2022 Vilcek Foundation Prizes

Awarded annually, the Vilcek Foundation Prizes recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of immigrant professionals in biomedical science and in the arts and humanities in the United States. Each year, the foundation awards three major prizes: the Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science, the Vilcek Prize in the Arts and Humanities, and the Vilcek Prize for Excellence. In 2022, the Vilcek Foundation Prizes are awarded in Biomedical Science, in Dance, and for Excellence in Biotechnology.

The foundation also awards six Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise to immigrant professionals whose early-career work represents a significant contribution to their field, and demonstrates exceptional insight or innovation. In 2022, three Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise are awarded in two categories: biomedical science and dance.

The foundation’s prizes are a vital part of how the Vilcek Foundation accomplishes its mission. When we celebrate outstanding immigrants with our prizes, we raise awareness of the enormous contributions that immigrants make to intellectual and cultural life in the United States.

The recipients of the 2022 Vilcek Foundation Prizes have contributed to our understanding of the immune system, and cell pathology; they discovered methods for stabilizing mRNA, making the development of mRNA vaccines possible; and they have enriched and expanded the use of dance as an art form through their evocative performances and choreography.

The 2022 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science is awarded to Vishva M. Dixit (b. Kenya, to Indian parents.) The 2022 Vilcek Prize in Dance is awarded to Soledad Barrio. (b. Spain), and the 2022 Vilcek Prize for Excellence is awarded in biotechnology to Katalin Karikó (b. Hungary).

Markita del Carpio Landry (b. Canada, to a Bolivian mother and French Canadian father), Hani Goodarzi (b. Iran), and Harris Wang (b. China) are the recipients of the 2022 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science.

The 2022 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Dance are awarded to Tatiana Desardouin (b. Switzerland, of Haitian descent), Tamisha Guy (b. Trinidad and Tobago), and Leonardo Sandoval (b. Brazil).