Wolfson Visiting Scholar Awarded Prestigious Honma Prize

The College was delighted to hear that Visiting Scholar Professor Hiroki R. Ueda has been awarded the 2026 Aschoff and Honma Prize for Biological Rhythm Research, one of the most distinguished international honours in the field of chronobiology.

The award was announced by the Aschoff and Honma Memorial Foundation, which recognised Professor Ueda’s pioneering contributions to the understanding of circadian rhythms and sleep. The Foundation highlighted his innovative use of systems biology approaches, alongside the development of molecular and cellular tools that have advanced the study of biological timing mechanisms and sleep regulation.

Professor Ueda’s research has provided important insights into the mechanisms governing sleep induction and maintenance. His work has helped establish a central role for calcium signalling and calcium-dependent kinase pathways in the regulation of sleep, contributing significantly to the broader understanding of how biological rhythms influence health and behaviour.

The Aschoff and Honma Prize was established in 1984 to recognise outstanding contributions to biological rhythm research; it has honoured many of the world’s leading chronobiologists, including pioneers whose work has shaped contemporary understanding of circadian clocks and sleep biology. The prize is awarded through an international selection process overseen by leading researchers in the field.

Professor Ueda joins an illustrious group of previous recipients whose research has transformed the study of biological timing systems.

The award ceremony will take place on 11 September 2026 at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan.

Wolfson congratulates Professor Ueda on this outstanding achievement.

To learn more about the Aschoff and Honma Prize, click here.