The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper for their groundbreaking work in protein research, as announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Wednesday. Their innovations have significantly advanced our understanding and ability to design proteins, the building blocks fundamental to life.
David Baker, a renowned scientist from the University of Washington in Seattle, received half of the prize for his pioneering efforts in computational protein design. Since 2003, Baker has led initiatives to create imaginative protein structures with diverse applications, including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and miniature sensors. His team's work has opened new avenues in biotechnology and medicine, showcasing the potential of designed proteins to address complex challenges.
The other half of the prize was jointly awarded to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper from Google DeepMind in London for their exceptional achievements in protein structure prediction. Their innovative AI model can predict the three-dimensional structures of nearly all 200 million known proteins based solely on their amino acid sequences. This breakthrough allows scientists to unravel the complex configurations of proteins, accelerating research in biology and medicine.
\"One of the discoveries being recognized this year concerns the construction of spectacular proteins. The other is about fulfilling a 50-year-old dream: predicting protein structures from their amino acid sequences,\" the academy stated.
The Nobel Prize, one of the highest honors in the scientific community, comes with a monetary reward of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million). This accolade highlights the profound impact of Baker, Hassabis, and Jumper's work on the future of science and technology, paving the way for innovations that could revolutionize various industries and improve lives worldwide.
Reference(s):
Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to 3 scientists for work on proteins
cgtn.com
