معرفی
Ulf Nilsson is a full Professor at the Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Lund University, Sweden. His career spans over 25 years, with a focus on molecular recognition in biological systems, galectin chemistry, bacterial symporter inhibition, and neural interface chemistry.
- PhD in Organic Chemistry (1995, Lund University), supervised by Prof. Göran Magnusson.
- Postdoctoral work at the University of Alberta (1995–1997) with Prof. Ole Hindsgaul.
- Appointments: Assistant Professor (1998), Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer (2001), Full Professor (2009).
His research bridges chemistry and biology, targeting galectins (inflammation/cancer) and bacterial sialic acid transporters. He has pioneered glycomimetic ligands for these targets, some of which (e.g., TD139, GB1211) are in clinical trials. His 2024 Ulla and Stig Holmqvist Prize recognizes pioneering organic chemistry research in Sweden. Notably, he co-founded Galecto Biotech AB, which advanced two compounds to clinical testing.
His 15 most recent publications (2018–2025) span Galectin-3/PD-L1 inhibitors, sialic acid transporter blockers, neural interface materials, and solvation-driven ligand design. These studies intersect Cancer Biology, Infectious Disease, Neurochemistry, and Drug Development.
Awards:
- Wallmarkska Prize (2017), Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Engenstromska Gold Medal (2017), Royal Physiographic Society
- Elected Member, Royal Physiographic Society (2018)
- Ulla and Stig Holmqvist Prize (2024), Uppsala University
As an educator, he teaches organic, medicinal, environmental, and toxicology courses, earning “Best Lecturer” (2012) and “Teacher of the Year” (2021) awards. His group has mentored 14 postdocs, 17 PhDs, and numerous MSc students.
He holds 26 patent families (34 patents, 40 pending) and leads projects funded by the Swedish Research Council and Crafoord Foundation, including work on non-carbohydrate glycomimetics targeting CNS and antibacterial strategies.
