#USA #New England Biolabs #Ipswich #Carolyn Bertozzi #Donald Comb

Honoring Scientific Pioneers: The 2025 Donald G. Comb Memorial Lectureship

In a celebration of groundbreaking scientific achievements, New England Biolabs (NEB) has announced that Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi will be the recipient of the esteemed 2025 Donald G. Comb Memorial Lectureship. This distinguished annual event is named after NEB's founder and first CEO, Donald Comb. The lectureship honors those who have made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology, addressing critical issues that impact the global community.

Dr. Bertozzi, currently a professor at Stanford University and a member of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, is renowned for her impactful research in the realms of chemistry and biology. Celebrated as the 2022 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, she has made remarkable strides in understanding cell surface sugars, or glycans, and their pivotal roles in health and disease.

Her pioneering work with click chemistry—a revolutionary technique that enables chemical reactions to occur in live cells without disrupting their normal functions—has reshaped approaches to studying living organisms. This method has led to the development of bioorthogonal chemistry, a term coined by Dr. Bertozzi herself, illustrating its importance in fields such as glycobiology. Through her innovative research, she has provided insights into various diseases including cancer, inflammation, and bacterial infections, paving the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

In addition to her groundbreaking discoveries, Dr. Bertozzi is highly regarded in the industrial biotechnology domain, having co-founded several companies that aim to translate her scientific findings from the laboratory into real-world applications. Her contributions have not gone unnoticed, as she has received multiple accolades, joining the ranks of organizations such as the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her other prestigious awards include the Lemelson-MIT Prize and the Heinrich Wieland Prize.

As Thomas C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D., Executive Director of Research at NEB, emphasized, Dr. Bertozzi's research epitomizes the core values of NEB—collaboration, mentorship, and scientific integrity. He expressed, "We are honored to have Dr. Bertozzi as our recipient of the Donald G. Comb Memorial Lectureship. Her extensive work in glycobiology has led to crucial scientific advancements."

The Donald G. Comb Memorial Lectureship will take place at NEB's headquarters located in Ipswich, Massachusetts, on Thursday, March 27, 2025. This event marks another chapter in NEB's long-standing commitment to supporting vital scientific research. Founded in 1974 as a cooperative of scientists focused on enhancing basic science, NEB has grown into a leader in producing research tools that not only accelerate discovery but also support an extensive basic research agenda.

To date, over 30 laboratories are engaged in a variety of research areas, including enzyme analysis, epigenetics, and RNA biology. NEB's foundational principles guide their operations, promoting a culture of innovation and responsible investment both for employee welfare and the broader community, as well as long-term environmental sustainability.

With a footprint that spans globally, NEB remains firmly rooted in its founding ideals while continuously seeking to advance the frontiers of science. To learn more about NEB's research and contributions, interested individuals can visit their website at www.neb.com/research.

As we anticipate the upcoming lectureship, the scientific community eagerly looks forward to Dr. Bertozzi's insights and her enduring legacy in the field of molecular biology.