Professor Maria Dušinská has been awarded the Poulsson Prize 2026 in recognition of her outstanding and internationally renowned contributions to the field of toxicology.
Dušinská is honoured for her pioneering work in genetic toxicology and nanotoxicology, where she has significantly advanced the understanding of DNA damage, oxidative stress, and the health effects of environmental contaminants, chemicals, and nanomaterials. Her research has played a key role in shaping both scientific knowledge and regulatory practices.
Throughout her career, including her roles at the University of Oslo and as former Director of the Health Effects Laboratory at NILU, she has been instrumental in developing innovative in vitro methods and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), supporting the transition toward mechanistically informed and non-animal testing strategies.
A central contribution of her work is the development and global standardisation of the comet assay as a sensitive tool for detecting DNA damage. Through international collaboration and leadership, she has helped establish this method as a cornerstone in biomonitoring and regulatory toxicology.
Dušinská has also made major contributions to European and Norwegian nanosafety research, strengthening competence and collaboration through leadership in initiatives such as NanoREG and NorNanoREG.
With more than 350 scientific publications and over 22,000 citations, she is widely recognised as a leading figure in her field. Her recent receipt of the Fritz Sobel Award further highlights her lifetime achievements and international impact. Maria Dušinská exemplifies the spirit of the Poulsson Prize through her scientific excellence, global influence, and long-standing contributions to advancing toxicology and protecting human health.