 billion has been allocated to the programme this year, supporting 12,046 more projects and representing an increase of more than 50%, Dou said. A further reform introduced this year creates a separate track within the Young Scientists Fund Category A for researchers under 35, or women under 38. The first cohort includes 44 researchers. Dou said the selected researchers would receive support under a “5+5+5” model, with funding designed to provide longer-term continuity. “We do not conduct any short-cycle target assessment. We assess only one thing: whether you are in the laboratory,” he said. The approach reflects an attempt to give promising young researchers greater time and flexibility to pursue high-risk or longer-term research, rather than subjecting them to frequent short-term performance assessments. Expanding international research collaborationDou also highlighted the NSFC’s efforts to expand its international funding and research partnerships. In addition to supporting collaboration between Chinese and overseas researchers, the foundation is seeking to attract international doctoral students to China. “We hope that students from technologically advanced Western countries, particularly those studying the natural sciences, will be able to come to China to complete their PhDs,” Dou said. The NSFC and China’s Ministry of Education are jointly working on the initiative, he added, expressing confidence that it would produce further results in the near future. The proposals reflect a broader effort to position China not only as a major source of scientific research and talent, but also as a destination for international researchers and doctoral students.
Good University Guide 2027: St Andrews Takes No. 1 as Imperial Climbs Three Places
LONDON, Sept. 18, 2026 — The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 has been published, ranking 130 universities across a range of measures including student satisfaction, student experience, graduate employment prospects and continuation rates. The University of St Andrews has taken the top spot, rising one place from last year. The university performed particularly strongly on teaching quality, student experience and entry standards. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) fell from first place to second. Imperial College London recorded the biggest rise among the top five, climbing three places to third and moving ahead of both the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. Imperial performed particularly strongly on research quality and graduate prospects. The University of Cambridge retained its fourth-place position, with a particularly strong continuation rate. The University of Oxford slipped one place to fifth, while recording strong results for the proportion of graduates achieving first-class or upper second-class degrees (Firsts/2:1s). These five institutions make up the top five of the Good University Guide 2027. The remaining universities in the top 10 are Durham University, the University of Warwick, the University of Bath, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Bristol. How the Good University Guide Ranks UniversitiesThe Times and The Sunday Times have published university guides since 1993 and 1998, respectively. Since 2013, the two publications have produced the combined Good University Guide, providing a comprehensive guide to higher education in Britain across print and digital platforms, including The Times, The Sunday Times and thetimes.com. The rankings are based on a range of measures covering student satisfaction with teaching quality and the wider student experience, entry standards, research quality, sustainability and graduate prospects. Since 2018, the guide has also included social inclusion rankings for universities in England and Wales, alongside a separate table for Scottish universities. These rankings assess measures designed to reflect the diversity of universities' student intakes and their subsequent outcomes. The 2027 edition provides a snapshot of how UK universities perform across student experience, academic standards, research and graduate outcomes, while highlighting significant movement among the country's leading institutions.
Clarivate Names 22 Citation Laureates for 2026
LONDON, Sept. 17, 2026 — Clarivate has announced its 2026 Citation Laureates, recognizing 22 researchers whose highly influential work spans physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry and economics. Selected by experts at Clarivate’s Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), the Citation Laureates are recognized for pioneering contributions considered to be of Nobel stature and for research that has helped shape the future of science and society. Since the program was established in 2002, 89 Citation Laureates have subsequently received Nobel Prizes, making the recognition a closely watched indicator of research that may later receive the world's highest scientific honors. Clarivate’s selection combines citation analysis with expert assessment of researchers whose work has demonstrated exceptional influence within their fields. The 2026 laureates are affiliated with leading institutions across seven countries and regions. Sixteen are based in the United States, while Canada, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Mainland China and Switzerland each have one laureate. Physiology or MedicineDaniel J. Drucker — Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health, Canada; Jens Juul Holst — University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Svetlana Mojsov — Rockefeller University, United States, were recognized for the identification and characterization of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and studies of its biological activity. James G. Fujimoto and Eric A. Swanson — Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and David Huang — Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, United States, were recognized for the development of optical coherence tomography, an imaging technology used in medicine and biomedical research. Timothy A. Springer — Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States, was recognized for identifying key adhesion receptors in the immune system. PhysicsChihaya Adachi — Kyushu University, Japan; Stephen R. Forrest — University of Michigan, United States; and Mark E. Thompson — University of Southern California, United States, were recognized for pioneering research on phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), contributing to highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes. Nicola A. Spaldin — ETH Zurich, Switzerland, was recognized for theoretical work leading to the development of room-temperature magnetoelectric multiferroics, opening new possibilities for energy-efficient electronic devices. Qikun Xue — Southern University of Science and Technology and Tsinghua University, Mainland China, was recognized for the experimental observation of the quantum anomalous Hall effect. ChemistryDavid L. Allara — Pennsylvania State University; Ralph G. Nuzzo — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Jacob Sagiv — Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, were recognized for the development of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Harry B. Gray and Jay R. Winkler — California Institute of Technology, United States, were recognized for advancing understanding of long-range electron transfer in proteins. David R. Liu — Harvard University, Broad Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States, was recognized for developing base editing and prime editing, precision gene-editing technologies that can directly modify DNA in living systems and have opened new possibilities for programmable medicines. EconomicsSusan C. Athey — Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, and Hal R. Varian — University of California, Berkeley, United States, were recognized for pioneering research on the economics of information technology. Michael D. Woodford — Columbia University, United States, was recognized for contributions to the theory and practice of monetary policy. Sidney G. Winter — The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States, was recognized for research on economic dynamism and organizational behavior inspired by evolutionary theory. A Global Cohort of Highly Cited ResearchersThe 2026 Citation Laureates represent a broad range of institutions and research traditions, while their work addresses areas with significant implications for medicine, technology, energy efficiency, genetics and the global economy. The cohort includes researchers behind foundational advances in GLP-1 biology, optical imaging, immune-system receptors, OLED technology, quantum physics, self-assembled materials, precision gene editing, information economics and monetary policy. Clarivate’s Citation Laureates program is based on highly cited research identified through the Web of Science Core Collection, combined with expert analysis from ISI. Clarivate says the program has identified more than 450 laureates since its inception, with 89 subsequently receiving Nobel Prizes.
University of York opens Mumbai campus with inaugural cohort
The University of York has opened its first campus in India, welcoming an inaugural cohort of students as the UK university expands its international teaching and research presence. The University of York Mumbai has enrolled its first students across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in computer science with artificial intelligence and cyber security, business, and the creative industries. The launch follows a two-week induction programme over the summer and marks the latest development in India’s efforts to attract leading international universities through reforms enabling foreign institutions to establish campuses in the country. The opening was attended by students and academic staff, representatives from local business and industry, and senior leaders from the University of York and its Mumbai campus, including Professor Ken Badcock, Interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, and Professor Lindsay Oades, Provost of the University of York Mumbai. Research focus on global challengesResearch is set to form a central part of the Mumbai campus, with the university identifying food security, environmental change and future technologies among its initial areas of focus. The university has also announced a new research and policy institute in Mumbai, which will examine major global challenges including artificial intelligence, urbanisation and climate change. The institute is intended to strengthen connections between researchers in Mumbai and York, while creating opportunities for collaboration with industry, policymakers and other external partners. Professor Ken Badcock said the opening was the result of collaboration between teams in India and the UK, as well as the university’s international partners. “Today marks a major milestone,” he said. “The launch of University of York Mumbai is the result of dedication and collaboration from our teams in India and the UK, our global partners, and the vibrant city of Mumbai itself.” He said the campus would contribute to India’s ambition to strengthen its position as a destination for international higher education. Connecting the Mumbai and York research communitiesThe university is also positioning the new campus as a platform for closer academic and industry links between India and the UK. Professor Bob Doherty, Director of Research at the University of York Mumbai, and Professor Benjamin Poore, from the University’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies, have begun secondments to Mumbai. Their work will include developing industry partnerships, research projects, public events and student learning opportunities. Further secondments, joint research programmes and collaboration in teaching and learning are expected to be developed between the two campuses over the coming months. Professor Lindsay Oades said the university’s aim was to give students opportunities to develop skills relevant to rapidly changing industries while maintaining an international perspective. “We aim to empower students to thrive in evolving industries by nurturing enquiring minds with a global outlook,” he said. He added that collaboration with local partners and researchers in both Mumbai and York would help students develop entrepreneurial and creative approaches to complex global challenges. The opening also drew support from UK representatives in India. Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at the British Council, said the campus would give students in India access to a UK university education without requiring them to study overseas. Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, said the University of York would bring its teaching and research strengths to India. “Education lies at the heart of UK-India Vision 2035 and our shared commitment to nurture the next generation of global talent,” he said. The University of York Mumbai is part of a wider expansion of international higher education provision in India, as regulatory changes create new opportunities for overseas universities to establish a direct presence in the country.
WorldHE NS Watch: China Mainland Universities Show Strong NS Output Last Week
Against the backdrop of intensifying global competition in scientific research, publication output in Nature and Science has become one of the key benchmarks for assessing universities’ capacity for original innovation and their international academic influence. WorldHE continuously tracks the latest and rolling 12-month Nature and Science publication data from universities worldwide, providing a dynamic view of the shifting global higher education and research landscape. Click here to access the complete university NS publication data. Global University NS Publications: September 7–13, 2026Global university output in Nature and Science remained relatively stable last week, with a total of 33 universities publishing NS papers. The United States accounted for 11 of these universities, followed by China Mainland with 6. Both remained well ahead of other countries and regions, while the United Kingdom contributed 4 universities, underscoring the continued strength of these major research powers. Five universities — Peking University, the University of Oxford, Westlake University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences — each published two NS papers. Notably, three of these five universities are from China Mainland, highlighting the strong research output of leading Chinese universities. Global University NS Rankings: September 13, 2025–September 13, 2026Over the rolling 12-month period, 64 universities worldwide published at least 10 papers in Nature or Science, down by one from the previous period, reflecting the increasingly competitive landscape for high-impact research. The global Top 10 maintained the same country distribution, with six universities from the United States, three from China Mainland, and one from the United Kingdom. Harvard University’s total output fell below 140 papers, but it continued to lead the global rankings by a wide margin with 139 NS papers, including 93 in Nature and 46 in Science. Harvard ranks first among all universities in publication output in both journals. MIT also remains above the 100-paper mark, with 107 papers, ranking second globally. Stanford University follows with 92 papers. Together, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford form an elite research cluster at the 100-paper level and above. The University of California, Berkeley ranks fourth with 67 NS papers. While its overall output trails the top three, Berkeley is the only university in the global Top 10 to publish more Science papers (35) than Nature papers (32). The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Mainland, ranks fifth globally with 54 papers, making it the highest-ranked non-U.S. university. The University of Cambridge ranks sixth with 53 papers and is the only UK university in the global Top 10. Peking University ranks seventh with 46 papers, followed by Tsinghua University in eighth place. Two universities in the University of California system — UC San Francisco and UCLA — round out the Top 10 with 39 and 36 papers, respectively. Click here to access the complete university NS publication data. MethodologyFor Nature, only publications classified as Article and Review Article were included. For Science, the analysis includes Research Article, Special-Issue Research Article, and Review. Only the physically affiliated first author was counted as the first author. All corresponding-author affiliations were included, with each affiliated institution counted once. If the first-author institution and the corresponding-author institution were the same, the publication was counted only once for that institution. Only formally published articles were included in the analysis. Advance online publications and papers in pre-publication status were excluded. Further ReadingWorldHE NS Watch: Harvard, MIT and Stanford Lead Global Nature and Science Output in August Global Nature and Science Leaders, H1 2026
Oxford Tops Guardian University Guide 2027 as Cambridge Climbs to Second
The Guardian University Guide 2027 has been published, ranking UK universities based on factors that matter most to students. The guide is designed to assess aspects of university performance that are particularly relevant to the student experience. Its overall ranking draws on eight measures, including teaching and assessment satisfaction, student-to-staff ratios, spending per student, continuation rates, entry standards, value added and graduate career prospects. Oxford Retains No. 1 PositionThe University of Oxford has retained the No. 1 position in the 2027 ranking, maintaining the top spot it held in 2026. The University of Cambridge climbed from third to second, while the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) moved up from fourth to third. The University of St Andrews, which ranked second in 2026, fell to fourth place, while Imperial College London rose from sixth to fifth. These five universities make up the top five of the Guardian University Guide 2027. The remaining institutions in the top 10 are Durham University, the University of Warwick, the University of Bath, Loughborough University and the University of the Arts London. Oxford Leads 11 Subject RankingsThe Guardian University Guide 2027 also ranks universities across individual subject areas. Among the five universities in the overall top five, Oxford recorded the strongest performance at subject level, ranking No. 1 in 11 subjects: Anthropology and archaeologyMathematicsLanguages and linguisticsPhilosophyChemistryPhysicsEarth and marine sciencesEconomicsGeographyBusiness and managementEnglishCambridge ranked first in 10 subjects: Chemical engineeringClassics and ancient historyEducationGeneral engineeringSociology and social policyPoliticsConstruction, surveying and planningMusicBiologyPsychologyLSE ranked first in two subjects: International relations and Law. St Andrews topped four subjects: History, History of art, Theology and religious studies, and Media and film studies. Imperial College London ranked first in four subjects: Medicine, Computer science and information systems, Mechanical engineering, and Aerospace engineering. Overall, the 2027 rankings highlight both the continued strength of the UK's leading universities and their differing areas of subject-level strength.
Balzan Foundation Announces 2026 Prize Winners Across Science and Humanities
The International Balzan Foundation has announced the winners of its annual Balzan Prizes, recognizing five individuals and groups for contributions spanning digital technology, molecular evolution, Jewish studies, sustainable materials and humanitarian work. Maria Cristina Messa, President of the International Balzan Foundation–Prize, and Marta Cartabia, Chair of the Balzan General Prize Committee, announced the winners. Four annual prizes were awarded in the physical and natural sciences and the humanities, alongside the special Prize for Humanity, Peace and Fraternity among Peoples. Each annual Balzan Prize carries an award of 750,000 Swiss francs, with half of the prize money required to support research projects involving young scholars and scientists. The special humanitarian prize also carries an award of 750,000 Swiss francs. Digital Technology and Molecular Evolution RecognizedElena Esposito of the University of Bologna and Bielefeld University received the prize for The Social Science of Digital Technology. Esposito was recognized for her theoretical work on the social science of digital technology, particularly her concept of “artificial communication,” which examines how algorithms can participate in social exchange without possessing human-like understanding. The committee also highlighted her empirical research into algorithmic prediction in areas including finance, medicine and public policy, describing her work as providing a framework for examining the growing role of artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems in society. The prize for Molecular Evolution: Decoding Patterns of Genomic Change was awarded jointly to Rasmus Nielsen of the University of California, Berkeley, and Ziheng Yang of University College London. Their research combines statistical theory, computational methods and genomic analysis to investigate how natural selection shapes genes and populations. Their work has also contributed widely used computational tools for studying evolutionary adaptation. Jewish Studies and Sustainable MaterialsDavid Nirenberg of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton received the Balzan Prize for Jewish Studies. The award recognizes his scholarship on Judaism, anti-Judaism and the historical relationships among Jews, Christians and Muslims. The committee highlighted his interdisciplinary research, extensive use of multilingual sources and analysis of the relationship between violence and tolerance. The prize for Biodegradable Polymers from Renewable Sources was awarded jointly to Geoffrey W. Coates of Cornell University and Marc A. Hillmyer of the University of Minnesota. Their collaborative research has advanced the development of sustainable polymers through molecular design and catalysis, including materials derived from renewable feedstocks and recovered carbon dioxide. Their work has helped move discoveries in sustainable polymer chemistry from fundamental research toward industrial materials and technologies. Interdisciplinarity Central to Prize SelectionThe Balzan Foundation said the selection of the annual prizes is based on the validity, contemporary relevance and coherence of research, as well as specific contributions to understanding the world and advancing knowledge across national and disciplinary boundaries. Interdisciplinarity is a central criterion of the Balzan Prize. The Foundation said meaningful exchanges across fields are essential to addressing complex challenges facing both society and the natural world. The four annual prize fields are selected anew each year by the General Prize Committee. Two are drawn from literature, moral sciences and the arts, while two are selected from physical, mathematical and natural sciences and medicine. The rotating approach is intended to provide opportunities to recognize emerging or developing areas of research. Each annual prize is worth 750,000 Swiss francs, with 50% earmarked for research projects involving younger researchers. Emergency Response Rooms Receives Humanitarian PrizeThe special Prize for Humanity, Peace and Fraternity among Peoples was awarded to Emergency Response Rooms (ERR) in Sudan for outstanding humanitarian work. The prize is awarded at intervals of no less than three years to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to humanitarian causes. Like the annual Balzan Prizes, the award carries a value of 750,000 Swiss francs. The recognition brings humanitarian work alongside the Foundation’s research prizes, highlighting the Balzan Foundation’s broader focus on contributions that address major challenges facing humanity. The 2026 winners reflect the Balzan Foundation’s emphasis on research that crosses disciplinary boundaries while addressing scientific, social and humanitarian questions of contemporary relevance.
2026 Lasker Awards Honor Breakthroughs in Sleep, Hemophilia and Parkinson’s Research
The 2026 Lasker Awards, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in biomedical science and often described as a “bellwether for the Nobel Prize,” have officially been announced. This year’s laureates are being recognized for groundbreaking contributions spanning the biology of sleep, the treatment of hemophilia A, and efforts to accelerate research into Parkinson’s disease. 2026 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research AwardEmmanuel Mignot of Stanford University and Masashi Yanagisawa of the University of Tsukuba have been honored for identifying orexin, a brain peptide that promotes and maintains wakefulness, and for discovering that orexin deficiency causes the uncontrolled sleep characteristic of narcolepsy. Their work revealed a fundamental mechanism underlying sleep and opened an entirely new field of research into the biology of sleep. The discovery of orexin and its role in narcolepsy came as a complete surprise, with no prior knowledge or hypothesis pointing directly toward the finding. It stands as a classic example of scientific reinvention—an unexpected discovery that fundamentally reshaped understanding of one of the most basic aspects of human biology. Sleep, alongside food and sex, is one of the three fundamental pillars of human existence. The discovery of the orexin system has also led to important therapeutic advances. Several drugs that block orexin receptors have been approved to treat insomnia, while an orexin receptor-2 agonist for narcolepsy has reached late-stage development. 2026 Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research AwardKunihiro Hattori, Tomoyuki Igawa and Takehisa Kitazawa of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. in Tokyo have received the award for inventing a bispecific antibody that links blood-clotting Factors IX and X. The antibody restores the function normally provided by Factor VIII in patients with hemophilia A, thereby preventing the severe bleeding associated with the inherited disorder. The scientists’ vision, creativity and technical ingenuity led to the development of a Factor VIII-mimetic bispecific IgG antibody, Hemlibra® (emicizumab). The breakthrough represents a striking example of scientific reimagination, fundamentally reframing conventional approaches to hemophilia treatment. Historically, treatment relied on plasma replacement and/or plasma-derived Factor VIII concentrates. Many patients subsequently developed hepatitis, HIV infection and/or neutralizing antibodies against Factor VIII, while bleeding was often inadequately controlled. Hemlibra® transformed the treatment landscape. It became the first bispecific IgG antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for therapeutic use in 2017 and has virtually eliminated bleeding in many patients with hemophilia A, including those who have developed Factor VIII inhibitors. The treatment has since been approved in more than 120 countries and has improved the quality of life of more than 30,000 people worldwide. 2026 Lasker–Bloomberg Public Service AwardThe Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has been honored for amplifying the voices of patients and accelerating research aimed at developing better therapies and ultimately finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The award recognizes the foundation’s role in bringing patients, scientists, clinicians, industry leaders and donors together in the search for new treatments. As a young actor, Michael J. Fox rose to international stardom through his leading roles in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990) and the hit NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989). In 1990, at the age of 29, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1998, helping challenge the stigma surrounding the disease. In 2000, Fox established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The organization has since become a major force in Parkinson’s research, mobilizing scientists, clinicians, industry leaders, philanthropists and patients around the shared goal of developing new therapies and, ultimately, finding a cure. More than 1 million people in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease. Approximately 1% of adults aged 60 and older are affected, with prevalence rising to about 3% among people aged 80. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is now the world’s largest nonprofit/private funder of Parkinson’s research, having awarded approximately $3 billion in research grants to date. Its annual research funding exceeds that of the U.S. government. Beyond its role as a major funder, the foundation has also become a key coordinator of Parkinson’s clinical research, helping recruit and engage volunteers for clinical trials. Why the Lasker Awards MatterEstablished in 1946, the Lasker Awards are among the most prestigious honors in biomedical science in the United States. They recognize scientists, physicians and public-service leaders whose work has made major contributions to medicine and human health. The awards traditionally span several categories, including the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the Lasker–Bloomberg Public Service Award, and the Lasker Special Achievement Award in Medical Science. The Lasker Awards are also closely watched because of their strong track record of recognizing scientists who later receive the Nobel Prize. Over the past two decades, more than 30 Lasker laureates have subsequently gone on to win a Nobel Prize. A notable recent example is Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, whose work on AlphaFold earned them the 2023 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. Just one year later, they were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. For this reason, the Lasker Awards are often viewed as an important indicator of scientific breakthroughs that may go on to receive the field’s highest international recognition.
WorldHE NS Watch: Tübingen Leads With Three Nature Papers in One Week
Against the backdrop of intensifying global competition in scientific research, publication output in Nature and Science has become one of the key benchmarks for assessing universities’ capacity for original innovation and their international academic influence. WorldHE continuously tracks the latest and rolling 12-month Nature and Science publication data from universities worldwide, providing a dynamic view of the shifting global higher education and research landscape. Click here to access the complete university NS publication data. Global University NS Publications: August 31–September 6, 2026Global university output in Nature and Science eased last week, with a total of 37 universities publishing NS papers. The United States accounted for 14 of these universities, followed by China Mainland with 8. Both countries remained well ahead of other countries and regions, while the United Kingdom and Germany each contributed five universities, underscoring their continued strength as major global research powers. University of Tübingen delivered a standout performance, publishing three Nature papers in a single week. The research covered a range of frontier topics, including AI-driven experimental design in physics and pathogenesis, pharmacotherapy, and personalized strategies for MASH. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) published two Nature papers, while the University of Cambridge published two Science papers, maintaining strong research output at the highest level. Global University NS Rankings: September 6, 2025–September 6, 2026Over the rolling 12-month period, 65 universities worldwide published at least 10 papers in Nature or Science, down by two from the previous period, highlighting the increasingly intense competition for high-impact research. The global Top 10 maintained the same country distribution, with six universities from the United States, three from China Mainland, and one from the United Kingdom. Harvard University continues to lead the global rankings by a wide margin, with 143 NS papers, including 95 in Nature and 48 in Science. Harvard ranks first among all universities in publication output in both journals. MIT also remains above the 100-paper mark, with 108 papers, ranking second globally. Stanford University follows with 95 papers. Together, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford form an elite research cluster at the 100-paper level and above. The University of California, Berkeley ranks fourth with 66 NS papers. While its overall output trails the top three, Berkeley is the only university in the global Top 10 to publish more Science papers (35) than Nature papers (31). The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Mainland, ranks fifth globally with 56 papers, making it the highest-ranked non-U.S. university. The University of Cambridge ranks sixth with 52 papers and is the only UK university in the Top 10. Peking University ranks seventh with 44 papers, moving ahead of Tsinghua University by one paper. Tsinghua ranks eighth with 43 papers. Two universities in the University of California system — UC San Francisco and UCLA — round out the Top 10 with 39 and 36 papers, respectively. Click here to access the complete university NS publication data. MethodologyFor Nature, only publications classified as Article and Review Article were included. For Science, the analysis includes Research Article, Special-Issue Research Article, and Review. Only the physically affiliated first author was counted as the first author. All corresponding-author affiliations were included, with each affiliated institution counted once. If the first-author institution and the corresponding-author institution were the same, the publication was counted only once for that institution. Only formally published articles were included in the analysis. Advance online publications and papers in pre-publication status were excluded. Further ReadingWorldHE NS Watch: Harvard, MIT and Stanford Lead Global Nature and Science Output in August Global Nature and Science Leaders, H1 2026
University of Bristol Opens £500 Million Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus
The University of Bristol has opened the main building at its new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC), a £500 million development designed to expand the university’s teaching, research and industry partnerships in emerging technologies. Opened on September 7, the campus is part of the wider Bristol Temple Quarter regeneration project, one of the largest urban regeneration schemes in the UK. The project aims to bring thousands of new homes, workspaces, health facilities and education centres to an area that has been among Bristol and England’s more deprived communities. The new campus will focus on fields including business, innovation, digital engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced telecommunications and quantum technologies. New Campus Designed for Active Learning and Industry CollaborationThe 38,000-square-metre Sloane Robinson Building, constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine, is designed around collaborative and active learning. Its facilities include the 300-plus-seat Bill Brown Lecture Theatre, one of relatively few “in-the-round” lecture theatres in the UK, designed to encourage discussion and interaction among students and lecturers. The building also contains 22 Active Learning Studios, equipped with shared screens and mobile furniture to support group work and collaboration on real-world challenges, including projects involving external partners. Built on the site of a former Royal Mail sorting office that had stood vacant since 1997, the building will provide teaching, research and collaborative space for around 4,500 students and 650 staff, as well as industry and community partners. The building is named after Bristol alumnus Hugh Sloane and the Sloane Robinson Foundation, following their £20 million donation, the largest individual gift in the university’s history. Deep Tech Innovation HubThe West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has invested £35 million in TQEC to help establish a deep-tech innovation hub connecting businesses, investors and innovators with University of Bristol research, talent and facilities. A key component is the Bristol Innovations Zone, which will provide infrastructure and services to support collaboration between the university and industry in critical and emerging technologies. Building on the university’s existing innovation ecosystem, including the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre, Engine Shed and SETsquared Bristol, the zone will offer flexible coworking and event spaces, specialist laboratories and equipment, and innovation support services. The university said the development will expand its capacity to work with businesses and support the growth of technology-focused companies in the region. Greater Community Presence in BristolTQEC represents the University of Bristol’s expansion to a second campus in the city and is intended to strengthen its links with local communities. The university said members of the public will be able to access a range of facilities, including cafés, civic spaces and the surrounding public landscape. Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said TQEC represented “the next chapter” in the transformation of Bristol and the West of England into a globally competitive innovation region. She described the campus as an example of how devolution could support economic growth, inclusion and long-term prosperity. Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said the opening marked a major milestone for Bristol, adding that investment in Bristol Temple Quarter would support economic development across the wider region. Bristol Expands International PresenceThe opening of TQEC comes just days before the University of Bristol is due to open its first international campus in Mumbai, India, on September 10. The Mumbai Enterprise Campus is designed around a similar focus on innovation and industry partnerships, bringing together students, businesses, researchers and other partners within an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The two developments mark a significant expansion of the university’s physical and international footprint, while reinforcing its focus on innovation, technology and collaboration with industry.
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Data & Rankings
Where Fields Medalists Studied and Worked?
Data & Rankings