Announcement
The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, in collaboration with the Global Preclinical Data Forum and Partnership for Assessment and Accreditation of Scientific Practice, thanks all researchers who submitted their work for consideration for the 2026 Best Negative Data Prize in Preclinical Neuroscience.
Following the prize's rigorous scientific review process, the review committee, chaired by Chantelle Ferland-Beckham and Anton Bespalov, determined that no submission this year fully met the prize's standards of rigor, transparency, and scientific impact. Accordingly, the committee has decided not to present the 2026 Prize.
We remain steadfast in our mission to elevate the value of well-conducted negative findings and to promote their publication as an essential part of a more transparent, reproducible, and efficient scientific enterprise.
We thank all applicants for their contributions and encourage researchers to continue submitting high-quality negative (or null) data publications in future prize cycles.
About the award
The award was founded to raise awareness about the importance of publishing well-conducted studies, regardless of the outcome. By encouraging the publication of negative data, it aims to forestall the loss of scientific knowledge and the unnecessary duplication of research efforts and the potential loss of time and money that might result, and to advance scientific integrity and increase public trust in research.
Award selection and presentation
The award is biennial. Following an open call, submissions are evaluated by the review committee and a winner is selected. The public presentation of the award will take place during the ECNP Congress, with travel and accommodation expenses covered by the ECNP.
For more information, please contact the ECNP Office via e-mail.
Previous winners
| Year | Winners | Publications |
| 2024 | Karlijn Kooij, The Netherlands | Fecal microbiota transplantation in anorexia nervosa didn’t alter flexible behaviour in rats |
| 2022 | No winner | - |
| 2020 |
Jeremy D. Bailoo et al. |
Evaluation of the effects of space allowance on measures of animal welfare in laboratory mice |
| 2018 |
Laura Luyten |
A preregistered, direct replication attempt of the retrieval-extinction effect in cued fear conditioning in rats. |