We are pleased to announce Professor Wilfred van der Donk (University of Illinois, US) as the winner of the 2009 OBC Lecture Award. 

Professor Wilfred van der Donk will speak at the 42nd IUPAC Congress

Professor van der Donk was selected by the judges in recognition of his contribution to the field of bioorganic chemistry, particularly related to lantibiotics and molecular processes associated with resistance to antiobiotics and bacterial infections. 

Professor van der Donk's lecture will be given as part of the Natural Products symposium at the 42nd IUPAC congress, to be held in Glasgow, UK from the 2nd - 7th August 2009. Details of the symposium are available below. The lecture will focus on his studies into some enzymatic and non-enzymatic processes in the preparation of compounds such as lantibiotics. 

"I consider this award a wonderful recognition for my group and would like to take this opportunity to thank my co-workers for their excellent contributions." said Professor van der Donk. "OBC is one of the premier journals in bioorganic chemistry, and I am proud of this selection." 

The award is given to chemists who have made a significant research contribution to organic or bioorganic chemistry, and ideally who have had an independent research career of between 8 and 15 years. The call for nominations triggered a great response from the organic and bioorganic community, with the winner being selected from all the nominees by a panel of judges.