ӳý scientific adviser honored for innovative research
Carolyn Bertozzi is honored for her pioneering work in chemical biologyCarolyn Bertozzi, a new member of the ӳý's Board of Scientific Counselors, has been recognized for her pioneering work in chemical biology that has bolstered efforts to diagnose and treat a range of human diseases. Bertozzi today was named the 2010 recipient of the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize, which honors extraordinary mid-career scientists who aim to improve the world through technological invention and innovation.
Bertozzi, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and director of the Molecular Foundry at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has helped push the envelope of biotechnology through innovations in chemical biology. Among her many accomplishments, she has made fundamental scientific contributions through studies of complex sugar molecules (known as "glycans") and by developing a nanoscale needle that can inject materials into cells without harming them.
“The Lemelson award is game-changing from the professional standpoint and life-changing from the personal perspective,” said Bertozzi. “The recognition associated with this award brings well-deserved attention to the fields of chemical biology and glycobiology, both of which have been absolutely foundational for my work, and to the notion that tools from chemistry can propel the biomedical sciences in new directions.”
The Lemelson-MIT Prize "seeks to highlight the pivotal role inventive activity plays in the achievement of positive social, cultural and economic goals." It is awarded by the Lemelson-MIT Program, which is funded by the Lemelson Foundation and administered by the MIT School of Engineering.
Past recipients of the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize include Leroy Hood (2003), Thomas Fogarty (2000), and Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen (1996).
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