Oncode Investigator Sebastian Pomplun has been awarded the 2026 Klaus Grohe Young Scientist Award, recognising his innovative contributions to medicinal chemistry and cancer drug discovery. The award honours the research programme he has built to develop new ways of targeting cancer-driving proteins that have long been difficult to reach with conventional medicines.

Many proteins that play a key role in cancer cannot be targeted by today's medicines, limiting treatment options for patients. Sebastian's research aims to overcome this challenge by developing new chemical approaches that expand the range of proteins that could become future drug targets.

At Leiden University and Oncode Institute, his group combines advanced screening technologies with the design of specialised molecules, including cell-penetrating mini-proteins, to identify new therapeutic opportunities. This approach could help researchers develop medicines for cancer targets that have previously been considered out of reach.

The Klaus Grohe Young Scientist Award recognises promising early-career researchers who are making significant contributions to medicinal chemistry in Europe. Sebastian will officially receive the award during the EFMC Medicinal Chemistry Conference in Basel in September.

About the Klaus Grohe Young Scientist Award

The Klaus Grohe Young Scientist Award recognises outstanding early-career researchers in medicinal chemistry across Europe. Presented every two years by the Klaus Grohe Foundation in partnership with the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the award supports innovative research that advances drug discovery and development. The prize includes €25,000 in research funding.