The 2026 Canada Gairdner Awards were officially announced on March 31. Wolfgang Baumeister, director of the Cryo-Electron Tomography Facility at the iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, director emeritus of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, has been awarded the 2026 Canada Gairdner International Award for his outstanding contributions to the pioneering development and application of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) technology.
Professor Baumeister revolutionized the fields of structural biology and cell biology by developing cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). This technique enables scientists to directly observe the three-dimensional structures of biomolecules inside cells under conditions close to their native, living state. Traditional structural biology typically requires isolating protein molecules from cells for study, a process that often results in the loss of critical information about how they function collaboratively within the cellular environment. In contrast, cryo-ET allows researchers to reveal the authentic processes of molecular interactions while preserving the cell’s natural context, shifting research from “in vitro analysis” to “in situ observation.”
Video screenshot on the official website of the Canada Gairdner Awards
To promote the widespread application of cryo-ET in cellular research, he systematically developed several key methods: using cryo-focused ion beam technology to prepare electron-transparent cellular samples; automating the electron microscopy imaging process to ensure stability and reliability in data collection; optimizing electron dose to minimize radiation damage; and creating computational analysis tools for identifying molecular complexes within cells. He first applied this technology to resolve the proteasome, revealing its spatial organization, dynamic behavior, and supramolecular architecture inside cells. In recent years, cryo-ET has been widely used to study numerous cellular processes.
Video screenshot on the official website of the Canada Gairdner Awards
Professor Baumeister’s series of innovative methods have fundamentally transformed the way scientists explore the inner workings of cells. Cryo-ET allows researchers to observe molecular assemblies in their natural environment and uncover the mechanisms by which proteins and complexes interact to carry out essential cellular processes. This has deepened our understanding of life’s fundamental mechanisms. At the same time, he has trained and led an internationally influential research community. Today, researchers around the world are extensively applying cryo-ET to address major scientific questions in structural biology, cell biology, and medicine. He has helped establish cryo-ET as a foundational and essential technology for exploring biological and disease mechanisms, providing unprecedented high-resolution tools for analyzing the molecular mechanisms of life. His pioneering work in cryo-ET has not only driven a paradigm shift in life science research but also provided critical tools and fresh perspectives for understanding health and disease. This award marks yet another high-level international recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of biomedical science.
Professor Baumeister joined ShanghaiTech University in 2019 as director of the Cryo-Electron Tomography Facility at the iHuman Institute. In 2025, he received the 2025 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine for his pioneering development and application of cryo-ET technology.
Group photo of the ShanghaiTech iHuman Institute team (Baumeister is third from left in the second row)
The Canada Gairdner Awards are presented by the Gairdner Foundation, which was established in 1957. It is one of the world’s most influential biomedical award organizations, dedicated to recognizing scientists who have made outstanding contributions to improving human health. The Gairdner Awards consist of eight prizes each year—five Canada Gairdner International Awards, one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, and two Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Awards. The Canada Gairdner International Award is given specifically to scientists who have achieved original breakthroughs in biomedical research with far-reaching impact on global health.