David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper Win Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Groundbreaking Protein Research
David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on proteins, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced.
The prestigious award, worth 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.1 million), recognizes their significant contributions to the understanding and manipulation of protein structures, crucial to advancements in medicine and science.
Baker receives half of the prize for computational protein design
David Baker, a professor at the University of Washington, received half of the prize "for computational protein design." His work has opened doors for creating new proteins used in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other medical tools.
"I stood on the shoulders of giants," Baker said, adding how thrilled and honoured he was to receive the recognition. He shared that his wife screamed in excitement when they got the news.
Other half of prize goes to Hassabis and Jumper from Google DeepMind for AlphaFold2
The other half of the prize was shared by Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, who work at Google DeepMind in London. Their tool, AlphaFold2, has been revolutionary in predicting the structures of almost all known proteins.
The technology was called a “complete revolution," by the Nobel committee, who emphasised the widespread impact of AlphaFold2, which is now used by over 200 million people worldwide.
Work done by Baker, Hassabis and Jumper on proteins will push the boundaries of chemistry and biology
Proteins, often referred to as the building blocks of life, are vital in every cell of the human body. The ability to understand and predict their structure has paved the way for breakthroughs in drug development and biotechnology.
The Nobel committee praised both Baker’s design of new proteins and Hassabis and Jumper’s predictive work, highlighting how these achievements are pushing the boundaries of chemistry and biology.
Baker, Hassabis and Jumper join Marie Curie in ranks of Chemistry Nobel winners
The winners will officially receive their medals and cash prizes at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10th, accompanied by a grand banquet in City Hall. The Chemistry Nobel Prize may not always be the most headline-grabbing award, but this year’s win underlines its lasting importance in life-changing innovations.
Last year, the prize went to scientists for their discovery of quantum dots, which are used in various technologies from LED lamps to medical imaging. This year’s winners continue the tradition of profound contributions, with their work expected to influence science and medicine for years to come.
With this Nobel recognition, Baker, Hassabis, and Jumper join the ranks of legendary scientists like Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford, further cementing the significance of protein research in the modern world.
