“More targeted drugs”, “faster development of vaccines”, “greener chemical industry”… The Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to three researchers for their work on proteins

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded on Wednesday half to the American David Baker and the other half to the British Demis Hassabis and the American John Jumper for their work on proteins, announced the Royal Academy of Sciences of Suede.

The Nobel Academy awarded David Baker “for computational protein design” and Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction.”

“Chemists have long dreamed of understanding and perfectly mastering the chemical tools of life: proteins,” explained the Academy. “This dream is now within reach.”

“Discoveries with enormous potential”

2024 Chemistry Laureates Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper have successfully used artificial intelligence to predict the structure of almost every known protein. This year’s chemistry winner David Baker learned to master the building blocks of life and create entirely new proteins. “The potential of their discoveries is enormous,” explained the Nobel Academy.

The ability to create proteins with new functions is equally astonishing. This can lead to new nanomaterials, targeted pharmaceuticals, faster vaccine development, minimal sensors and a greener chemical industry – to name just a few applications that will benefit the greater good of humanity .