Three researchers from laboratories based in Lyon have been selected among the 35 winners of the L'Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science 2026 Prize. Amandine Chantharath, Anne Gagneux, and Sibylle Grégoire are among the scientists honored this year for their groundbreaking work. The winners were chosen from 823 applicants representing 73 different nationalities by a jury of over 50 members of the French Academy of Sciences. The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 7, recognizing the contributions of early-career researchers across various scientific disciplines. Amandine Chantharath is a doctoral student at the International Research Center for Infectiology at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Lyon. Her research focuses on the diversity of immune defenses in living organisms, exploring topics such as future therapies, cancer, DNA, and the interactions between bacteria and human bodies. Her work has the potential to lead to new medical treatments and a deeper understanding of the human immune system. Anne Gagneux is also a doctoral student, but at the Laboratory for Parallel Computing at the ENS in Lyon. Her research delves into the creativity of generative artificial intelligence, examining how these systems can produce original content and ideas. Her work contributes to the growing field of AI development and its applications in various industries. Sibylle Grégoire, who holds a doctorate from the University of Lyon 1 and the Laboratory for Ultrasound Therapy and Applications (LabTAU), continues her research at the Langevin Institute of the ESPCI Paris. Her focus is on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, aiming to improve early detection and treatment strategies for heart-related conditions. Her work is crucial in addressing one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The L'Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Prize was established in 2007 to support early-career scientists, particularly women. Over the past 19 years, it has awarded grants to doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers, with amounts of 15,000 euros and 20,000 euros respectively. In addition to financial support, recipients also receive training in communication and leadership. As the prize celebrates its 20th edition, Pauline Avenel-Lam, executive director of the L'Oréal Foundation, emphasized the importance of recognizing women's contributions to science and the need for continued progress. "Celebrating the 20th edition, it is to show the exceptional impact of women on French research while recognizing the urgency to go further (...) For two decades, our conviction remains unshakable: the world needs science, and science needs women," she stated.