Tu Youyou Award

Established in honor of Professor Tu Youyou, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for her key contributions to the discovery of Artemisinin, which is used as an antimalarial agent, the Tu Youyou Award is presented bienially to a researcher of any age who has made significant, high-impact contributions to natural product or medicinal chemistry research. Prof. Tu tested the toxicity of her new drug by taking it herself; she put herself in harm’s way in order to produce a compound that would go on to save the lives of millions. Molecules established the Tu Youyou Award in order to highlight and celebrate researchers who, like Tu Youyou, dedicate their lives in various ways to research that improves the lives of others. The Award is given for the originality of the nominee's research, the importance of the work, and the quality of publications. The winner receives 3000 CHF and an engraved plaque.

About 2020 winner

The winner of the Molecules 2020 Tu Youyou Award is

Prof. Mauro Maccarrone.

Mauro Maccarrone is a Professor and Chair of Biochemistry at the University of L'Aquila. He is also the Director of the Lipid Neurochemistry Laboratory at the European Centre for Brain Research (Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome). His group is comprised of four units, and they are highly integrated and have collaborated for more than 15 years (they are located at Tor Vergata University of Rome, University of Teramo, Santa Lucia Foundation, and Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome). Prof. Maccarrone’s research focuses on a novel class of lipid signalling molecules: the endocannabinoids, and resulted in numerous articles published in prestigious journals which have been cited many times. Most importantly, his work has great translational potential and has opened new avenues for the treatment of a number of diseases that altered endocannabinoid functions in a pathogenic capacity. This is an outstanding achievement in a scientific environment that is only becoming more competitive. Please join us in congratulating Prof. Mauro Maccarrone for his commitment and wish him the best in future endeavours. Let’s learn some more interesting facts while listening to the interview!

 

Contact: 
Dr. Agnieszka Witkowska
Scientific Officer—Chemistry
agnieszka.witkowska@mdpi.com