About the Award
The Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics is presented every three years and carries with it a $20,000 prize. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions made to the field of biophysics. Henrietta W. Hollaender established the Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics in honor of her husband, Alexander W. Hollaender, who brought to prominence the field of photobiology. With an interest in the lethal and mutagenic effects of monochromatic ultra-violet radiation on cells, Dr. Hollaender identified the first clear indication that changes in nucleic acids needed to be analyzed, rather than proteins.
Lewis E. Kay, University of Toronto, will receive the 2025 Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics.
Kay’s pioneering work in biochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has transformed our understanding of the structure, dynamics, and functions of macromolecules.
In addition to developing a wide variety of solution-state NMR spectroscopic methods, Kay has also led the way in applying NMR to understand an enormous range of molecular systems involved in diverse processes. He has developed techniques to study the dynamic properties of proteins as well as helped establish the importance of these dynamics to fundamental processes of life, including signaling, catalysis, folding, and aggregation.
Kay’s impact extends well beyond his own research, inspiring and providing others with the techniques to make advances in our basic understanding of how proteins and nucleic acids work.
Kay will be honored in a ceremony on Sunday, April 27 during the National Academy of Sciences’ 162nd annual meeting. The ceremony will be livestreamed.
Award History
The Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics was first awarded in 1998 to Wayne A. Hendrickson for his contributions to macromolecular crystallography, specifically his development of robust methods of phasing and refinement, and determination of complex and biologically important structures. Hendrickson is best known for his work pioneering multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) and its use as an analytical tool for protein crystallography.
Previous recipients of the Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics continue to achieve outstanding advancements in their fields. One recipient has received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Henderson, 2017).
Most Recent Recipient
