British scientist Dame Carol Robinson has received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Inventor Award 2024.
The Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford is a trailblazer in the field of mass spectrometry and has dedicated her career to exploring the molecular makeup of proteins within their native environments.
Her pioneering work has paved the way for significant advancements in the realms of drug discovery and personalised medicine.
For her extensive contributions to blood analysis and drug development, and a career that has broken new ground in biochemical research, she was named the award winner by the European Patent Office (EPO).
A new era for biochemistry
Dame Carol Robinson’s introduction of mass spectrometry to structural biology has improved our understanding of protein interactions.
Mass spectrometry is an analytical tool that enables the detection of molecules and so helps scientists identify the composition of chemical substances, including proteins.
This detailed analysis enables a deep dive into the intricate world of proteins and is used to study protein complexes that are often the targets for new drugs.
“As a scientist, I’ve always been quite fearless about going in my own direction. That has been my mantra throughout my career. I never wanted to follow the crowd”, she explains, reflecting her pioneering spirit that led to the discovery and analysis of complex protein assemblies.
Her early work faced scepticism, as it challenged the prevailing belief that proteins could not maintain their structure outside of water.
However Carol’s determination and innovative approach proved that protein interactions could indeed be preserved and studied in the gaseous state.
Pioneering personalised medicine
Her ‘native mass spectrometry’ method has transformed the study of proteins. This technique preserves proteins in their natural state, allowing scientists to gain detailed insights into their functions and interactions without altering their structures.
It enables precise measurements and analyses of protein complexes that play critical roles in various diseases.
This breakthrough paves the way for the development of targeted medications that can address disease mechanisms more effectively than ever before.
Carol explains, “The future vision for this field is to contribute to much more tailored, personalised solutions.
“The depression example is a very good one because we really don’t have a clear idea of what’s wrong in many depression cases. That was what drove a whole programme of research.”
Beyond her academic and research milestones, her entrepreneurial aspirations also led her to co-found OMass Therapeutics. This venture leverages her mass spectrometry
innovations to develop novel drugs targeting membrane proteins and protein complexes implicated in disease, such as the MC2 receptor in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a rare endocrine disorder.
Carol’s innovative application of mass spectrometry in drug development is improving the probability of success against hard to drug targets in diseases with high unmet medical needs. Her work not only advances scientific understanding but also provides the foundation for new therapeutic strategies that could improve the lives of patients worldwide.
Her career also stands as a pillar for gender diversity in STEM, breaking barriers as the first full female Professor of Chemistry at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and her commitment to mentorship has inspired numerous postgraduate students and early-career scientists.
She is also the director of the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at the University of Oxford.
In recognition of her lifelong dedication and role as a mentor, she has received numerous accolades, including being made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
The European Inventor Award 2024 for Lifetime Achievement not only celebrates Robinson’s scientific achievements but also her profound impact on the scientific community and society at large.
The ceremony was livestreamed from Malta on 9 July, where winners in other categories were also celebrated.
About the European Inventor Award
The European Inventor Award is one of Europe’s most prestigious innovation prizes. Launched by the EPO in 2006, the award honours individuals and teams, who have come up with solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time. The European Inventor Award jury consists of inventors who are all former finalists.
In 2024, the jury was chaired by Wolfgang M. Heckl. All inventors must have been granted a European patent for their invention. Read more here on the various categories, prizes and selection criteria.
