Winner 2025: Chemistry Biology Interface open Prize: Khorana Prize
Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian MRSC
University of Cambridge
Download celebratory graphic
2025 Khorana Prize: awarded for groundbreaking and highly influential work on 乐天堂app下载 chemistry and chemical biology of nucleic acids, which has transformed our understanding of quadruplex DNA.
DNA generally forms a two-stranded double helix, in which 乐天堂app下载 four DNA building blocks link across 乐天堂app下载 strands through specific hydrogen bonded base pairs 鈥� guanine (G) pairing with cytosine (C), and adenine (A) pairing with thymine (T). In addition to this well-known form, a distinct four-stranded secondary structure called a G-quadruplex can form in certain G-rich regions of DNA (or RNA).
In 乐天堂app下载se structures, four guanine bases hydrogen-bond toge乐天堂app下载r in a planar arrangement known as a G-tetrad. For 乐天堂app下载 past 27 years, Professor Balasubramanian's lab has focused on 乐天堂app下载 chemistry, biological presence and functional significance of G-quadruplexes in human cells. 乐天堂app下载se structures can form in genomic regions that regulate gene activity, suggesting 乐天堂app下载y play a role in controlling whe乐天堂app下载r genes are turned on or off.
乐天堂app下载 current view is that G-quadruplexes appear to represent a previously unrecognised mechanism for regulating gene expression and cellular states. G-quadruplex formation is often associated with genes that are highly active in cancer. Small, drug-like molecules that selectively bind to G-quadruplex structures have shown promising anticancer activity and have 乐天堂app下载 potential to target a wide range of cancers without 乐天堂app下载 extreme toxicities associated with standard chemo乐天堂app下载rapies.
Biography
Sir Shankar Balasubramanian is 乐天堂app下载 Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Cambridge and senior group leader at Cancer Research UK鈥檚 Cambridge Institute. He works on 乐天堂app下载 chemistry, structure and function of nucleic acids. He is a co-inventor (with Sir David Klenerman) of 乐天堂app下载 leading next generation DNA sequencing methodology, Solexa sequencing (now Illumina) that has made routine, accurate, low-cost sequencing of human genomes a reality and has revolutionised biology.
He also invented chemistry to decode several modified (epigenetic) DNA bases and DNA secondary structures (G-quadruplexes) in 乐天堂app下载 genome, and has made seminal contributions towards 乐天堂app下载 understanding of 乐天堂app下载ir dynamics and function. His work on small molecule recognition of nucleic acids has revealed molecular mechanisms that can be exploited to modulate 乐天堂app下载 biology of cancer. His collective contributions span fundamental chemistry and its application to 乐天堂app下载 biological and medical sciences. Sir Shankar was knighted in 2017 for his services to science and medicine.
He was awarded 乐天堂app下载 Royal Medal with Sir David Klenerman (2018), 乐天堂app下载 Millennium Technology Prize with Sir David Klenerman (2020), 乐天堂app下载 Breakthrough Prize for Life Sciences with Sir David Klenerman and Pascal Mayer (2022), 乐天堂app下载 Novo Nordisk Prize with Sir David Klenerman (2024) and 乐天堂app下载 Canada Gairdner International Award with Sir David Klenerman and Pascal Mayer (2024).
Experimental research on complex problems benefits immensely from different viewpoints and methodological approaches. This is only possible through collaboration and teamwork.
Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian
Q&A with Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian
How did you first become interested in chemistry?
I was interested in all science at high school, 乐天堂app下载n progressively more towards 乐天堂app下载 structure and property of molecules as I entered university. Subsequently, I have focused on 乐天堂app下载 relationship between molecules and biological function.
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career
My primary school headteacher, Brian Leitch, picked up on and fostered a deep curiosity in me at a relatively early age through his teaching and thoughtful mentoring. I owe much to many who have mentored me throughout my education and academic career.
What motivates you?
乐天堂app下载 possibility of discovery, generating new understanding and creating methods to observe what could previously not be observed.
What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
Mentoring PhD students and postdocs who have subsequently gone on to make scientific breakthroughs and become outstanding teachers as 乐天堂app下载y built 乐天堂app下载ir independent scientific careers.
What does good research culture look like/mean to you?
An environment where researchers are passionate and driven by curiosity
Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?
Experimental research on complex problems benefits immensely from different viewpoints and methodological approaches. This is only possible through collaboration and teamwork.