The SSA awards two prizes each year for excellence in the field of addiction. Find out how to apply for the 2025 Fred Yates Prize for Early Career Researchers and the 2025 Impact Prize.
Applications are now open for two prestigious prizes:
- The Fred Yates Prize for Early Career Researchers is awarded to an early career researcher for their significant and specific contributions to the field of addiction.
- The Impact Prize is awarded to a person or team whose work has had a strong public-facing impact.
Previous winners
Dr Katie East was named the 2024 winner of the Fred Yates Prize for Early Career Researchers in recognition of her “outstanding contribution, predominantly in the area of nicotine product use and perceptions”.
Dr Sharon Cox was announced as the 2024 winner of the Impact Prize for her broad portfolio of work on smoking, and success in directly influencing policy by securing investment in smoking cessation interventions for people experiencing homelessness.
How to apply
To be eligible to apply for the Fred Yates Prize for Early Career Researchers, you must be a current SSA member or associate, and you must provide a supporting statement from someone else who is a current SSA member or associate. Your application should include evidence that you are an active researcher in the field of addiction, have had one or more publications (or manuscripts accepted for publication) in the previous 12 months, and have demonstrated enthusiasm and potential future leadership. To be considered for the 2025 award, please complete the online application form by 10 June 2025.
To be eligible for the Impact Prize, you must be a current SSA member or associate. Your application should include evidence that your research has made a difference, for example, through talking about your research on TV, or in local or national media, influencing government policy or treatment provision, or collaborating with policymakers, treatment providers, or people who use drugs. To be considered for the 2025 award, please complete the online application form by 10 June 2025.
This year’s winners will be invited to speak at the SSA’s Annual Conference in Newcastle upon Tyne on 6–7 November.
