Mysore/Mysuru: An online special lecture to celebrate the centenary of Insulin’s Discovery is organised by the Department of Molecular Biology and Science Forum, Yuvaraja’s College, University of Mysore, on July 30 at 4 pm via Zoom platform [Meeting ID: 85180208647; Passcode: 847872].

Prof. Sir Tom Blundell (FRS, FMediSci), Hon. Director of Research and Emeritus Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK, will deliver the lecture titled ‘The Centenary of Insulin’s Discovery: Celebrating Revolutionary Developments in Protein Sequence, Structure and Drug Discovery.’ It will be available for the general public at uomlive (Live streaming YouTube channel) — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCGwp6Ko7TGjtqWn-LE7eAA

The year 2021 marks the centenary of one of the greatest discoveries of mankind: ‘Insulin’ by Frederick G. Banting and John Macleod. In 1923, they were awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine & Physiology for this epoch-making discovery. This discovery of Insulin hormone was soon followed by its commercial production saving lives of many diabetics around the globe.

Later, attempts were made to characterise and elucidate the chemical nature of insulin and today with the touch of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, the field has been revolutionised with maximum insulin production catering to the needs of Type 1 diabetic patients. 

The Department of Molecular Biology and Science Forum, Yuvaraja’s College, with an aim to remember this historical feat, has organised the  special lecture online due to current pandemic.

Prof. Tom Blundell was one among in Dorothy C. Hodgkin’s (1964 Chemistry Nobel Laureate) team that reported in ‘Nature’ journal, the crystal structure of human insulin in 1969. This along with the data from other scientific investigators paved way for determining the three-dimensional structure of insulin. 

A fellow of Royal Society of London, Prof. Tom has vast research expertise in structural biology working on defining structures of several protein complexes and macromolecules like polypeptide hormones, growth factors, protein complexes in DNA repair, etc. Throughout his research career, he has published around 650 papers — 40 in ‘Nature’ and ‘Science.’For details, contact: [email protected]