11/02/25
We are delighted to announce that Professor Corinne Houart has received the 2025 Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Award (CNV Award) from the European Zebrafish Society. This esteemed award honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to zebrafish research, reflecting the legacy of Nobel laureate and developmental biologist, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard.
Professor Houart, a long-standing senior faculty member, currently serves as Vice Dean for Research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Her group investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving zebrafish forebrain development and the evolutionary processes underlying vertebrate brain regionalisation.
Beyond her research, Professor Houart has played a pivotal role in mentoring the next generation of scientists and creating a collaborative international community. She has been a faculty member of the Marine Biological Laboratory’s international zebrafish summer course since its inception in 1998 and served as its director from 2011 to 2017. Her dedication to mentorship is evident in the success of her trainees, many of whom have become leaders in the field. Corinne has held leadership positions within both the European Zebrafish Society and the International Zebrafish Society, contributing significantly to the zebrafish research community.
Commenting on her Award, Professor Houart said
“I am touched by this recognition, coming from a research community in which I grew up as a scientist. The zebrafish research field was very small when I joined and led by outstanding scientists with vision and a unique collaborative inclusive ethos that my generation thrived to transmit. I am deeply grateful for the nurturing environment in which I developed (as a research leader and educator) and for my amazing team members, colleagues and students I worked with over 25 years. This award is theirs.”
In recognition of her scientific achievements, Professor Houart was elected to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2021 and has received the Medical Research Council’s Suffrage Science award, honouring leading female scientists for their contributions and mentorship in science.
For more information about the CNV Award and previous recipients, please visit the European Zebrafish Society’s official announcement.
