The Welch Foundation is one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for fundamental chemical research at universities, colleges, and other educational institutions in Texas.

The Welch Foundation has awarded the 2026 Robert A. Welch Award in Chemistry to Robert S. Langer.
Dr. Langer, David H. Koch Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is honored for pioneering discoveries at the intersection of chemistry and medicine that led to understanding how to control the release of therapeutic macromolecules through materials and how to create new tissues and organs.

Damian Young, Director of the Center for Drug Discovery and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology & Immunology, and his co-investigators Martin M. Matzuk, Zhi Tan, and Mingxing Teng at Baylor College of Medicine


Howard Payne University (HPU), a Christ-centered liberal arts institution in Brownwood, Texas, is known for its close-knit academic community and strong emphasis on mentoring and personal connection.

Jannette Dufour’s research explores the role of Sertoli cells, found in testes, in regulating the immune response that protects developing sperm. The goal is to better understand the mechanism to improve their protection capabilities and extend this ability to other tissues.

Dino Villagrán, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Texas at El Paso, is exploring the rational design of molecular systems and well-defined inorganic architectures to investigate electron transfer (ET) and electrocatalysis for the activation of small molecules of energy and environmental concern.
Research Grants, Departmental Grants, Catalyst for Discovery Grants, Postdoctoral Fellow Grants, WelchX Pilot Grants, and Endowed Chairs
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