This week, the new members and associate members have been announced to the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). Professor Ragnhildur Thóra Káradóttir has been announced as one of the new members for 2026.
The new cohort consists of 71 life scientists from 23 countries who will join the global community of 2,200 scientists.
Professor Káradóttir, Group Leader at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, and Director of the MS Society Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair, has been elected in recognition of her pioneering contributions to the fields of myelin biology, regeneration and brain plasticity.
Thora says, “I am delighted to be elected to EMBO. I have been fortunate to work in an outstanding scientific environment at Cambridge and with exceptional PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, research staff and collaborators. This recognition reflects the collective effort of many people, and I hope it will help support our work to understand how myelin is formed, remodelled and regenerated, and how these processes shape brain function in health and disease, ultimately leading to novel therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases.”
Membership in EMBO is a lifelong honour, recognising excellence in research and exceptional achievements. EMBO members serve on councils, committees, and advisory editorial boards, and review funding applications. They also help to influence the research direction of life sciences and help to strengthen research communities in Europe and beyond.
The EMBO Members' Meeting will formally welcome Thora and her cohort in a celebration of the new members in Heidelberg, Germany this autumn. A full directory listing all members with affiliations and subject areas can be found on EMBO’s website.
EMBO Director Fiona Watt says, “It is a pleasure to welcome the new EMBO Members and Associate Members. Their election celebrates their achievements and creativity. By contributing their unique perspectives and experiences, they will greatly strengthen the network of leading life scientists who are shaping the field.”