Dr Danuta Sampson, senior researcher at Lions Eye Institute, has been named one of eight finalists for the 2026 Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize.
The prize recognises early to mid-career women researchers across Australia and New Zealand, judged on innovation, impact and leadership. It is run by healthcare company Novo Nordisk, which has worked in diabetes treatment for more than a century, and is named for Dr Marie Krogh (1874–1943) — the Danish physician and physiologist who co-founded the company. Each finalist receives $5,000 to support their research, and the winner receives $50,000.
| Dr Sampson was selected for her work in precision eye care — developing world-leading retinal imaging tools and international standards that support earlier detection, monitoring and treatment of eye disease.
A physicist by training, Dr Sampson builds the instruments, protocols and image analysis methods that let clinicians and researchers measure the retina consistently, wherever the scan is taken. That consistency is what makes it possible to spot the earliest signs of disease and track how it changes over time. She holds an honorary appointment at The University of Western Australia’s Medical School. “Being named alongside this group of researchers is a real honour. Standardised retinal imaging is what allows a finding in one clinic to hold true in another — and that is how research reaches patients,” Dr Sampson said. |
 Dr Danuta Sampson |
The recognition follows the Australian and New Zealand Optical Society Mid-Career Prize in 2025, an SPIE Fellowship in January 2026, and her induction into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2026. Dr Sampson also leads mentoring and outreach programs for people underrepresented in science, and writes STEM books for children.
“Dr Sampson’s research plays a crucial role in deepening our understanding of retinal health and disease, and this recognition is thoroughly deserved,” Managing Director Dr Glen Power said.
The 2026 winner will be announced at an awards dinner in Canberra on Tuesday 13 October.
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