Pictured: Sarah Teichmann at celebratory drinks at Churchill College (front row, centre)
Churchill College is celebrating the global success of Fellow Prof. Sarah Teichmann, who has been named a 2026 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Laureate for Europe. She is one of just five researchers worldwide to receive the award this year.
The award recognises Sarah’s work in genome science and computational biology. Her research focuses on understanding the human body at the level of individual cells, opening up new ways to study how our bodies function and how diseases develop.
Sarah is Chair in Stem Cell Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Her work in single-cell technologies is helping researchers map the many different cell types in the human body. This is already shaping advances in biomedical research, drug discovery, and public health.
The L’Oréal–UNESCO awards are now in their 28th year. This year’s competition was the most competitive to date, with 504 nominations from 89 countries. Sarah joins a global network of more than 5,000 women recognised through the programme, including 142 International Laureates, seven of whom have gone on to win Nobel Prizes.
To mark the achievement, the Master of Churchill College, Prof. Sharon Peacock, recently hosted a celebratory drinks reception. Fellows, students, and colleagues gathered to recognise Sarah’s contribution and its global impact.
Prof. Peacock said: “Sarah’s recognition on the world stage reflects not only the importance of her research, but also her commitment to collaboration, education, and inclusion. She is a role model within Churchill and beyond, and we are very proud to have her as a Fellow.”
By studying cells individually rather than in bulk, Sarah’s work reveals how different cell types develop, interact, and sometimes go wrong in disease. These insights are helping to shape new approaches to medicine and treatment.
She is also known for her leadership in large-scale scientific collaboration. Sarah co-founded the Human Cell Atlas, a major international effort to map every cell type in the human body. The project is widely seen as one of the most ambitious initiatives in modern biology.
Alongside her research, Sarah is a strong advocate for inclusion in science and a committed educator. Her work not only advances knowledge but also supports the next generation of scientists.
Reflecting on the award, Sarah said: “The Fondation L’Oréal’s motto is “The world needs science. And science needs women.” This resonates with science, where female scientists and scientific organisations continue to push for equality in pay, in access to research resources, and in lab space across much of the world. There is still room for improvement — which is what makes this L’Oréal-UNESCO award still relevant in 2026.”
Sarah was formally honoured at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 11 June. Sarah was nominated by Professor Dame Carol Robinson, a Churchill Fellow and previous recipient of the award. In total, three Churchill Fellows have received this award, including Professor Dame Carol Robinson, Professor Dame Athene Donald, and Sarah.
Members of the College and wider community will have an opportunity to hear more about her work later this year. On Friday 19 September, Sarah will give a talk exploring how new technologies are transforming our understanding of the human body.
Her lecture will look at how the body’s 37 trillion cells work together, and how scientists can now study this in detail using single-cell and spatial genomic tools. She will also discuss how these advances are helping to improve drug discovery and medicine.
The event is part of Churchill College’s Alumni Weekend programme and is also featured in the University’s Alumni Festival. Entry is free, but booking is essential, and all are welcome to attend. Book your place
Sarah’s recognition highlights the strength of research at Churchill College and its commitment to supporting leading scientists. Her work continues to inspire students, Fellows, and the wider community, and demonstrates the global impact of research taking place at the College.