| Citation | Distinguished for his wide ranging work especially on molecular recognition, artificial enzymes and enzyme inhibition. His first studies focused on the antibiotic vancomycin and led to the design of simple receptors based on aminopyridines which bound a variety of biologically significant substrates. His seminal work on hydrogen bonding, pi-stacking and hydrophobic interactions led (a) to synthetic receptors that mimic enzymes in that they bring about impressive accelerations of a range of reactions important in biology; (b) to materials that undergo self assembly into well defined aggregates and (c) to synthetic systems that recognise the exterior of proteins and so allow specific binding. He has also contributed strongly to novel approaches for the treatment of cancer. His outstanding researches have had a major impact on several interdisciplinary areas including design of receptors, development of catalysts and enzyme inhibitors, protein recognition and signal transduction. |