YAKULT MÉXICO

opens the call for the

 2026 MINORU SHIROTA AWARD

Thesis protocols in the area of ​​​​Probiotics and Intestinal Microbiota

Objective

Yakult Mexico has established this award to honour one of the most distinguished pioneers in the field of probiotic and gut microbiota research by supporting outstanding Mexican students during the development of their undergraduate or postgraduate thesis in the area of Probiotics and Gut Microbiota.

Guidelines

1. Undergraduate and postgraduate students in medicine, nutrition, food science and technology, or any related field may participate with their thesis research protocols.

2. Thesis research protocols related to probiotics, gut microbiota, prebiotics, synbiotics, as well as studies on milk or other fermented foods associated with benefits to consumer health, are eligible. The proposed work must be carried out at a research institution or higher education institution in Mexico.

3. Research protocols must include the following information in a manuscript not exceeding 10 pages:

• Title of the project
• Name of the student
• Thesis Supervisor’s Name
• Academic level of the thesis (bachelor, master’s, or doctoral)
• Institution where the thesis will be registered
• Institution where the research will be conducted (if different from the registering institution)
• The manuscript must include:

• Introduction: A section containing the background of the study supported by bibliographic references, justification of the project, objectives, and hypotheses.
• Materials and Methods: A description of the methodologies, analytical techniques, materials, and equipment to be used in the research. Statistical tools and methods to be employed must also be specified.
• References: A list, in alphabetical order, of only the references cited in the protocol.
• Available Infrastructure: A description of the infrastructure and technical support available for the research.
• Activity Schedule: A timetable outlining the main activities and their approximate duration.

4. Applications must be uploaded in PDF format only through the menu available on the event website: https://symposiumprobioticsmex.com.mx. Submissions must include the research protocol, a letter requesting admission to the competition signed by both the student and the thesis supervisor’s —providing the address, telephone number, and email address of each, so that contact may be established with them—and proof of thesis registration issued by the academic institution (the thesis must have been registered no more than four months prior to submission).

5. A panel of distinguished researchers specialising in topics related to the Award will be appointed, chaired by Dr Mariano García-Garibay, Professor in the Department of Food Science/Biotechnology at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana.

6. Winners will be notified by telephone or email. The results will be published on the event website from April 2026 onwards.

7. The prize amount will be fully donated by Yakult S.A. de C.V. and will consist of MXN $45,000.00 as support for the research project, to be donated to the institution where the experimental work will be carried out or is currently being conducted MXN $20,000.00 for the student.

The latter financial award shall expire if the student does not submit the printed thesis within two years for bachelor’s theses, three years for master’s theses, and four years for doctoral theses; these periods shall be counted from the date on which the student is notified as a prize recipient.

To disburse the corresponding amounts to both the institution and the student, all fiscal requirements must be fully met in order to ensure transparency in the allocation of the funds and the appropriate tax withholdings required by the fiscal authority.

8. Both the student and the supervisor will each receive a certificate acknowledging their award.

9. The jury may declare the award void, and its decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.

10. Submissions will be accepted in PDF format from the date of publication of this call and until 6 March 2026 at 16:00 hours, through the menu available on the event website:

        https://symposiumprobioticsmex.com.mx