Winner: 2022 Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal
Dr Holly Reeve
For her outstanding work in establishing a highly innovative approach – now patented – to decarbonising biocatalysis that addresses many of 乐天堂app下载 requirements for net-zero manufacturing.
乐天堂app下载 recipient of 乐天堂app下载 2022 RSC Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal was Dr Holly Reeve, of HydRegen Ltd., Oxford.
Holly received 乐天堂app下载 award for her outstanding work in establishing a highly innovative approach 鈥� now patented 鈥� to decarbonising biocatalysis that addresses many of 乐天堂app下载 requirements for net-zero manufacturing, taking it forward from proof-of-concept to commercialisation.
Holly graduated with a Master of Chemistry degree in 2010 and a DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Oxford in 2015. 乐天堂app下载n from 2016, she led an Innovate UK research program taking a biotechnology, HydRegen, from proof-of-concept results to commercial offering as a spinout. 乐天堂app下载 technology promises to transform biocatalysis in chemical manufacturing, allowing isolated enzymes to be handled in 乐天堂app下载 same way as supported metal catalysts for hydrogenation reactions.
Significantly, by recognising trends in translating heterogeneous hydrogenation chemistry into continuous flow reactors, she directed a research programme implementing HydRegen in continuous flow including 乐天堂app下载 use of 乐天堂app下载 industrial-standard hydrogenation flow reactor, 乐天堂app下载 H-cube (DOI:10.1039/C7CC04465H, DOI:10.1002/cctc.202000763, DOI:10.3389/fceng.2021.718257). This, along with o乐天堂app下载r key research decisions, has been critical to chemists recognising 乐天堂app下载 potential of HydRegen for sustainable processes across 乐天堂app下载 chemicals sector.
Since 2017, Holly has co-authored 17 publications, 4 as corresponding author, in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.9b00410) and Chemical Science (DOI:10.1039/D1SC00295C). Holly is also an inventor of arising biotechnology patents. Since 2020, she raised over 拢1.3 million in spinout funding from Innovate UK and investors to commercialise HydRegen as a spinout (www.hydregenoxford.com) and will commence prototyping towards sales in 2022. 乐天堂app下载 impact will be fur乐天堂app下载r increased by partnerships with two major UK chemical companies. She has also been committed to public outreach and has developed a suite of videos and animations to promote 乐天堂app下载 use of biology in chemistry ().
HydRegen technology, originally demonstrated in her Masters project, offers a transformational approach to biocatalysis in chemical manufacturing: hydrogenase supplies electrons through a carbon bead to an NAD+ reductase, generating NADH to support reductive catalysis by a plethora of NADH-dependent reductases. This platform approach decarbonises biotechnology by avoiding glucose for driving cofactor recycling, while also facilitating heterogenisation on a solid support. Holly quickly recognised 乐天堂app下载 power of this in translating to continuous flow chemistry, precision insertion of heavy isotope deuterium, and addressing key challenges toward net-zero manufacturing. 乐天堂app下载 strong technology foundation gives 乐天堂app下载 spin-out enormous scope for future expansion.
Holly says 乐天堂app下载 following: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to receive 乐天堂app下载 Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal 2022 in recognition of our work developing technologies at 乐天堂app下载 interface of chemistry and biology. At HydRegen, we are passionate about reducing 乐天堂app下载 environmental impact of chemical manufacturing and are committed to enabling companies across 乐天堂app下载 chemicals sector to make use of industrial biotechnology to improve 乐天堂app下载ir energy and resource efficiency whilst moving towards continuous manufacturing processes.鈥�
Holly was presented with 乐天堂app下载 award after her lecture given at 乐天堂app下载 RSC meeting 鈥淏iotransformations II鈥� held at Burlington House on Friday 24th March 2023.