The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists: David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper for their groundbreaking research on proteins, announced at 11:45 AM local time on October 9 (4:45 PM on October 9 in Hanoi).
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences revealed the laureates for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which includes: David Baker, 62, a professor at the University of Washington, USA; Demis Hassabis, 48, the CEO of Google DeepMind in the UK; and John Jumper, 39, a senior researcher at Google DeepMind, UK.
The three scientists David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M. Jumper awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. (Photo: Nobel Prize).
They have been honored for their contributions to protein research, a unique chemical tool of life. David Baker has achieved success in constructing entirely new types of proteins, a feat that was once thought to be nearly impossible. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that addresses a problem that has persisted for 50 years: predicting the complex structure of proteins. These discoveries hold enormous potential.
The diversity of life validates the remarkable capabilities of proteins as chemical tools. They regulate and facilitate all chemical reactions that form the foundation of life. Proteins also play roles as hormones, signaling compounds, antibodies, and building blocks of various tissues.
“One of the findings recognized this year relates to the construction of unique proteins. The other finding fulfills a dream from 50 years ago: predicting protein structures from amino acid sequences. Both discoveries open up tremendous possibilities,” shared Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Chemistry Committee.
Proteins typically consist of 20 different amino acids, which can be described as the building blocks of life. In 2003, David Baker successfully used these blocks to design a new protein that was unlike any other. Since then, his research team has continually created innovative proteins, including those that can be used as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and microsensors.
The second discovery pertains to predicting protein structures. In proteins, amino acids link together in long chains that fold into three-dimensional structures, which are crucial for the protein’s function. Since the 1970s, researchers have attempted to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences, but this has proven to be extremely challenging. Four years ago, a remarkable breakthrough occurred.
At that time, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper introduced an AI model named AlphaFold2. With its assistance, they could predict the structures of all 200 million proteins that researchers have identified.
Since this breakthrough, AlphaFold2 has been utilized by over two million users from 190 countries. Among its numerous scientific applications, researchers have gained a better understanding of antibiotic resistance and have created enzymes capable of degrading plastics.
Life cannot exist without proteins. The ability to predict and design protein structures promises to yield significant benefits for humanity.
This year’s prize is worth 11 million Swedish krona (approximately $1,060,800), with half awarded to David Baker and the remaining half to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper.
Last year, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists: Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov for their research on quantum dots, the smallest components of nanotechnology, which are used to transmit light from TVs and LEDs, illuminating cancer tissues for surgeons.
The Nobel Prize is an international award established by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm in 1901, based on the wealth of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor and entrepreneur.
The award is presented annually to individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions in the fields of Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, Literature, and Peace. In 1968, the Central Bank of Sweden established the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, commonly referred to as the Nobel Prize in Economics.
Each award includes a medal, a personal certificate, and a non-fixed cash prize. From 1901 to 2023, the award has been presented 622 times to 1,002 individuals and organizations worldwide.
