Ryan Shenvi and Edward Roberts receive 2021 national awards from American Chemical Society
Shenvi and Roberts are recognized for their contributions in organic synthesis and the development of medicinally useful substances.
August 24, 2020
LA JOLLA, CA — Ryan Shenvi, PhD, in the Department of Chemistry, and Edward Roberts, PhD, in the Departments of Molecular Medicine and Chemistry, have been named winners of prestigious national awards granted by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The ACS National Awards Program is dedicated to advancing all branches of chemistry, supporting initiatives in basic research and industry, and promoting the careers of the nation’s most innovative chemists. The continued excellence of the ACS awards program requires that highly qualified chemistry professionals are nominated by their peers and that great care is taken in preparing the nominations.
Shenvi has been honored with the Elias J. Corey Award for Outstanding Original Contribution in Organic Synthesis by a Young Investigator, sponsored by The Pfizer Endowment Fund. This award recognizes original and insightful work by a young investigator that has had significant impact on the field of synthetic organic chemistry.
Noted for his groundbreaking discoveries in chemical synthesis and catalysis, Shenvi is recreating, altering and improving complex metabolites that show medicinal potential. His group has also reported a series of base metal-catalyzed reactions including a new hydrogenation reaction that bears his name.
“This award is particularly meaningful since my time in the Corey lab revealed to me the breadth and depth of chemistry, the importance of creativity and the joy of lifelong learning,” says Shenvi. “It reflects the creativity, diligence and labor of my entire group. Past and present members deserve this recognition and I hope they receive it as their own."
Roberts is recognized with the E. B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medicinally Active Substances, sponsored by Merck Research Laboratories. This biennial award honors and encourages outstanding developments in the chemistry of medicinally active agents. It was previously awarded in 2019 to Scripps Research’s Jeff Kelly, PhD, for his discovery of the drug tafamidis.
Roberts works on translational programs in a number of therapeutic areas that span several debilitating diseases. These include multiple sclerosis (MS), depression and anxiety, substance abuse, epilepsy and chronic pain. The ACS award recognizes Roberts’ contributions to the development of the landmark MS drug ozanimod, for which he is the co-inventor. This immunomodulatory therapy, which was approved by the FDA in March 2020, represents a novel, disease-modifying drug for relapsing-remitting forms of the autoimmune condition.
“To receive this prestigious reward is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all those who have contributed to the discovery of Zeposia (ozanimod),” says Roberts. “Coming on the heels of the last Hershberg award recipient, my colleague Jeff Kelly, just shows how Scripps Research has achieved an enviable number of groundbreaking discoveries and is able to progress these into much-needed medicines.”
Both recipients will receive a $5,000 award and a certificate. In addition, they will receive funds to cover travel expenses for attending the awards ceremony on March 23, 2021, where the nation’s sixty-six ACS award winners will be honored.
For more information, contact press@scripps.edu