The 2026 Sabri Ülker Award For Future Science Leaders Goes to Biochemist Maria Elsa Pando San Martin
The Sabri Ülker Award For Future Science Leaders, presented since 2016 by the Sabri Ülker Foundation with the mission of communicating scientific knowledge to society in the most accurate way, has found its recipient at a ceremony held in Istanbul.
Recognized as one of the most prestigious award programs supporting young scientists conducting research on public health, this year’s award was granted to biochemist Dr. Maria Elsa Pando San Martin from the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nutrition at the University of Chile.
Award-Winning Project: An Innovative Vitamin B12 Delivery System through Circular Nutrition
The project led by Dr. Maria Elsa Pando San Martin introduces a “Circular Nutrition” approach, combining health and sustainability.
The study developed an innovative orally disintegrating film (ODF) with high bioavailability for Vitamin B12, specifically designed for elderly individuals experiencing swallowing difficulties, using an agricultural by-product—potato peels.
Within the scope of the project:
- Agricultural by-products (potato peels) are utilized
- The target group includes elderly individuals with swallowing difficulties
- An orally disintegrating Vitamin B12 delivery film (ODF) is developed
This innovative system:
- Dissolves in the mouth in less than 60 seconds
- Enables direct absorption of Vitamin B12
- Aims to significantly increase bioavailability
Dr. San Martin received her award from Yahya Ülker, Chairman of the Sabri Ülker Foundation.
Murat Ülker: “Supporting Scientific Production is Our Responsibility”
Murat Ülker expressed their pride in supporting individuals who contribute to science with the following words:
“When you look at the life of our founder Sabri Ülker, you clearly see one principle: contributing to humanity. His words, ‘The foundation of success is first hard work, then integrity, and then quality,’ continue to guide the way we do business.”
Yahya Ülker: “The Impact of Science Must Also Globalize”
Chairman of the Sabri Ülker Foundation, Yahya Ülker, emphasized in his speech:
“The true value of science emerges when it touches human life. This award is no longer just an award; it is a platform where ideas meet and collaborations are born.”
Dr. San Martin: “It Is a Great Honor to Be Recognized on This Platform”
This year’s recipient, Dr. San Martin, stated:
“My work aims to demonstrate how scientific knowledge can be transformed into solutions that directly impact human life. I believe that approaches integrating health and sustainability will play a defining role in the future.”
About Dr. Maria Elsa Pando San Martin and Her Research
Dr. San Martin, a faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nutrition at the University of Chile, has been actively involved in multidisciplinary projects as both a researcher and project leader throughout her career.
Her award-winning research integrates health and sustainability through a Circular Nutrition approach. The project focuses on developing an innovative Vitamin B12 delivery system in the form of orally disintegrating films, derived from potato peel-based starch—typically considered food industry waste.
These films dissolve in less than 60 seconds, enabling direct absorption into the systemic circulation and significantly improving the body’s ability to utilize Vitamin B12.
The project also has a strong environmental dimension, transforming agricultural waste into a high value-added biomedical product, thereby contributing to the circular economy and sustainable nutrition goals.
Dr. San Martin’s research focuses on circular economy, bioactive compounds, and innovative nutrient delivery systems. She leads the REVALIF International Research Network, supported by OEI and the European Union, and has received the OPENICS 2024 Health and Innovation Award for her ODF system for Vitamin B12.
She also holds a national patent on the structuring of omega-3 derivatives under supercritical CO₂ conditions and has contributed significantly to next-generation antioxidant lipid technologies. Her research interests include EPA/DHA-rich lipids, pomegranate peel polyphenols, and neurodegeneration.
Over the past five years, she has published more than 10 articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
