We are pleased to announce that Marta Kovatcheva has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 EACR-Mark Foundation-Pezcoller Foundation Rising Star Award. Established in 2023, this prestigious award recognises one outstanding cancer researcher annually and aims to support pioneering projects that can have a transformative impact on the field.
Marta Kovatcheva, Group Leader at the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Italy, was selected for her innovative research proposal on ‘Controlling epithelial cell plasticity during tissue regeneration using one-carbon metabolism’. She was chosen as the winner following a thorough evaluation by an independent review panel, with members from the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, and the Pezcoller Foundation.
The EACR-Mark Foundation-Pezcoller Foundation Rising Star Award 2025 was open to EACR members with an unfunded Score ‘A’ cancer-related project from the 2024 ERC Starting Grant calls. The award grants the recipient up to €100,000 in funding to commence their project, with an additional 10% allocated for institutional overheads. The intention behind this award is to facilitate the advancement of exceptional cancer research by bridging the period before resubmission to the ERC.
Marta will formally accept the award and present her work at the EACR 2025 Congress (Lisbon, Portugal, 16-19 June 2025). This gathering of leading scientists and researchers from around the world offers a platform to exchange knowledge, foster collaborations, and inspire new breakthroughs in cancer research.
In response to the award, Marta Kovatcheva shared, “Receiving this award is an incredible honour. I am truly humbled and grateful to have been chosen, especially considering the extraordinary caliber and creativity of the applicants. Experimentally speaking, this recognition is a very exciting opportunity for the lab to embark on some of our most ambitious research lines, which we hope will significantly contribute to our understanding of cancer initiation and progression. I am especially looking forward to the opportunity to share our work at the annual EACR Meeting, at the Pezcoller Foundation, and with the Mark Foundation community; these organisations embody the spirit of collaboration and excellence in cancer research.”
She continued, “I believe that the greatest strides in our research tend to emerge from fruitful conversations, inspiring ideas, and meaningful collaborations, and I am deeply grateful to the Rising Star Award for providing recognition and the impetus to propel our work forward.”
Jane Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the EACR, remarked, “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Marta, who is the third winner of the award. I am delighted that our valued partners, the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research and the Pezcoller Foundation, have committed to extending our collaboration, ensuring this prestigious award continues for another three years. Together, we’re proud to be driving progress in cancer research across Europe.”
Ryan Schoenfeld, Chief Executive Officer of the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, also extends his congratulations, “The Mark Foundation is delighted to continue to support the Rising Star Award, which has already helped two outstanding cancer researchers advance impactful projects. We are confident that Dr. Kovatcheva’s work on epithelial cell plasticity will further demonstrate the value of investing in early-career scientists. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the EACR and Pezcoller Foundation, which makes this research possible.”
The President of The Pezcoller Foundation, Enzo Galligioni, shared, “If it is true that today’s research is the premise for tomorrow’s cancer cure, it is even more likely that talented young researchers, such as the winners of the EACR-Mark Foundation-Pezcoller Foundation Rising Star Award, will be among those who can make the greatest contributions to the development of cancer knowledge and treatment. So, we are especially proud for this collaboration with the EACR and the Mark Foundation for this important Award and we congratulate Marta Kovatcheva and wish her all the best in her research.”
Please join us in congratulating Marta Kovatcheva on this well-earned recognition and wishing her continued success as she leads her groundbreaking research efforts.
Looking ahead: 2026 Rising Star Award
Preparations are underway for the 2026 EACR-Mark Foundation-Pezcoller Foundation Rising Star Award. We encourage researchers and scientists in the field of cancer research to look out for the announcement in 2025 of the call for applications.
About Marta Kovatcheva: Marta Kovatcheva is a Group Leader at IFOM – The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Italy. Her research program seeks to understand autonomous and paracrine mechanisms of cell plasticity, how they are altered during aging, and what consequences this has for cancer and other age-associated diseases.
About the EACR: The European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) is a professional membership organisation dedicated to advancing cancer research through communication, collaboration, and dissemination of knowledge.
About the Mark Foundation: The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is a philanthropic organisation committed to accelerating cancer research and translating discoveries into improved patient care.
About the Pezcoller Foundation: The Pezcoller Foundation promotes and supports scientific research in oncology and recognises outstanding contributions to the field.