Recipients of the 2025 “Princess Chulabhorn Award” Announced

BANGKOK, July 2, 2026 – Chulabhorn Royal Academy, in collaboration with the Princess Chulabhorn Award Foundation under the Royal Patronage, officially announced the results of the 3rd Princess Chulabhorn Award for the year 2025. The announcement was made during a special commemorative lecture titled "Sirisilapin: Fantasia – The Reflection of HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s Benevolence” under the topic "Science for Humanity: Royal Dedication to Oncology," organized to celebrate the birthday anniversary of Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, President of Chulabhorn Royal Academy, on July 4, 2026. Associate Professor Dr.Tassana Boontong, Board Member and Secretary-General of the Princess Chulabhorn Award Foundation, delivered the keynote address at the Convention Hall, 6th Floor of the Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana Building, Chulabhorn Hospital. 

During the lecture, Associate Professor Dr.Tassana Boontong, expressed profound gratitude for the royal benevolence of Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana toward the Thai people. Widely revered as the "Princess Scientist," Her Royal Highness has relentlessly dedicated her physical and intellectual strength to research and development aimed at the prevention, control, and treatment of cancer. Recognizing the critical importance of elevating the quality of cancer patient care, Professor Dr. HRH Princess Chulabhorn founded Chulabhorn Hospital as a specialized institute specifically for cancer treatment. The hospital has since undergone continuous advancement, earning the profound trust and reliance of the public today. 

The "Princess Chulabhorn Award" is an international award established to pay tribute to and commemorate the global prestige of Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana on the auspicious occasion of her 65th birthday on July 4, 2022. It stands as a symbol of deep gratitude for her benevolence toward the Thai people, particularly her support for research and development in cancer prevention, control, and treatment. The Princess Chulabhorn Award recognizes and honors individuals or groups with exceptional excellence whose research, discoveries, or clinical treatments have yielded significant benefits and made monumental contributions to humanity on an international scale. The Foundation selects and announces one recipient annually, who receives a trophy and a monetary prize of USD 50,000, with the prestigious royal award presentation ceremony scheduled in July of each year. 

For the 3rd Princess Chulabhorn Award for the year 2025, the award is jointly presented to two distinguished recipients who have made monumental contributions and revolutionized the global landscape of cancer treatment:  Professor Wang Zhen-Yi, M.D. Honorary Director of the School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Professor Chen Zhu, M.D. Former Director of the Shanghai Institute of Hematology and President of the Red Cross Society of China. The work of both professors represents one of the most significant breakthroughs in medical history. Together, they discovered and developed a pioneering treatment for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL), which was historically considered one of the most lethal forms of leukemia. Patients diagnosed with APL frequently suffered swift fatalities due to severe hemorrhage, resulting in a survival rate of only 30% to 40%. However, both professors completely revolutionized cancer therapy by introducing a dual-targeted approach using All-trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA) combined with Arsenic Trioxide (ATO). This discovery shifted the therapeutic paradigm away from conventional chemotherapy, which relies on direct cytotoxicity and causes severe side effects, to an approach that "teaches or induces highly malignant mutated cancer cells to differentiate and transform back into normal, non-toxic cells." 

This therapy became the world's first chemotherapy-free regimen capable of curing advanced, metastatic cancer with minimal side effects. As a result, APL patients today experience a survival and cure rate as high as 90% to 95%. This breakthrough has transformed one of the most fatal diseases into the most curable form of leukemia, serving as a foundational blueprint for modern "Precision Medicine" and "Targeted Therapy." 

The most admirable aspect of their achievement, which truly aligns with Her Royal Highness's royal determination, is their "spirit of self-sacrifice." Neither professor filed for patents or copyrights for this monumental discovery. This selfless act has enabled pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide to produce ATRA and Arsenic Trioxide at affordable prices, making the life-saving treatment widely accessible to patients globally. The outstanding merits and dedication of Professor Wang Zhen-Yi and Professor Chen Zhu clearly affirm their exceptional worthiness for this prestigious royal award. The two laureates have not only utilized "Science for Humanity" to conquer a deadly disease but have also remained steadfastly committed to the public good, ensuring that humanity can access this cure with true equality. 

Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, as the Royal Patron of the Princess Chulabhorn Award Foundation, will graciously preside over the 3rd Princess Chulabhorn Award presentation ceremony for the year 2025 on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Asawin Grand Ballroom, Asawin Grand Convention Hotel, Bangkok. On this occasion, Her Royal Highness will also officially open the 3rd Princess Chulabhorn Award Academic Conference and attend the keynote lecture. 

Furthermore, to carry forward the royal determination to disseminate and promote cancer knowledge for the ultimate benefit of humanity, Chulabhorn Royal Academy and the Princess Chulabhorn Award Foundation have scheduled the 3rd Princess Chulabhorn Award Academic Conference under the theme THAILAND AGAINST CANCER AS ONE: “Genomic Medicine.” The conference will continue on Friday, July 10, 2026, to support and drive key national policies regarding cancer prevention, control, and treatment toward sustainable advancement in Thailand. The event will convene national experts to share insights, exploring genomic medicine technologies, cutting-edge research, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) poised to reshape the future of cancer patient care.
 
Conference Participation Details:
• Registered participants will be eligible for Continuing Nursing Education Units (5.0 CNEU credits) and Continuing Medical Education units (6.5 CME credits). 
•  Registration for the scientific conference is free of charge and can be accessed at: https://princess-chulabhorn-award-3.web.app.