Three chemists at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla were recognized Tuesday by the Royal Society of Chemistry, a world-renowned organization of chemists based in the United Kingdom, with more than 54,000 members.

Dale Boger, co-chair of the Department of Chemistry at TSRI, said he was “very honored and humbled” to receive the 2017 Robert Robinson Award from the RSC’s Organic Division for his studies in natural product synthesis, which could lead to new therapeutic treatments for challenging clinical needs.

Jin-Quan Yu, a professor of chemistry at TSRI, received the 2017 Pedler Award in recognition of his development of pioneering methods of C-H activation, a technique in chemistry that can lead to new pharmaceuticals and other natural products.

“I hope these new reactions will accelerate the discovery and synthesis of useful molecules, especially medicines,” Yu said. “It gives me a warm feeling to be recognized by the U.K. scientific community that I was part of for 10 years.”

Phil Baran, also a professor of chemistry at TSRI, received the RSC’s 2017 Merck, Sharp & Dohme Award, which honors contributions to any area of organic chemistry from a researcher under the age of 45.

Baran’s work focuses on developing new chemical reactions and methodologies for more efficient and economically viable routes in drug design.

The awards also bring the recipients a monetary prize, medal and guest lecture speaking tour dates in the U.K.

–City News Service

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