Venki Ramakrishnan

Venki Ramakrishnan is a distinguished researcher affiliated with the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. His work focuses on the structural basis of protein synthesis, particularly the ribosome's role in translating genetic information from mRNA.

His laboratory determined the atomic structure of the 30S ribosomal subunit in 2000, revealing insights into genetic code interpretation and antibiotic inhibition. Over two decades, his team captured high-resolution snapshots of the ribosome during translation, advancing understanding of its mechanism. More recently, they applied cryoelectron microscopy to study ribosomes in higher organisms and mitochondria, as well as translational regulation.

Ramakrishnan's contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including:

• Election as Fellow of the Royal Society (2003)
• Membership in the National Academy of Sciences (2004)
• Co-recipient of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

He also served as President of the Royal Society from 2015 to 2020, championing science policy and public engagement. A prolific science communicator, he authored the memoir Gene Machine and the 2024 book Why We Perish: The New Science of Aging, and the Quest for Immortality, which explores aging and longevity research.