Lasker Medical Video Essay Contest
New for 2026! The Lasker Foundation is proud to announce a refreshed format for its annual student essay contest. For 2026, the annual essay contest will transition to a video, reflecting the growing importance of visual storytelling in conveying complex biomedical research to diverse audiences.
The Lasker video essay contest provides talented, early-career medical students and researchers with an opportunity to develop critical science communication and video production skills — capabilities increasingly essential for modern scientific leadership. Those eligible include:
- Medical students, interns, residents, and fellows;
- Doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in biomedical sciences;
- Trainees with up to six (6) years of post-PhD research experience; and
- Graduate students enrolled in health professions programs (e.g., public health, dental, pharmacy, etc.) who are currently engaged in research activities.
The video essay contest is sponsored and presented by the Lasker Foundation — our client, and home to the Lasker Award, regarded as America’s preeminent biomedical research prize for nearly 80 years.
Video Submission Requirements and Details:
• Video Topic: Describe a biomedical research question you are studying (or would like to explore) and
how it could or should be addressed to benefit science and patients in the future.
• Length: 2 minutes max
• Content in English
• Deadline: April 2, 2026
Winners receive up to $5,000 to offset educational expenses, along with substantive recognition from one of biomedical research’s most distinguished institutions.
Winning video essays will be prominently featured on the Lasker Foundation website and promoted through the Journal of Clinical Investigation’s July 2026 edition, providing national visibility for participants’ work.
Further information about the Video Essay Contest available here