Centenary Institute's 2026 'When Art Meets Science' Image Prize Winners Reveal the Hidden Beauty of Medical Research
Key Insights
The Centenary Institute (search) announced winners of its 2026 'When Art Meets Science Image Prize,' celebrating the visual beauty within medical research.
First prize went to Dr. Mojdeh Abbasi for an SEM image of limbal stem cells growing on a coated contact lens, highlighting an emerging approach to corneal repair and vision restoration.
Second place recognized Serena Li's image of laboratory-grown heart cells used to investigate genetic causes of inherited heart disease (search).
The Centenary Institute (search) has announced the winners of its annual 'When Art Meets Science Image Prize' for 2026, once again showcasing the striking intersection of scientific discovery and visual artistry. The competition invites researchers, staff, and students from the Institute to submit images generated through their work that not only advance scientific understanding but also reveal the remarkable beauty embedded within the medical research world.
Professor Marc Pellegrini, Executive Director of the Centenary Institute (search), emphasized the dual significance of the competition. "These images demonstrate that scientific discovery is not only intellectually fascinating but can also be visually extraordinary," Professor Pellegrini said. "They provide a window into biological processes that are normally invisible to the human eye while highlighting the innovative research our scientists are undertaking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease."
First Prize: Landscape of Renewal
The top prize for 2026 was awarded to Landscape of Renewal, submitted by Dr. Mojdeh Abbasi from the Institute's Centre for Cancer Innovations. Captured using scanning electron microscopy, the image depicts limbal stem cells growing on a specially coated contact lens. These stem cells play a critical role in maintaining and regenerating the cornea. Resembling a miniature landscape, the image highlights an emerging approach to repairing the ocular surface and restoring vision.
Second Prize: Into the Galaxy
Second place went to Into the Galaxy, created by Serena Li from the Institute's Centre for Cardiovascular Research. The image reflects the ongoing search to uncover the genetic causes of inherited heart disease (search) by studying laboratory-grown heart cells. By examining individual cells, researchers gain vital clues to better understand these conditions and improve future diagnosis and treatment.
Third Prize: Between Attachment and Escape
Third place was awarded to Between Attachment and Escape, submitted by Dr. Thuy Luong, also from the Institute's Centre for Cancer Innovations. The image captures melanoma (search) cells at the critical point where they prepare to detach and migrate through the body. The underlying research investigates how cancer cells survive stress, resist treatment, and metastasize, with the aim of identifying new ways to prevent melanoma progression.
Public Engagement and History
Established in 2009, the 'When Art Meets Science Image Prize' celebrates the creativity of the Centenary Institute (search)'s research community, with winners selected each year by an independent panel of external judges. Members of the public are now invited to vote online for their favorite image in the Image Prize's 'People's Choice Award,' which is open at the Centenary Institute's website.
The Centenary Institute (search) is a world-leading independent medical research institute, closely affiliated with the University of Sydney and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Its research spans critical areas including cancer, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, infectious diseases, and biomedical AI, with a focus on uncovering disease mechanisms and applying this knowledge to improve diagnostics and treatments for patients.