Ruedi Aebersold and Matthias Mann receive the Dr H.P. Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024
Biochemists Ruedi Aebersold and Matthias Mann have been selected to receive the prestigious Dr. H.P. Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024. The award recognizes their groundbreaking contributions to proteomics, particularly their innovative techniques for studying proteins on a system-wide scale. Their work has significantly advanced our understanding of cellular function and disease mechanisms. ?
The jury recognizes Ruedi Aebersold, professor emeritus at ETH Zurich, and Matthias Mann, professor at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, as leaders in protein research. Their innovative techniques for identifying and analyzing proteins have become standards in the field, allowing for accurate, quantitative measurements of thousands of proteins simultaneously. Despite working independently, their contributions have mutually advanced their shared goal of mapping interactions among all 5 to 10 billion proteins in a cell.
Aebersold and Mann's work has enhanced our understanding of cellular function and disease. For instance, early detection of liver disease is now possible by monitoring protein levels in the blood, enabling lifestyle changes to prevent illness. Mann's research on allergic skin reactions to drugs has led to new treatments, and his ongoing analysis of protein interactions in cancer cells aims to develop personalized cancer therapies.
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About Ruedi Aebersold
Ruedi Aebersold (born 1954 in Oberdiessbach) studied cellular biology and earned his PhD at the University of Basel, Switzerland. After postdoctoral positions at Caltech, he became an associate professor at the University of British Columbia in 1989. In 1993, he moved to Seattle, becoming a professor of molecular biotechnology at the University of Washington in 1998 and co-founding the Institute of Systems Biology in 2000. In 2004, he returned to Switzerland as a professor of systems biology at ETH Zurich.