News at Chemistry - BMC

In 1997, Christopher A. Lipinski and his colleagues published their guidelines for how to make drugs that are more easily absorbed by the body, and for several years their "rule of 5" has been the guiding principle in drug research and drug design. The question is now asked, whether maybe these guidelines have been interpreted too literally.

Prof. Ylva Ivarsson, at the research programme for Biochemistry at the Department of Chemistry – BMC, has received the award "Attractive Innovation Project" from Uppsala University Innovation (UU Innovation) for the work that she has done, together with Prof. Anna Överby Wernstedt, Umeå University, and Prof. Jakob Nilsson, at the University of Copenhagen, to develop and patent a peptide that can penetrate cell membranes and be transported into cells and thus inhibit diseases caused by viruses - for instance Covid-19. 

Mental illness is a societal challenge and causes great suffering for the individuals affected. Daniel Globisch and Jonas Bergquist, within the research programme for Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, participate in a large interdisciplinary research project that integrates both biological, medical and social aspects. The purpose of RE-MEND is to increase knowledge and develop better strategies to be able to prevent, instead of treat, mental disorders.

The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Uppsala's Popular Science Prize 2022 goes to professor emeritus Olle Matsson. He recieves the prize for the popular science dissemination of his research and accumulated knowledge in chemistry, with a particular focus on the properties of poisons and their impact on the human body. Poisoning and evil sudden death are themes that frighten, but also fascinates us, and makes us want to read on. It increases the interest and understanding of the chemistry subject. Olle Matsson has spread his valuable knowledge in an impressively large number of different media, linking it to interesting cultural perspectives, thus he has reached a wide audience.

The award is given by UU Innovation to “innovative projects and startup companies that have successfully attracted external funds that further strengthen development opportunities”. The research team receives the award for having developed a group of new molecules that have the potential to be developed into an antiviral drug for the treatment of Covid-19.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) presents its yearly 100-list of research projects, all of which they believe have high potential to create immediate benefits through commercialization, method development or societal impact. "Technology in the service of humanity" is the theme for 2022.

Olle Matsson, professor emeritus in organic chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, together with Jean Pettersson, senior lecturer in analytical chemistry at the department, has helped analyze samples in connection with a suspicious death. 

Prof. Ingela Lanekoff, within the research programme for Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has received a research grant from the European Research Council (ERC), in the form of a so-called ERC Starting Grant.

Our oceans contain bacteria and algae that produce toxins. These toxins can be absorbed by mussels and oysters, which is good for the environment but not for humans who consume them. Researcher Aida Zuberovic Muratovic, Analytical Chemistry, is working to develop methods for finding these new toxins. 

Professor Jonas Bergquist, at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, participates in a radio program on postcovid, ME and the ongoing comparative scientific studies.

In March 2020, SciLifeLab launched a national covid-19 research program together with the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW). The program is now being extended and expanded, with an additional SEK 50 million from KAW. Prof. Helena Danielson and Prof. Ylva Ivarsson at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Biochemistry, are among those who have received extended grants.

What did Alfred Nobel actually keep in his glass bottles? Prof. Adolf Gogoll, within the Organic Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has helped the Nobel Prize Museum and the Swedish National Heritage Board to analyze the contents of 43 old chemical bottles that come from Alfred Nobel's laboratories. 

The Chemical Society in Uppsala awards a prize for the best degree project in chemistry, and for 2020, we are happy to learn that the prize goes to the Dutch Erasmus student Evelyn Coenen. Evelyn did her degree project in Prof. Jonas Bergquist's group within the Analytical Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University. Her supervisor was Kumari Ubhayasekera. 

The molecular details of how SARS-CoV-2 enters cells and infects them are still not clear. Prof. Ylva Ivarsson and her group at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Biochemistry, have tested the bioinformatic predictions made by another research group and have identified receptors that could be important players in the process. 

Christine Dyrager, Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, has been elected as one of 12 young researchers for ChemMedChem's Early-Career Advisory Board (ECAB).

Prof. Jan Kihlberg, at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, Organic Chemistry, has been rewarded with the Ulla and Stig Holmquist Science Prize in Organic Chemistry for 2020. Jan is rewarded for his pioneering efforts in the field of carbohydrate chemistry and its applications for biomedical purposes.

The Royal Society of Sciences at Uppsala has decided to award the Thuréus Prize in the natural history-medical class to Prof. Lynn Kamerlin at the Department of Chemistry - BMC.

The alumni Malin Källsten, a previous PhD student in analytical chemistry at the department who defended her dissertation in March this year, has received this year's Phabian award for best doctoral thesis from the Swedish Pharmaceutical Society (Apotekarsocieteten).

Professor Jonas Bergquist, at the Department of Chemistry - BMC, participates in a live international panel discussion on quality and reliability in analytical results on Thursday 17 September.

Årets pedagogiska pristagare vid Uppsala universitet undervisar i ämnen kopplade till pedagogik, statsvetenskap, kirurgi och kemi.
De pedagogiska pristagarna nomineras av studenter och kollegor. De slutliga pristagarna utses av rektor efter förslag från en beredningsgrupp som består av åtta lärare och åtta studenter. I år inkom 144 nomineringar. Prissumman är 20 000 kronor.

System developers at SciLifeLab in Uppsala have adapted the IT systems required for large-scale Covid-19 screening.

SciLifeLab now takes a holistic approach to life science efforts in the ongoing corona pandemic. In order to achieve progress rapidly, promising research projects receive expeditious funding from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and traditionally competing research is organized as a team effort.

Professor Jonas Bergquist vid analytisk kemi har medverkat i en intervju med tidningen Vårdfokus. De pratar bland annat om Jonas ME/CFS-center som han bedriver jämsides två andra universitet (Harvard och Stanford University).
 

Professor Jonas Bergquist har nyligen medverkat i TV-programmet Sofias Änglar med anledning av hans forskning på ME (kronisk trötthet).

Promotionen är en examensfest för dem som tagit doktorsexamen under året. Drygt 80 nya doktorer och 17 hedersdoktorer promoveras och flera priser och medaljer delas ut i universitetsaulan 31 januari.

We have chosen to divide the website for the Section of Chemistry into two parts, one for chemistry - BMC and one for chemistry - Ångström. This is to clarify and strengthen the identity of both departments.