Professor Toner Donated Mustafa Prize Earnings
The Harvard researcher has pledged his award funds to support young scientists through the Rasul Medal.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Science — General
Live Poll
Do you believe privately funded awards are an effective way to support local young scientists?
Biomedical engineering professor Mehmet Toner has donated his portion of the 2025 Mustafa Prize to fund the Rasul Medal and provide research grants. The donation supports efforts to bolster career opportunities for young scientists in the Islamic world.
Why it matters
By reinvesting his prize money, Toner aims to cultivate the next generation of scientific talent and foster global research cooperation. The funding directly supports the Rasul Medal, which recognizes researchers under the age of 40.
The Mustafa Prize, established in 2012, distributes a $500,000 award biennially. For the Rasul Medal, the selection process winnowed over 100,000 initial candidates down to a 24-person shortlist.
The players
Mehmet Toner
He is a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard Medical School who was recognized for developing nanomicrofluidic systems.
The details
Mehmet Toner, a professor at Harvard Medical School, earned his prize in 2025 for his work in nanomicrofluidic systems. His contribution will support early-career research for scientists under age 40, following an initial vetting process that considered over 55,000 candidates in biology and medicine alongside more than 26,000 in engineering.
Timeline
The Mustafa Prize was established in 2012.
Professor Mehmet Toner received the Mustafa Prize in 2025.
The Rasul Medal award ceremony is scheduled for December 2026.
The Big Picture
The donation follows the established mission of the Mustafa Prize to incentivize scientific achievement. It marks a departure from traditional prize consumption by reinvesting the funds into the Rasul Medal to sustain the growth of emerging research programs.
The infusion of funding for the Rasul Medal increases the resources available to early-career scientists, potentially accelerating the pace of discovery in nanomicrofluidics and medical technology. Recipients of these grants may soon see expanded capacity to pursue high-impact studies.
The takeaway
Donating high-profile prize winnings represents a strategic method for established researchers to mentor upcoming talent. Researchers can consider similar models to create sustainable funding pipelines for their specific fields.
What happens next
The winners of the Rasul Medal will be announced during the scheduled award ceremony in December 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in international research initiatives in our Science — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tehran Times.
Live Poll
Do you believe privately funded awards are an effective way to support local young scientists?
