Prof. Shankar Balasubramanian

Prof. Shankar Balasubramanian

He is a world leader in the study of quadruplex nucleic acids

Professor Shankar Balasubramanian from the University of Cambridge and winner of the 2013 Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity, was honored yesterday for his work at the annual American Chemical Society (ACS) gala dinner and ceremony in San Francisco.   Winners of the prestigious Tetrahedron Prize are often high potentials for the Nobel Prize awards and many are indeed Nobel Laureates.

Professor Balasubramanian is one of the most creative and influential chemical biologists of the 21st century.  He was honored for his many highly significant and seminal contributions to nucleic acid chemistry and biology.

He is a world leader in the study of quadruplex nucleic acids, and has demonstrated the existence of these structures in human cells, a landmark study that paves the way to therapeutic targeting of quadruplexes. He has creatively applied knowledge of nucleic acid chemistry to the invention of next-generation DNA sequencing which is revolutionizing genetics and its application to medicine.

Now in its 34th year, the Tetrahedron Award honors the memory of the founding Co-Chairmen of the Tetrahedron publications, Professor Sir Robert Robinson and Professor Robert Burns Woodward.  Winners receive $10,000, a gold medal and a certificate.  Executive Publisher, Diddel Francissen awarded the prize to Professor Balasubramanian at this year’s ceremony.

This link will take you to the awards page and video interviews with Professor Balasubramanian about his work and winning the award.

Link: http://www.elsevier.com/awards/global/tetrahedron-prize-for-creativity