Sir Alan Battersby, Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, is the joint recipient of the 2000 Welch Award, presented annually by the Welch Foundation based in Houston, USA.
Sir Alan Battersby, Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, is the joint recipient of the 2000 Welch Award, presented annually by the Welch Foundation based in Houston, USA.
Sir Alan Battersby, Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, is the joint recipient of the 2000 Welch Award, presented annually by the Welch Foundation based in Houston, USA.
Professor Sir Alan Battersby, joint recipient of this year's Welch Award for "important basic chemical research contributions that have had a significant, positive influence on mankind".
The award, worth US$300,000, was made in recognition of Professor Battersby's lifetime achievements in biosynthesis and bio-organic chemistry. Professor Batterby shares the award with Professor Ian Scott, Director of the Center for Biological NMR at Texas A&M University.
Complementary work by the two chemists resulted in decoding of the genetic blueprint, structure, and synthetic pathway for vitamin B12.
"Working separately, these two chemists have significantly increased our understanding of how nature makes products essential to human life", said Norman Hackerman, chairman of the Welch Scientific Advisory Board.
"In particular, after several decades of effort, Professors Scott and Battersby each finally unravelled the complicated pathway for creating vitamin B12 - a significant achievement. Their research shows great creativity combined with dedication and patience, using chemistry to answer difficult biological questions."
According to Professor Battersby, vitamin B12 - a structure called "frighteningly complex" by colleagues - "presented just the challenge I like. And the elucidation of the pathway to it, in collaboration with an outstanding group of French biologists, is one of the major highlights of my scientific career."
Professor Battersby accepted the Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge in 1969. He retired in 1992, and is currently writing detailed reports of his research findings. He has received numerous honours, holds honorary degrees from six universities, and in 1992 received a Knighthood for his lifetime contributions to science.
Further information:
The Welch Foundation web site
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