The Rainwater Charitable Foundation (RCF), one of the largest independent funders of neurodegenerative research to empower field-advancing programs, resources, and breakthrough discoveries for primary tauopathies, has announced the recipients of its 2026 Rainwater Prize.

The Rainwater Prize honors scientific contributions to the field of neurodegenerative research that target diseases associated with the accumulation of tau protein in the brain, with the goal of translating discoveries into meaningful therapeutic and diagnostic innovations.

“This year’s Rainwater Prize recipients are changing how the field understands and can ultimately treat tau-associated neurodegenerative diseases,” RCF President Jeremy Smith said in a statement. “Their work advances insight into tau biology and brings us closer to the day when patients and families affected by PSP, CBD, and related disorders have real therapeutic options.”

Award winners

Dennis W. Dickson, M.D., Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Florida; and Melissa E. Murray, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, will be co-awarded the Outstanding Innovation in Neurodegenerative Research Prize of $400,000.

Marc Aurel Busche, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Basel & Programme Leader, UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, will be awarded the Rainwater Prize for Innovative Early-Career Scientist of $200,000.

The awardees will be honored for their achievements at the 2026 Tau Global Conference in Washington, D.C., on May 14-15.

Primary tauopathies include devastating disorders such as progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, for which there are currently no disease-modifying treatments.

Dickson and Murray will be recognized for their collective efforts yielding transformational insights into the neuropathologic patterns and molecular mechanisms underlying PSP, CBD, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Busche will be honored for discovering the role that soluble oligomeric tau species plays in the dysfunction of neurons and its translational promise for primary tauopathies.

Outstanding Innovation in Neurodegenerative Research

Individually and together, Dickson’s and Murray’s achievements have significantly impacted the field of neurodegenerative disease research, RCF said. Together, they direct the world’s largest brain banks focused on tauopathies, collecting over 11,000 brain samples that support the pursuit of personalized therapeutic strategies.

Dickson’s expertise in neuropathologic diagnostics, including discoveries of mutations associated with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism, as well as accurate diagnostic criteria for CBD, have helped reshape understanding of tau-related diseases.

Murray’s application of digital pathology and cutting-edge imaging through her Translational Neuropathology Lab has pioneered advancements in Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathy research through better understanding of neuroimaging and plasma biomarkers.

Their complementary approaches point to distinct neuropathologic tau distribution patterns, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis, precise assessment of disease severity and brain health, and earlier detection of disease progression in primary tauopathies.

“I’m thrilled to receive this award for our comprehensive neuropathology and biomarker efforts in the field of neurodegenerative disease alongside Dr. Dickson,” Murray said in a statement. “As many tau-driven disorders such as PSP, FTD, and CBD remain understudied, the RCF’s commitment to initiatives like the Rainwater Prize is essential in accelerating future therapeutic innovations where there are critical gaps.”

“Receiving this prestigious prize in collaboration with Dr. Murray is both meaningful and motivating,” Dickson said. “We are eager to utilize these funds in hopes of advancing efforts to slow and ultimately stop the progression of tau-related diseases.”

Rainwater Prize for Innovative Early-Career Scientist

Through his findings, Busche has made meaningful contributions to advancing understanding of tauopathies through innovative in vivo methodologies. He and his lab identified soluble, high-molecular-weight tau as a primary determinant of neuronal dysfunction preceding neurodegeneration, a window in which future targeted interventions could potentially transform the management of primary tauopathies. This discovery suggests that symptoms come not only from irreversible neuronal loss but also from potentially reversible neuronal dysfunction driven by HMW tau.

“Neurodegenerative disease research is moving rapidly, as we identify more diagnostic markers and shed new light on the biological drivers of these diseases,” said Dr. Busche. “It is an honor to be recognized by the RCF, and my lab and I look forward to establishing an open data platform linking different tau species characteristics with their effects on brain activity to accelerate collective progress toward meaningful treatments.”

The Rainwater Charitable Foundation was created in the early 1990s by Richard E. Rainwater, the late private equity investor and philanthropist. When Rainwater was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease and primary tauopathy called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, the RCF expanded its mission to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments for tau-related neurodegenerative disorders. 

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.