Can Cenik Receives Moderna Award for Biomedical Innovation in RNA
The RNA Society honored Cenik for his work on RNA translation.
Can Cenik, associate professor of molecular biosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, received the 2026 Moderna Award for Biomedical Innovation in RNA from The RNA Society. Established in 2023, this award recognizes innovative contributions to the use or function of RNA in biomedicine, disease processes and treatments.
Can Cenik and his team seek to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the translation of specific RNAs into proteins. The Cenik Lab integrates computational biology and bioinformatics to work towards building a framework for predictive models that explain how cells regulate protein abundance.
Cenik, who came to UT Austin in 2018, will receive a cash prize of $2,500 and an engraved commemorative plaque, amidst other honors. He has also received an NIH early investigator award and a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Recruitment Award.
