Oman- Representing King Abdullah II, Prince Talal bin Mohammed and Princess Ghida Talal honored the researchers who won the Hussein Prize for Cancer Research for the year 2025, at a ceremony on Friday evening in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
The Hussein Prize for Cancer Research is awarded annually to honor outstanding contributions to cancer research, encourage efforts aimed at improving prevention and treatment methods, and enhance research cooperation at the regional and international levels.
During the past five years, the award has confirmed its commitment to making cancer research a top priority on regional agendas. It has brought together nearly 900 researchers and scientists from around the world, and has funded 8 innovative research projects for promising researchers.
The award was given to some of the brightest minds in research in the following categories for the year 2025:
For the Promising Researcher Scholarship, Dr. Temidayo Omolawi from Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences – Dubai Health Authority, and Dr. Larry Budji from the American University of Beirut#Al-Hussein_Award_for_Cancer_Research… pic.twitter.com/yH19OgwvBB
— King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (@KHCFKHCC) November 14, 2025
205 researchers from 26 countries applied for the fifth session.
Princess Ghida Talal said in her speech during the ceremony: When we launched the King Hussein Award for Cancer Research, we dared to dream of an Arab scientist with a strong impact on global research, and that dream has become a reality thanks to the creative Arab minds.
The award was given to a group of brilliant minds in the field of research in the following categories for the year 2025:
- The Promising Researcher Scholarship Award was won by Dr. Temidayo Omolawi from Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences – Dubai Health Authority, and Dr. Larry Budgey from the American University of Beirut.
- In the Emerging Investigator Award – International Track, Dr. Mina Sedrak from Johnson Health Comprehensive Cancer Center won. In the Emerging Researcher Award – Regional Track, Dr. Muhammad Jamaa from the University of Tunis Al-Manar and Dr. Welhan Al-Shaer from the University of Jordan won.
- Professor Hagop Kantarjian from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was honored with the Special Excellence in Scientific Research Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the understanding and treatment of leukemia.
- As for the Professional Development Program Award for Excellence in Cancer Care, it was given to the Regional Program for Training and Capacity Building in Pediatric Oncology, at the King Hussein Cancer Center.
- The Lifetime Achievement Award – International Track was won by Professor Muhammad Kharfan Dabaja from the Mayo Clinic, and the Lifetime Achievement Award – Regional Track was won by Professor Muhammad Abu Hilal from the University of Jordan.
For the Lifetime Achievement Award – International Track, Professor Muhammad Khirfan Dabaja from the Mayo Clinic
Regarding the Lifetime Achievement Award – Regional Track, Professor Muhammad Abu Hilal from the University of Jordan
In the Lifetime Achievement Award category at the international level: Prof. Mohamed Kharfan-Dabaja – May… pic.twitter.com/mT6i2dTPY3
— King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (@KHCFKHCC) November 14, 2025
The Hussein Prize for Cancer Research was launched in 2020, to enhance cancer research efforts in the Arab world, and in memory of King Hussein bin Talal, who has always believed in the importance of cancer research.
The award honors distinguished Arab researchers in the field of research, whether they are researchers with long experience or promising ones.
The award aims to raise the level of Arab research and develop it in order to understand the characteristics of cancer in our Arab region, so that we can confront and overcome cancer with advanced scientific methods.
The vision of the award is to enable health systems and researchers in the Arab world to raise the level of innovative cancer research in the Arab region.
The award celebrates pioneers in cancer research from medical personnel and leading institutions in the Arab world who have achieved outstanding and distinguished achievements in all areas of cancer research, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
The award aims to encourage the preparation of innovative research by individual researchers or teams of researchers in the Arab world, to contribute to bridging the gap in research at the regional level, to honor and support cancer research efforts, and to enhance cooperation between individual researchers, teams of researchers, and institutions in the Arab and Western worlds.
For the Emerging Investigator Award – International Track, Dr. Mina Sidrak from Johnson Health Comprehensive Cancer Center.
For the Emerging Researcher Award – Regional Track, Dr. Muhammad Jamaa from the University of Tunis Al-Manar and Dr. Welhan Al-Shaer from the University of Jordan.
In the Young Investigator Award category at the… pic.twitter.com/sOVZG4wtOl
— King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (@KHCFKHCC) November 14, 2025
The Hussein Award for Cancer Research includes the following branches:
- Promising Researcher Award
The Al Hussein Promising Researcher Grant provides funding for two research proposals completed in the Arab world by promising young researchers in any field related to cancer, through funding selected projects worth $100,000.
Over the course of two years, the Promising Researcher Scholarship seeks to inspire the new generation of talented researchers and provide them with the necessary resources, stimulating environment and support to prepare cutting-edge research in the Arab world.
- Emerging Researcher Award
The Emerging Researcher Award is granted within the Hussein Award for Cancer Research to honor researchers at the beginning of their careers (under the age of 45) for their influential and creative contributions to cancer research.
The award includes two tracks: the regional track to honor young researchers working in the region, and the international track to honor young researchers of Arab origins working outside the region.
The prize value is $20,000.
- Lifetime Achievement Award
This award includes two tracks: the regional one to honor Arab researchers working in the region, and the international one to honor Arab researchers working outside the region.
The prize value is $30,000.