- Learte's work is focused on the design and preparation of metalloenzymes for the development of new applications in chemical biology and it has been the only Spanish prize-winner.
The thesis of CiQUS researcher Soraya Learte is considered one of the eight best chemistry theses in the world in 2021. This has just been announced by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and Solvay in the resolution of their international awards for young chemists this year. In addition, the same thesis was also awarded by the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry as the best thesis of 2021 in the speciality of Chemical Biology.
The researcher's work, carried out under the supervision of José Luis Mascareñas, principal investigator and scientific director of CiQUS, delves into the design of new artificial enzymes for their study in different applications in the field of chemical biology. The analysis, developed entirely at the USC Singular Centre, has been the only Spanish thesis rewarded in the IUPAC-Solvay 2022 awards.
The only Spanish thesis rewarded
Soraya Learte's thesis has been rewarded an honourable mention in the 2022 call of the IUPAC-Solvay international awards for young chemists, aimed at recognising the best doctoral theses in the world in chemistry that have been defended during the previous year. In this call, the jury has awarded five winners and three honourable mentions, including the work of the CiQUS researcher as the only Spanish representative.
IUPAC-Solvay award
The prize, promoted by IUPAC and the scientific company Solvay, was created in 2000 with the aim of encouraging young researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers. This prize is awarded to outstanding theses in chemistry.
The selection committee was chaired by Christopher Brett, former president of UIPAC, and composed of UIPAC members and a senior scientific advisor from Solvay, all of whom have extensive experience in chemistry.
Double award-winning thesis
Soraya Learte's thesis has also been recently awarded by the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry as the Best Thesis of the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry as the Best Thesis of the Chemical Biology group in the 2021 call. This RSEQ award is endowed with 800€ and the possibility to present her thesis in the form of an oral communication at the next biennial of the Biological Chemistry Specialized Group GEQB-RSEQ Valencia 2022.
New advance in the study of artificial enzymes
Soraya Learte's thesis entitled "Metallopeptides and metalloproteins in Chemical Biology: from DNA binding to intracellular catalysis" has been fully developed at CiQUS and it describes the design, synthesis and application of metallopeptides and metalloproteins within the area of Chemical Biology. The study, which represents a new advance in the research of active artificial metalloenzymes for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, received the qualification of outstanding Cum Laude and European mention. In addition, the author was also awarded the Lilly 2021 prize, which recognises research excellence in the academic, for the same work.