IAB Award for Bioethics Service in the Face of Challenges

The IAB is calling for nominations for the 2026 IAB Award for Bioethics Service in the Face of Challenges.

Nominations must be submitted by 27th February 2026 via [this form]

This award recognizes and honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to bioethics under difficult or unfavorable circumstances. It seeks to highlight those who, beyond academic scholarship, have advanced bioethics in practice — championing efforts that mobilize knowledge into impact and create meaningful change at local, national, or international levels.

Who can be nominated?

Nominees may be at any stage of their career, need not be IAB members, and do not require university or institutional affiliation.

Nominators must be IAB members (limited to one nomination per cycle).

Each nomination must be supported by three referees, who may be non-members.

Possible nominees include, for example, those who have significantly:

- raised awareness regarding bioethical issues

- implemented bioethics guidance

- developed policies that advance ethics in health

- promoted the interests of marginalized or vulnerable populations or individuals

- built capacity for bioethics in regions with particular needs

- contributed to ethical reflection and responsible conduct

- enhanced equitable provision of healthcare services, at a clinical or a public health level

The IAB Award for Bioethics Service in the Face of Challenges is accompanied by a US $500 monetary award.

Nominator must provide:

- Information on the Nominee

- Information on themselves

- A statement of 500 words

- Three (3) Reference Letters (1-page)

All nominations will be evaluated by the IAB Board of Directors based solely on the significance of the candidate’s contributions.

The award ceremony will take place at the World Congress of Bioethics 2026 (Johannesburg, South Africa) and the recipient of the award will be featured on the IAB website, bulletin and social media platforms.

JAB-IAB Fellowship Fund for the 36th annual JAB conference

Based upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Japan Association for Bioethics (JAB) and International Association of Bioethics (IAB), the JAB-IAB Fellowship Fund, which is paid in full by JAB, invites one of IAB’s members to attend the annual JAB conference for the purpose of enhancing international exchange and collaboration between IAB and JAB members.

The 36th annual conference will be held on November 16th to 17th, 2024, at Ritsumeikan University Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC), located in Osaka. For more information, click here.