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- Fadma Lakhal receives the prestigious 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award
On October 7, 2026, Fadma Lakhal, a PhD student in the Nuclear Dynamics research unit (CNRS UMR3664/Sorbonne Université) at Institut Curie, received the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award during a ceremony at the Académie des sciences. This prestigious distinction recognizes her research on Rad51, a protein essential to DNA repair whose deregulation plays a role in many cancers.
For its 20th edition, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award honors 35 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for the excellence of their work and their commitment to sharing their passion for science with future generations of women researchers. In 2026, they were selected from 823 applications representing 73 nationalities.
Among them is Fadma Lakhal, a PhD student in the Compartmentalization and Dynamics of Nuclear Functions research team (CNRS UMR3664/Sorbonne Université), led by Dr. Angela Taddei at Institut Curie. Her PhD research focuses on Rad51, a key protein involved in DNA repair.
Using advanced microscopy techniques, she seeks to better understand its organization and function at a scale invisible to the naked eye. This is particularly important in cancer research: Rad51 is deregulated in many tumors, which can contribute to metastasis formation and resistance to chemotherapy. A better understanding of its structure and function could therefore help identify new therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment.
The award also highlights the path that led her to research. Originally from Antibes, Fadma Lakhal completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nice. Her interest in health and how living systems work led her to biology, while discovering microscopy during her master’s degree quickly became a true passion and is now at the heart of her research.
“Receiving this award is an immense source of pride. In my family, the women before me did not have the opportunity to pursue an education, so being recognized today for my research means a great deal to me. It makes me realize how far I have come. I also hope it can give other young women confidence and show them that they truly have a place in science,” she says.
Beyond this recognition, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award supports young women researchers at a pivotal stage in their careers. The laureates receive financial support as well as leadership training designed to help them move forward in their careers and strengthen their place in research.
Fadma Lakhal also joins an international community of more than 5,000 women scientists from over 140 countries brought together through the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program. The network is designed to foster exchange, inspiration, and mutual support among women scientists throughout their careers.
