Discovery in Proteomic Sciences Award for Bernd Wollscheid
Systems biologist Bernd Wollscheid has been honoured for his discoveries in the field of proteomics. The award, presented by the Human Proteome Organisation, recognises his pioneering work in decoding the ‘surfaceome’ – the totality of all proteins on the cell surface.
The Discovery in Proteomic Sciences Award honours outstanding individual achievements that have had a lasting impact on the field of proteomics. This year, the award goes to Bernd Wollscheid from the Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) at ETH Zurich.
Focus on the ‘surfaceome’
Bernd Wollscheid is considered an international leader in cell surface-oriented chemoproteomics. With his research group at the Institute of Translational Medicine, he investigates how the molecular organisation of the cell surface at the nanoscale controls signal transduction and biological functions.
To visualise these complex processes, his laboratory has developed a series of innovative key technologies:
- Cell Surface Capture: Enables quantitative detection of the surfaceome.
- TRICEPS & HATRIC: Tools for the direct identification of interactions between ligands and receptors.
- LUX-MS: A novel technology for deciphering the spatial arrangement of receptors on the cell surface.
Bridging the gap between research and cancer therapy
These methods are used worldwide in science and biotechnology. They provide crucial insights into basic biology and translational oncology. One of Wollscheid's key concerns is technology transfer: with the founding of DISCO Pharmaceuticals, he is pursuing the goal of developing novel therapeutic antibodies that specifically recognise protein communities on cell surfaces, thereby opening up new avenues of treatment for serious diseases.
More information
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