Hermen Overkleeft is known worldwide as one of the founders of chemical biology. This is the field that designs molecules to analyse biological processes. As a professor of bio-organic chemistry at the University of Leiden, Hermen Overkleeft has developed innovative methods to effectively influence human proteins without any harmful side effects. This has not only yielded valuable knowledge about metabolic processes in the human body, but has also led to the development of new drugs. Professor Overkleeft is awarded with the NWO Spinoza Prize for these remarkable achievements.

 

 

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Hermen Overkleeft (1969) stands out as an exceptionally influential and innovative force in chemical biology. Early on in his scientific career he started pioneering this new field, which saw rapid development at the turn of the century. By designing new molecules in the field of bio-organic chemistry, researchers can more fully comprehend how biological molecules such as human proteins behave within cells and organisms. 

 

Designer molecules

Professor Overkleeft was the first researcher to develop designer molecules. These can be used to visualise specific active proteins without affecting any of the cell’s internal processes, making it possible to follow proteins ‘live’. This caused a shift in the practice of biomedical research fields: it was for the first time that scientists gained a better understanding of carbohydrates, which had been the most difficult biological building blocks to study for many decades.

 

Professor Overkleeft’s innovative methods revealed how proteins process carbohydrates. This has led to new understanding of metabolic diseases and opportunities for developing new medical treatments. He applied his approach to immuno-oncology, where he managed to selectively influence the recycling system of cells. This principle opened the door to more specific treatments for auto-immune diseases and blood cancer. Professor Overkleeft also restored confidence in covalent inhibitors. These molecules destroy proteins that play a role in causing the disease by attaching themselves to them. However, their use in medical drugs was avoided due to their toxic nature. Professor Overkleeft showed that these therapeutic molecules – if designed carefully – can be used safely in treating conditions such as cancer, metabolic and infectious diseases. 

 

Freely exchanging knowledge

In addition to these scientific breakthroughs, Professor Overkleeft has also contributed to science by investing in shared infrastructures and networks. He founded the Dutch Compound Library, a collection of unique chemical compounds that is available for use by researchers around the world. This encourages Open Science and allows scientists in other biomedical fields to speed up their research. Professor Overkleeft’s designer molecules have become the international standard. They are used by scientific and industrial laboratories in more than twenty countries and have inspired numerous collaborative research projects. His impact on scientific policy is further increased by his seats on scientific councils and advisory boards and his extensive contacts in the scientific world, both in the Netherlands and internationally. 

 

New medical treatments

Professor Overkleeft’s work opens new doors to both fundamental research and practical applications. He is successful in bringing his discoveries to the market. Professor Overkleeft has co-founded three biotech companies focusing on potential cancer treatments and an experimental drug – in the final stage of its clinical trials – for rare metabolic diseases. 

 

Professor Overkleeft’s work combines originality with societal relevance and has put chemical biology firmly on the map as an established discipline. In the words of the selection committee of the NWO Spinoza Prize: ‘Professor Overkleeft is the best researcher in his field in Europe. He conducts authoritative research and his scientific achievements make him one of the best in his field worldwide. He has explored and developed solutions that nobody would have thought feasible.’

 

 

 

 

Source: 

https://www.nwo.nl/en/professor-hermen-overkleeft