Award acknowledges exceptional scholars committed to the research fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry
Two researchers were recently recognised for pioneering breakthroughs in their respective scientific fields.
Prof. Dr. Richard DiMarchi, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair of Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, and Prof. Dr. Rolf Müller, Managing Director of Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), were both named laureates of the 2024 Tu Youyou Award. The award ceremony was held in Chicago on 3 October 2025, named in honour of the 2015 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine.
Celebrating scientific excellence
Professor Richard DiMarchi was recognised for his pioneering contributions to medicinal chemistry, the discovery of Humalog, and drug development of rDNA-derived Humulin, rGlucagon, and Forteo. His research has advanced the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and led to innovative therapies for diabetes and obesity.
Professor DiMarchi said: “Professor Tu Youyou’s commitment to the science, to the treatment of disease, and to patients is inspirational. It motivated me to make a similar contribution. I really appreciate the kind recognition of my work and, by extension, the work of my colleagues.”
Speaking about the work that led to the award, Professor DiMarchi added: “There’s reason for optimism when you look at what we have achieved with incretin-based therapeutics, first in diabetes and then later in the treatment of obesity. In the absence of those associated diseases, what we’re seeing is a transition from the traditional thinking of a pharmaceutical industry focused on the treatment of disease to how we strengthen health, how we actually propel and fortify later life, healthy existence, as opposed to waiting for the problem and then trying to fix it after it emerges.
“I see far more interest in folks thinking about their diet, their lifestyles, and exercise to supplement or substitute for peptide-based therapeutics. If the work of my colleagues and I have helped to influence that mindset change in any way, that is very gratifying.”
Professor Rolf Müller was acknowledged for his pioneering contributions to microbial natural products, industrial microbiology, and biotechnology. He has dedicated more than 20 years to exploring bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways, particularly in myxobacteria and other soil bacteria.
This has led to the development of promising therapeutic compounds – such as Griselimycin, a highly effective anti-tuberculosis drug, and Corallopyronin A – for the treatment of filariasis. His research leverages largely untapped microbial natural products, advancing the discovery of novel antibiotics that address unmet clinical needs.
Speaking about his award, Professor Müller said: “I accept this award as a prize for the team and the team really appreciates receiving this award in the name of Tu Youyou, as she is one of the biggest success stories in the development of natural products…It’s a fantastic recognition of the team’s efforts over the years.
“We need antibiotics as a society, and we need both academic institutions and industry to be incentivized to keep developing them. Industry is moving away from having dedicated departments focused on developing natural products, and so academic researchers are having to do the work to make the natural compounds we are discovering fit for human consumption. As a society, we need this work to be successful, and the best way to achieve that is to have public–private partnerships where academic institutions and the pharmaceutical industry work together. It has to make economic sense for everyone involved for this to happen, though.”
Both award laureates then went on to make presentations to those assembled. In Professor DiMarchi’s presentation, he discussed his career in medicinal chemistry and drug development, highlighting research that led to the transformation of hormones into life-saving drugs. He also detailed a new approach to treating diabetes and obesity by integrating three different hormones – glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 – into a single molecule, which has shown promising results in both preclinical and clinical studies. The development of this multi-agonist therapy represents a significant advancement in drug development by offering an alternative to surgical interventions with clinical implications extending beyond metabolic disease.
Professor Müller’s presentation, meanwhile, focused on antibiotic research at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, particularly soil bacteria and myxobacteria, which are promising sources of new natural products. By leveraging largely untapped microbial natural products, his research is advancing the development of novel antibiotics to combat resistance, thereby transforming the future of therapeutic intervention.
MDPI’s continued support for medicinal and natural product chemistry
The Tu Youyou Award was established by the open access scientific research publisher MDPI in 2016, and is awarded biennially. The award aims to acknowledge exceptional scholars committed to the research fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
Opening the award, MDPI Chief Operating Officer Alistair Freeland highlighted that the Tu Youyou Award is intended to honour Professor Tu Youyou’s remarkable contributions to human health and to continue with her achievements, emphasizing MDPI’s long-standing dedication to advancing scientific research dissemination.
As part of this, award committee members Prof. Dr. Binghe Wang, Prof. Dr. Wei Li and Prof. Dr. Thomas Prisinzano also gave presentations following Professor DiMarchi and Professor Müller’s insights, speaking to the audience about the therapeutic utility of carbon monoxide, the development of anti-mitotic agents and synthetic opioid rescue agents.
To conclude the ceremony, Dr. Stefan Gafner, the Chief Science Officer of the American Botanical Council, offered his heartfelt congratulations to the laureates in his speech before sharing the mission of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research and its connection to the ongoing research efforts. He then turned to the pressing topic of ethical and responsible conduct in science and publishing, emphasizing the impact of misinformation and fraudulent practices.
On this point, while maintaining ethical standards in science remains a challenge, MDPI has made open access and transparency central to its mission, with a dedicated Research Integrity Team to ensure transparency at every stage of the publication process in the ever-evolving publishing landscape.
Carrying forward the spirit of discovery: the 2026 Tu Youyou Award
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award has once again highlighted the enduring impact of natural product and medicinal chemistry research in advancing global health. Building on its success, the 2026 edition will continue to honour pioneering scientists whose work bridges chemistry and medicine, inspiring innovative research in the spirit of Professor Tu Youyou’s groundbreaking discoveries.
Nominations for the 2026 Tu Youyou Award will open in April 2026. For more information, please visit the website: https://tuyouyouprize.org.
MDPI celebrates and rewards outstanding research
MDPI remains dedicated to supporting researchers across all disciplines. These awards serve as a source of inspiration and recognition for individuals making exceptional contributions to their fields. To learn more about MDPI’s awards, please visit our award page.
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