Carolyn Ruth Bertozzi

Carolyn Ruth Bertozzi is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University's School of Humanities and Sciences, where she leads a pioneering research program at the interface of chemistry and biology. She is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and previously served as director of the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Her groundbreaking work has established the field of bioorthogonal chemistry - developing chemical reactions that can selectively occur within living systems without disrupting normal biological processes.

• PhD in Chemistry from University of California, Berkeley
• Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
• Member of National Academy of Sciences
• Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Bertozzi's research focuses on the chemical biology of cell surface glycans and their roles in health and disease. She pioneered methods to study and manipulate glycans in living systems, coining the term 'bioorthogonal chemistry' for her revolutionary approach. Her recent work has centered on understanding how glycans interact with the immune system, particularly through Siglec receptors, creating a new field of 'glyco-immune checkpoints' with significant therapeutic implications. She has also developed lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) for targeted protein degradation, expanding the toolbox for therapeutic intervention.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward applying chemical biology to immunology and cancer therapy, with increasing focus on glyco-immune interactions, targeted protein degradation, and host-pathogen relationships. Her work consistently bridges fundamental chemical discovery with translational applications, maintaining leadership in both basic science and therapeutic development.

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Wolf Prize in Chemistry
• Lemelson-MIT Prize
• Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics
• American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry

Dr. Bertozzi has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Her lab has been continuously funded by major grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and private foundations, supporting innovative research at the chemistry-biology interface. She has founded multiple biotechnology companies to translate her discoveries into clinical applications, particularly in cancer immunotherapy and targeted protein degradation.

Her laboratory, known for its interdisciplinary approach, brings together chemists, biologists, and engineers to develop and apply novel chemical tools for biological discovery. Current research directions include refining bioorthogonal reactions for in vivo use, developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates, and exploring how glycan modifications influence immune responses in cancer and infectious disease.