After years of studying the research of Artemisinin by Professor Tu Youyou’s group, Dr. Shukun Lin, the founder of MDPI, published a Special Issue titled “Artemisinin (Qinghaosu): Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Tu Youyou on the Occasion of her 80th Anniversary” in the MDPI journal Molecules in 2009. In this Special Issue, Professor Fulong Liao from the China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences published an Editorial and introduced the works of discoveries of Artemisinin by Professor Tu Youyou and her team. In 2015, Professor Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria”. In order to commemorate Prof. Tu’s contributions to human health and promote the passions and spirits conveyed by her experiences, MDPI set up “Tu Youyou Award” beginning in 2016 to recognize outstanding scholars who are dedicated to the research of natural products chemistry, and medicinal chemistry.
The Tu Youyou Award is awarded biennially. The awards committee will decide the winner by evaluation of the originality, scientific contributions, impact of the research of applicants, and so on. The winner will receive CHF 3000, an engraved plaque, and an award certificate.
Prof. Dr. Xiaoguang Lei
Prof. Dr. Xiaoguang Lei is currently the Boya Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Peking University. His laboratory at Peking University conducts research on the interface between chemistry and biology. He focuses on the function-oriented synthesis of structurally complex and bioactive natural products and systematically uses bioactive small molecules (ether natural products or unnatural compounds) to study their biological functions, elucidate molecular mechanisms of the essential biological pathways, and develop novel therapeutic agents for currently intractable human diseases, such as cancers and infectious diseases. In addition, he has been exploring the biosynthesis of plant-derived bioactive natural products and developing efficient chemoenzymatic approaches to access these complex molecules. During his career to date, Prof. Dr. Lei has distinguished himself with numerous high-quality contributions in diverse areas of natural product synthesis, chemical biology, and drug discovery. His investigations into the molecular details and mechanism at the interface between chemistry and biology have led to novel discoveries with potentially significant consequences for molecular medicine.


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National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, USA Details
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