Prof. Shulamit Michaeli: Israel Prize Laureate in Life Sciences

Israel’s Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, announced yesterday that Prof. Shulamit Michaeli has been selected as the recipient of the Israel Prize in Life Sciences Research for 2025–2026.

The prize committee, chaired by Prof. Elisha Haas and including Prof. Hagai Bergman and Prof. Michal Shapira, recognized Prof. Michaeli for her pioneering contributions to RNA research, particularly her groundbreaking work on parasites that cause severe and widespread diseases around the world.

The Israel Prize is the State of Israel’s most prestigious honor, awarded to individuals whose work has made an exceptional contribution to science, culture, and society.

A Global Pioneer in RNA Research

Prof. Michaeli is internationally regarded as one of the leading pioneers in RNA biology. Her research has fundamentally expanded scientific understanding of how RNA molecules are processed, edited, and modified, processes that are essential for the regulation and survival of every living cell.

While RNA was once viewed mainly as a passive messenger between DNA and proteins, Prof. Michaeli’s work helped establish RNA as a dynamic and highly regulated molecule with diverse and critical roles in cellular life. Her studies revealed how different forms of RNA, including small non-coding RNAs, undergo complex modifications that control gene expression and cellular function.

These discoveries have influenced RNA research far beyond parasitology, contributing to broader insights in molecular biology, genetics, and medicine.

Focusing on Parasites That Impact Millions

A central focus of Prof. Michaeli’s research is parasitic organisms that cause devastating diseases, particularly in vulnerable populations across Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. Among these is leishmaniasis, known in Israel as “Jericho rose,” a disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus.

By studying RNA processing and regulation in these parasites, Prof. Michaeli has illuminated biological mechanisms that are fundamentally different from those found in humans. This distinction is crucial: it opens the door to developing targeted treatments that can attack the parasite without harming the host.

The prize committee emphasized that her work has not only advanced basic scientific knowledge, but also laid important foundations for improving medical treatment of parasitic diseases, conditions that are often underfunded and overlooked despite affecting millions worldwide.

Breakthroughs in RNA Processing and Editing

According to the committee’s citation, Prof. Michaeli’s research has been instrumental in uncovering how RNA editing and processing operate in parasitic cells, and how these mechanisms regulate the life cycle of the parasite itself.

Her pioneering studies helped establish the functional importance of RNA modifications in small, non-coding RNA molecules, an area that was largely unexplored when she began her work. These findings reshaped scientific thinking about RNA regulation and opened new research directions that continue to influence the field today.

Prof. Michaeli’s work is regularly published in leading international scientific journals and remains at the forefront of global RNA research, reflecting both its originality and its lasting scientific impact.

Building the Future of Israeli Science

Beyond her scientific discoveries, Prof. Michaeli has played a key role in strengthening Israel’s research ecosystem. She has been actively involved in influential national scientific frameworks and committees, contributing to the advancement of life sciences research across the country.

Equally important is her legacy as a mentor. Over the years, she has trained and guided a new generation of researchers, many of whom have gone on to hold academic and research positions in Israel and around the world. Through her students and collaborators, her influence continues to shape the future of scientific research well beyond her own laboratory.

A Prestigious National Honor

The Israel Prize is the highest recognition awarded by the State of Israel, honoring individuals whose work reflects excellence, innovation, and lasting contribution to society.

Prof. Michaeli will receive the award during the official ceremony marking Israel’s 78th Independence Day.

Her selection for the Israel Prize stands as a powerful recognition of scientific excellence, global impact, and a lifetime dedicated to advancing knowledge for the benefit of humanity.