The BNA recognises, promotes and supports neuroscientific excellence via a number of prize schemes. Read below for full details and past prize winners.
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This is the most prestigious of the BNA's awards.
Any member of the BNA can make a nomination for the BNA Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience Award. Candidates need not be members of the BNA, but nominations must be made and supported by BNA members.
Please submit nominations for this prize by completing the online application form. The deadline for nominations is 31st October. These should make a case for why the nominee should be recognised for their work in neuroscience. If you have any questions please contact the BNA office.
| Year | Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience |
| 2020 | Professor Karen Duff Associate Director (Professor in Dementia and Neurodegeneration) at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL. |
| 2019 |
Professor Steve McMahon |
| 2018 | Professor Irene Tracey Head of Department for the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Professor of Anaesthetic Science Oxford University |
| 2017 | Professor Michael Owen Professor of Psychological Medicine (Psychiatry) Cardiff University |
| 2016 | Professor David Ogden Université Paris Descartes |
| 2015 | Professor Angela Vincent MBBS (Hon PhD Bergen) FRCPath FMedSci FRD, University of Oxford |
| 2014 | Professor Dame Kay Davies CBE, DBE, F.MedSci., FRS. University of Oxford |
| 2013 | Professor Uta Frith Professor of Cognitive Development UCL Institute of Neuroscience |
| 2012 | Professor Steven Rose Emeritus Professor of Biology, Open University. Emeritus Professor of Phsick, Gresham College London. Visiting Professor, University College London. |
| 2011 | Sir Gabriel Horn FRS FRCP Emeritus Professor of Zoology University of Cambridge |
| 2010 | Not awarded |
| 2009 | FRS Professor Geoffrey Burnstock FRS |
| 2008 | FRS Professor Chris Frith FRS |
| 2007 | Professor John O'Keefe FRS |
| 2006 | Professor Horace Barlow FRS |
| 2005 | Professor Richard Gregory FRS |
| 2004 | Professor Geoffrey Raisman FRS |
| 2003 | Dr Tim Bliss |
| 2002 | Professor Richard Morris FRS FRSE |
| 2001 | Professor Colin Blakemore FRS |
| 2000 | Professor Patrick Wall FRS First recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Neuroscience Award |
Any member of the BNA can make a nomination for the BNA award for public engagement. Candidates need not be members of the BNA, but nominations must be made and supported by BNA members.
Please submit nominations for this prize by completing the online application form. The deadline for nominations is 31st October. These should make a case for why the nominee should be recognised for their work, in any capacity, in the field of public engagement in neuroscience.
| Year | Public Engagement of Neuroscience |
| 2020 | Matt Eagles Matt Eagles has been living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) for some 45 years, but has never succumbed and has been using his enormous experience of this brain disease to raise awareness of PD, acting as a tireless patient advocate and a frequent public speaker contributing to charity events, clinical and scientific meetings and conferences. |
| 2019 | Dr Dean Burnett Dean Burnett is a neuroscientist, lecturer, author, blogger, podcaster, pundit, science communicator, comedian and numerous other things, depending on who’s asking and what they need. |
| 2018 | Dr Emma Yhnell Cardiff University. Health and Care Research Wales Fellow working in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI). Fellowship focusing on computerised cognitive training (brain training) for people with Huntington's disease. Dedicated STEM ambassador and role model who was awarded the prestigious Charles Darwin Lecture at the 2018 British Science Festival. |
| 2017 | Dr Dervila Glynn University of Cambridge. Neuroscience coordinator who supports neuroscientists across the institution through activities including conferences and seminars. Significant contributor to BRAINfest public event in 2017. |
| 2016 | Dr Emma Robinson University of Bristol. A full time neuroscientist who is also highly active in carrying out public engagement, and in facilitating other people to do so via the Bristol Neuroscience Festival. |
| Public Understanding of Neuroscience | |
| 2015 |
Professor Mark Lythgoe |
| 2014 | Science Media Centre Fiona Fox, Chief Executive and Dr Edward Sykes, Senior Press Manager and Head of Mental Health & Neuroscience. |
| 2013 | Dr Jane Haley Edinburgh Neuroscience Coordinator, University of Edinburgh |
| 2012 | Claudia Hammond British author, occasional TV presenter, and frequent radio presenter with the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 |
| 2011 | Oliver Sacks MD FRCP Neurologist and Author; Columbia University, New York |
| 2010 | Ben Goldacre Medical doctor, author and blogger |
| 2009 | Mary Baker MBE |
| 2008 | Sir Terry Pratchett |
| 2007 | Lord (David) Sainsbury of Turville |
| 2006 | Michael Robins |
| 2005 | Dr Mark Matfield |
| 2004 | European DANA Alliance for the Brain (EDAB) |
| 2003 | Lord (Jack) Ashley of Stoke |
| 2002 | Marjorie Wallace (SANE) |
| 2001 | Lord (Brian) Rix of Hornsea (MENCAP) |
| 2000 | Andrew Blake |
| 1999 | Julia Somerville First recipient of the BNA Public Service Award |
Each year, the BNA awards an undergraduate (£250) and a postgraduate (£500) prize to student BNA members. Our prize winners often, if not always, go on to be highly successful in their chosen fields, playing a leading role in neuroscience.
Applicants for both postgraduate and undergraduate prizes must be current BNA members. All nominations should be sent by email to office@bna.org.uk by 31st October each year. We encourage you to nominate your students!
The specific requirements for applicants can be found under the 'For members' section of the website. Please get in touch with any questions.
| Year | Undergraduate Winner | Postgraduate Winner |
| 2020 | Tahnee Mackensen (University of Edinburgh) |
Alexander Bates (University of Cambridge) |
| 2019 |
Pia Siegele |
James Phillips |
| 2018 | Rachel Coney (University of Leeds) |
Delia Fuhrmann (University College London) |
| 2017 | Irene Echeverria Altuna (University College London) |
Gido van de Ven (University of Oxford) |
| 2016 | Jointly awarded to: Alina Gutoreva (University of Leeds) Blair Wilson (University of Edinburgh) |
Chen Song (University College London) |
| 2015 | Veselina Petrova (University of Edinburgh) |
Kathryn Mills (University College London) |
| 2014 | Lauren Byrne (University of Edinburgh) |
Linda Katona (University of Oxford) |
| 2013 | Elina Jacobs (University of Edinburgh) |
Rumana Chowdhury (University College London) |
| 2012 | Lewis Hou (University of Edinburgh) |
Dr Florence Rose Fricker (King's College London) |
| 2011 | Kate Clark (University of Central Lancashire) Special Commendation to Joseph Norris (King's College London) |
Dr Christian Münch (LMB, University of Cambridge) |
| 2010 | Owen Thomas (University of Birmingham) Special Commendation to Sally Harris (University of Bristol) |
Dr Stephanie Burnett |
| 2009 | Not awarded | Not awarded |
| 2008 | Phillip Goldrich (University of Leeds) |
Dr Lara Menzies (University of Cambridge) |
| 2007 | Richard Hickman (University of Birmingham) |
Dr Rosamund Langston (University of Edinburgh) |
| 2006 | Sophie Buglass (University of Leeds) |
Dr Karen Luyt (University of Bristol) |
| 2005 | Jointly awarded to: Luxmi Fatimathas (University College London) Matthew Martin (University of Bradford) |
Dr Felipe Court (University of Edinburgh) |
The BNA is excited to announce the launch for the second cohort of the BNA Scholars programme.
The purpose of the BNA Scholars programme is to support students from underrepresented ethnic groups to thrive in neuroscience, and build a supportive community through networking opportunities, bursaries and mentorship.
Key dates:
5 October 2021: Scholar and mentor applications open
15 December 2021 (23:59 GMT): Scholar applications close
1 February 2022 (23:59 GMT): Mentor applications close
February 2022: Scholars announced
March 2022: Mentors matched with Scholars
What is offered
There are seven places on the BNA Scholars programme in this first year (a pilot year). Successful BNA Scholars will remain on the programme for three years* and the programme confers the following benefits for the full three years*:
*If the Scholar completes their neuroscience degree and does not remain in the neuroscience sector (where ‘the neuroscience sector’ includes any neuroscience-related role in the public, charity or commercial sector, including both academia and industry) before the three years are completed, they will receive free BNA Associate membership for the remainder of the three years but no other benefits. If the scholar is still in process of completing their neuroscience degree after the three years have finished, then ongoing inclusion on the scholarship will be reviewed on a year by year basis. We will take into consideration any required career breaks (e.g for caring responsibilities) on a case by case basis.
**Only available to the second cohort of Scholars
Expectations of BNA Scholars
Expectations of BNA Scholars are as follows:
There is an expectation of 4-6 meetings between the Scholar and mentor per year. The format of meeting can be decided between the Scholar and mentor, whether they take place online, over the phone or in person (when permitted).
Eligibility of Scholars
Scholar applicants must be:
Expectations of mentors
Expectations of mentors are as follows:
There is an expectation of 4-6 meetings between the Scholar and mentor per year. The format of meeting can be decided between the Scholar and mentor, whether they take place online, over the phone or in person (when permitted).
Eligibility of mentors
We are welcoming mentor applications from all ethnicities and all career stages.
BNA Scholar candidates will be asked of their mentor preferences during their application stage and successful candidates will be matched with a mentor through a review panel.
Selection process
To ensure fairness in the selecting process, all application form data will be anonymised. A review panel, chaired by the BNA National Committee member for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), has been set up to assist in the initial Scholar selection process and the mentor matching process.
If there are a greater number of applicants who meet all criteria than there are scholarships available, then factors including the following will be considered when selecting the successful applicants:
BNA Scholar and mentor matching process
After the announcement of successful BNA Scholars, the mentor matching process will take place.
There will be a no-commitment introduction meeting between the BNA Scholar and mentor before a final decision is made. We want to reassure applicants that the BNA is committed to ensuring the BNA Scholar feels well-matched with their mentor.
BNA Scholar attendance at BNA Festivals of Neuroscience and FENS Forums
We expect the successful BNA Scholar candidates to attend the biennial BNA Festivals of Neuroscience and, in the intervening years, the biennial FENS Forums. These events will be a thoroughly enjoyable experience, whilst offering the opportunity to present a poster and network.
If a successful BNA Scholar has already registered and submitted a poster abstract for BNA Festival of Neuroscience, then the BNA will issue a refund. In the case of successful BNA Scholar candidates who have not registered or submitted a poster abstract, we will offer a special abstract submission window in which they can do so. The poster abstract will be subject to peer-review prior to acceptance.
Please ensure you fill in the correct application form for either the BNA Scholar or mentor position.
BNA Scholar application form: You will be asked to provide general applicant details and information regarding your current degree programme/course. You will also be asked to provide 200 words on your research interests and plans for the future, as well as 200 words on why you want to be part of the programme and how you think it might benefit you.
Please fill in the form below or click here to open up the form in a new window to apply to be a BNA Scholar.
Mentor application form: You will be asked to provide general applicant details and information regarding your current career stage. You will also be asked to describe your expertise (research area, techniques you use, experience to date etc) and to provide 200 words on why you want to be a mentor on the programme and how you think you are well-suited to be a mentor.
Please fill in the form below or click here to open up the form in a new window to apply to be a mentor.
The BNA Scholars programme is proudly supported by our eight Founding Supporters: Bristol Neuroscience (University of Bristol), COMPASS Pathways, DeepMind, Gatsby Foundation, Guarantors of Brain, International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), MSD and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI), as well as new supporters HelloBio. We are incredibly grateful for their cohesive commitment to the BNA Scholars programme and associated EDI activities.
The Credibility Prizes aim to recognise work within the field of neuroscience that reflect outstanding efforts to make neuroscience research as credible as possible – either directly through leading by example in the course of their own research, or through efforts aimed at aiding neuroscientists to do this more widely.
We piloted these in 2021 – find out about the winners by visiting our BNA Credibility website here and check back for our 2022 nominations later this year.
The Gatsby FoundationWe are very grateful to the Gatsby Foundation for their ongoing support of the BNA, including our BNA Scholars programme and Credibility in Neuroscience campaign.
We are delighted to announce that, thanks to the support of the Guarantors of Brain, the BNA is awarding Carer Grants of up to £200 to help cover expenses associated with caring responsibilities and thereby enable participation in either BNA-hosted or external neuroscience events.
These BNA-Brain Carer Grants are inclusive of different circumstances and varied caring responsibilities, and can be used to support the attendance of in-person or online events. They are simply intended to enable participation of neuroscientists in a conference, workshop, training or other activity that is of benefit to their research, teaching or career, which would otherwise be difficult or impossible due to their caring responsibilities.
We appreciate that there are multiple ways in which people manage caring responsibilities and we welcome applications from a broad range of family systems.
It might be that parents of school age children apply for a grant to access a paid-for online learning programme for older children. Carers of younger children might want to access professional childcare. People may be caring for older relatives or neighbours, and need a professional carer to allow them time to participate in events.
BNA-Brain Carer grants can be used to support participation of any delegate attending either a BNA-hosted or external neuroscience event, whether or not they are presenting any work. This includes in-person or online events.
You can apply for a BNA-Brain Carer grant at any career stage, from student to professor.
Preference will be given to those with younger children and/or extenuating circumstances.
We recognise that everyone's circumstances will be different, and we want these grants to meet as many different and varied needs as possible. So long as you can provide a good case for why you need a grant to cover costs, it will be considered for funding. Such costs could include but are not limited to:
To be eligible for a BNA-Brain Carer grant you must meet the following criteria:
To apply for a grant just fill in the form below. You will be asked to provide:
Please complete the form below or click here to open in a new window.
We are very grateful to the Guarantors of Brain for their continued commitment to the BNA-Brain Carer grants and are proud that we can continue to support our neuroscience community through this important initiative.
