Early Career Award
ISPAD Early Career Award recognizes members who are in the early stages of their career (less than seven years after their last degree or scientific promotion: Doctorate/Ph.D./Habilitation) for their research trajectory and a paper published in a peer-reviewed journal within two years of the application.
Nominations for the 2026 ISPAD Prizes are now closed.
The ISPAD Early Career Award is kindly sponsored by
The prize winner will be invited to attend ISPAD’s Annual Conference to officially receive the award at ISPAD’s Networking & Recognition Evening. ISPAD will cover registration, Economy travel, and accommodation.
ISPAD is honored to announce that 2026 ISPAD Early Career Award winner is:
Jean Claude Njabou Katte
Dr Jean Claude Njabou Katte is a physician-scientist specialising in global diabetes research, with a particular focus on understanding the heterogeneity and pathogenesis of young-onset diabetes in African and African-ancestry populations. He holds a Research Fellowship at the University of Exeter Medical School, United Kingdom, and serves as an Honorary Research Physician for the type 1 diabetes management programme; Changing Diabetes in Children programme in Cameroon.
He led the landmark Young-Onset Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa (YODA) study, which recruited more than 1,400 children and young adults with diabetes across sub-Saharan Africa. The study demonstrated that a previously unrecognised non-autoimmune insulin-deficient subtype of diabetes is common in African populations, challenging traditional paradigms of diabetes classification and opening new avenues for research and clinical care.
In addition to his work in Africa, Dr Katte holds a Visiting Scholar position in the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Group at the University of Bristol, where he investigates novel and unrecognised islet autoantibody markers for type 1 diabetes. He was recently awarded a prestigious Wellcome Early-Career Award to establish a longitudinal cohort that will investigate the causes, biological mechanisms, and risk factors underlying non-autoimmune insulin-deficient diabetes in Africa.
Dr Katte has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and has presented his work at leading international conferences, including those organised by ISPAD, the American Diabetes Association, the Immunology of Diabetes Society, and Diabetes UK. He has also delivered invited lectures across Africa, Europe, and North America, including the Pan African Federation for Endocrine Societies (PAFES) Lecture at the 58th Annual Congress of the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa.
A passionate advocate for research capacity strengthening in Africa, Dr Katte is committed to training the next generation of diabetes researchers and believes that international collaboration and community-driven action are essential to achieving equitable diabetes care worldwide.
He obtained his MD from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon, and his PhD from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
Previous winners
Jean Claude Njabou Katte
Dr Jean Claude Njabou Katte is a physician-scientist specialising in global diabetes research, with a particular focus on understanding the heterogeneity and pathogenesis of young-onset diabetes in African and African-ancestry populations. He holds a Research Fellowship at the University of Exeter Medical School, United Kingdom, and serves as an Honorary Research Physician for the type 1 diabetes management programme; Changing Diabetes in Children programme in Cameroon.
He led the landmark Young-Onset Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa (YODA) study, which recruited more than 1,400 children and young adults with diabetes across sub-Saharan Africa. The study demonstrated that a previously unrecognised non-autoimmune insulin-deficient subtype of diabetes is common in African populations, challenging traditional paradigms of diabetes classification and opening new avenues for research and clinical care.
In addition to his work in Africa, Dr Katte holds a Visiting Scholar position in the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Group at the University of Bristol, where he investigates novel and unrecognised islet autoantibody markers for type 1 diabetes. He was recently awarded a prestigious Wellcome Early-Career Award to establish a longitudinal cohort that will investigate the causes, biological mechanisms, and risk factors underlying non-autoimmune insulin-deficient diabetes in Africa.
Dr Katte has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and has presented his work at leading international conferences, including those organised by ISPAD, the American Diabetes Association, the Immunology of Diabetes Society, and Diabetes UK. He has also delivered invited lectures across Africa, Europe, and North America, including the Pan African Federation for Endocrine Societies (PAFES) Lecture at the 58th Annual Congress of the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa.
A passionate advocate for research capacity strengthening in Africa, Dr Katte is committed to training the next generation of diabetes researchers and believes that international collaboration and community-driven action are essential to achieving equitable diabetes care worldwide.
He obtained his MD from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon, and his PhD from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
Stefano Passanisi
Dr. Stefano Passanisi is a pediatrician and clinical researcher at the University of Messina, Italy, with a primary focus on pediatric and adolescent diabetes.
He obtained his medical degree in 2012, completed a pediatric residency in 2019, and completed a PhD course in Translational Molecular Medicine and Surgery in 2024. In 2025, he received the Italian National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor in Pediatrics.
Dr. Passanisi’s research explores the clinical application of diabetes technologies in youth, with a particular focus on automated insulin delivery systems, device-related skin complications, and psychosocial outcomes. He is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications and collaborates in several national and international research projects in pediatric diabetology.
He serves as editorial board member for various scientific journals and is a peer reviewer for international journals including Diabetologia, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, and Hormone Research in Pediatrics. He has presented his work at major international meetings and has been invited to speak at both national and international conferences.
An active member of ISPAD, Dr. Passanisi is part of the JENIOUS (Juniors in Educational Networking and International research Opportunities: United Sessions) interest group and served as JENIOUS Ambassador in 2023. He has also contributed as a mentor at an ISPAD Science School for Physicians and actively supports the training of early-career professionals in the field.
He is a co-author of national recommendations, clinical guidelines, and best practice documents for the management of type 1 diabetes in youth, produced within Italian scientific societies.
His clinical activity is centered at the Pediatric Diabetes Unit of the University Hospital of Messina, a regional referral center managing over 500 children and adolescents with diabetes, where he integrates research, education, and daily patient care.
Agata Chobot
Agata Chobot is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Opole, Poland, where she also serves as the Regional Consultant in pediatric gastroenterology. She earned her medical degree and Ph.D. from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, focusing on bone status in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Her next scientific degree (habilitation) was based also on research in pediatric diabetes. Specializing in pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology, she is also pursuing further specialization in diabetology.
Dr Agata Chobot has held positions at various hospitals, including the University Clinical Hospital in Opole and Clinical Hospital No1 in Zabrze. She played a key role in establishing a modern pediatric unit at the University of Opole and a regional pediatric diabetes center, recognized as a SWEET Center of Reference and an INNODIA Accredited Clinical Trial Site.
Her research primarily focuses on pediatric diabetes and gastroenterology, contributing to over 70 publications and five textbook chapters. Dr Agata Chobot participates in international research projects. She is actively involved in ISPAD, among others, as a past Leader of JENIOUS and Advisory Board member. She has received several awards for her scientific achievements, including honors from the Rector of the University of Opole and Diabetes Poland.
Beyond her research, Dr Agata Chobot mentors future medical professionals and leads student research groups. She is active in global pediatric diabetes initiatives, presenting at conferences and collaborating on projects aimed at improving pediatric diabetes care. Her voluntary work with various organizations reflects her commitment to enhancing the lives of children with diabetes through education and research. Dr Agata Chobot's expertise and passion continue to significantly impact pediatric gastroenterology and diabetology.
2023: Klemen Dovc, Slovenia
2022: Ananta Addala, USA
2021: Torben Biester, Germany
2020: Elisa De Franco, UK
2019: Gregory Forlenza, USA
2018: Martin Tauschmann, Austria
2017: Petter Bjornstad, USA
2016: Wojciech Fendler, Poland
2015: Loredana Marcovecchio, Italy
2014: Amy Shah, USA
2013: Rachel Besser, UK
2012: Natalia Marek, Poland
2011: Oscar Rubio-Cabezas, Spain
2010: Michael Haller, USA
2009: Jamil Malik, Netherlands
2008: Wojciech Mlynarski, Poland
2007: Helge Raeder, Norway
2006: Ethel Codner, Chile
How to nominate a candidate for this prize?
For this category, members can nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party who should be an ISPAD member.
The nominator/nominee should provide all documents below (in English):
- CV including the list of publications (without reprints), Scopus h-index, number of publications, and citation index
- A paper published in a peer-reviewed journal within two years of the application as first or last author (PDF file)
- Copy of the last degree/scientific promotion certificate
Send all the documents mentioned above to [email protected].
Eligibility criteria
- Less than seven years after their last degree or scientific promotion, i.e., Doctorate or Ph.D.
- Current ISPAD member and ISPAD member for at least 50% of the last 2 years
- All professions
Employment in the pharmaceutical sector may constitute a conflict of interest.