Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Education Minister Yoav Kish announced today that Prof. Shulamit Michaeli is the recipient of the 2026 Israel Prize in the field of life sciences research.
The award committee noted in its reasoning that Prof. Michaeli is a world-class pioneer in RNA research in parasites and a pioneer in the study of RNA and the function of its various forms, focusing on disease-causing parasites that attack populations from large regions of the world. A local example of these diseases is the “Rose of Jericho” disease, which is common in Israel and is caused by a Leishmania parasite.
The committee also noted that Prof. Michaeli’s research has shed light and continues to advance our understanding of the processes of processing and editing of RNA types in parasites, and its function in controlling the life of each cell. These studies are pioneering and have opened up the understanding of the function of modifications on small, non-coding RNA molecules. Her activity continues today at an impressive pace, with her research being published in the world’s leading journals and leading to important improvements in the medical treatment of diseases caused by parasites.