The Ontario government is honouring the province's leading researchers and their innovations with the annual John Charles Polanyi Prize, one of Ontario's most esteemed research awards. Named after the 1986 Nobel laureate, the award recognizes discoveries that drive our economy, improve lives and protect Ontario.
On March 2nd, Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security was joined by the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Dr. John Charles Polanyi to celebrate the recipients at a ceremony at Queen's Park. This year's five recipients position Ontario as a leader in chemistry, economic science, literature and physiology/medicine.
"Ontario researchers are saving lives and building a brighter, more prosperous future for our province," said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. "Congratulations to the 2025 winners of the John Charles Polanyi Prizes for their outstanding achievements that continue to cement our province as a world-class hub of research excellence."
The 2025 Polanyi Prize researchers are recognized for their discoveries in industries that drive Ontario's economic success and prosperity, such as advanced manufacturing, housing, health care and more.
"These awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Ontarians of high promise," said Dr. John Charles Polanyi. "This year's recipients cover a huge range of thought, encompassing many shared fears and hopes. They clearly recognize the dangers in our period of rapid change, while acknowledging that change should be cause for optimism."
The 2025 Polanyi Prize winners are:
Dr. Katherine Marczenko, Carleton University, Chemistry
Dr. Katherine Marczenko's research focuses on making traditionally toxic energetic materials (EMs) safer and more environmentally friendly for real world applications. To do this, she has designed a new class of EMs that only react when exposed to light. Her work strengthens Ontario's leadership in advanced manufacturing and clean technology, while improving worker safety.
Dr. Fanwang Meng, Queen's University, Chemistry
Dr. Fanwang Meng's research uses machine learning to speed up drug discovery by improving how computers analyze limited and imperfect data. His work advances Ontario's leadership in life sciences and health innovation, reducing the time and cost needed to identify promising new treatments, such as therapies for diseases like malaria.
Dr. Jeffrey Hicks, University of Toronto, Economic Science
Dr. Jeffrey Hicks studies homelessness to better understand its causes, impacts and effective responses. By using detailed data to track housing insecurity, health and social outcomes, his work strengthens evidence-based decision-making and informs more effective prevention and support programs for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Andrew Sargent, Huron University College, Literature
Dr. Andrew Sargent studies early Victorian poetry to deepen our understanding of how societies make sense of uncertainty and large-scale change. These insights contribute to broader conversations about culture, history and how people understand the challenges of the present.
Dr. David Cook, University of Ottawa, Physiology/Medicine
Dr. David Cook's research focuses on how ovarian cancer cells change and adapt during treatment to understand why some current therapies stop working. By examining both common and rare forms of ovarian cancer using advanced laboratory and data tools, this work advances new approaches to target treatment-resistant cancer cells, contributing to better outcomes for patients across the province.
"Ontario's long-term prosperity depends on our ability to lead in discovery and turn ideas into impact. This year's Polanyi Prize winners are among the province's most exceptional researchers - individuals expanding the boundaries of knowledge and tackling complex real-world challenges," said Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities. "Their achievements reflect extraordinary talent and dedication, and demonstrate how research excellence drives progress, strengthens Ontario's competitiveness and delivers meaningful impact well beyond the lab."
Ontario's groundbreaking innovation continues to create jobs, improve lives and advance key sectors, making the province one of the most competitive places to invest, grow and do business in the G7. The Polanyi Prizes recognize the leadership of Ontario's top researchers and postsecondary institutions, reinforcing the province's position as a research powerhouse on the global stage.
Quick Facts
- Established in 1987, the Polanyi Prizes were created in honour of Dr. John Charles Polanyi, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
- Ontario is investing a historic $6.4 billion in additional funding to colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes through a new funding model.
- Since taking office, the government has invested over $2 billion into the research sector, including support for over 1,800 critical, economy-driving research projects.
- In January 2026, Ontario invested more than $47 million in 195 research projects at universities, colleges and hospitals across the province through the Ontario Research Fund.
- In November 2025, Ontario provided $19.5 million to establish the Centre for Fusion Energy, advancing clean energy research.
- In September 2025, Ontario invested $18 million to boost the production of life-saving medical isotopes at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor.
Quotes
"We are incredibly proud to see Kate Marczenko recognized for her impactful work with the prestigious Polanyi Prize. As the pace of innovation accelerates worldwide, awards like this enable researchers to advance discoveries that address critical global issues."
- Wisdom Tettey, President and Vice-Chancellor, Carleton University
"Congratulations to Dr. Fanwang Meng on receiving the Polanyi Prize for Chemistry. His research is reshaping the field of drug discovery, accelerating the identification of new medicines, and contributing to the development of safer, more effective treatments for Ontarians. Through the open-source release of his models and datasets, he is enabling collaboration across the global research community and exemplifying Queen's University's commitment to innovation in service of society."
- Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen's University
"On behalf of the University of Toronto, I am delighted to congratulate Professor Jeffrey Hicks on his winning the 2025 Polanyi Prize in Economic Science. Professor Hicks is poised to make major contributions in understanding the causes of homelessness and in shaping public policy to address it. He exemplifies the highest standards of research and innovation in service to individuals and society. We are proud of his accomplishments so far, and excited to see his career unfold in the years to come."
- Melanie A. Woodin, President, University of Toronto
"Dr. Andrew Sargent is one of those remarkable academics, who conducts research at the highest level and still manages to hold the attention of undergraduate students in the classroom. As a scholar of literature, his boundary crossing work also speaks to our time and its needs, exploring ecology and environmental issues. His course on "Ecology and Catastrophe" is wildly popular at Huron."
- Dr. Barry Craig, President and Vice-Chancellor, Huron University College
"The University of Ottawa is very proud to congratulate Dr. David Cook on this well-earned recognition of his groundbreaking research that has unlocked lifesaving insights into ovarian cancer treatments. Dr. Cook's drive to innovate and discover new knowledge is helping people access better treatments and lead healthier lives. As the second consecutive University of Ottawa researcher to receive the prestigious John Charles Polanyi Prize in Physiology and Medicine, Dr. Cook's leadership demonstrates how our partnerships with internationally recognized hospitals and health-care organizations are pushing the boundaries of health-care innovation in Ontario and around the world."
- Marie-Eve Sylvestre, President, University of Ottawa
