When Molecules Fit Together Like LEGO Bricks: Nobel Laureate Morten Meldal Visits SGGW

In 2022, Morten Meldal shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry. Their discoveries transformed the way scientists can connect molecules and investigate biological processes, opening up new possibilities in fields including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and biotechnology.

One of Professor Meldal’s most significant achievements was the discovery of an efficient and selective chemical reaction that enables specific molecular components to be joined quickly and predictably, while minimising the formation of unwanted by-products.

The easiest way to think of click chemistry is as LEGO bricks. It involves carrying out reactions in a way that allows suitably prepared molecules to be connected simply, quickly and reliably, much like matching and joining compatible bricks. This means that scientists do not have to build an entire structure from scratch every time; instead, they can assemble ready-made components to create something new. This approach has found applications in biology, drug research, diagnostics and the development of new materials, among other fields. Click chemistry has essentially given us a highly versatile tool for building at the molecular level, explains Professor Morten Meldal.

The discoveries recognised by the 2022 Nobel Prize demonstrate how advances in fundamental science can pave the way for the development of new medical technologies. Click chemistry is not a therapy in itself, but it provides an important tool for drug research, including the development of approaches that enable active substances to be delivered more precisely to selected cells and tissues. This is one example of how progress in fundamental science can, over time, translate into new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities.

Meeting a Nobel Laureate: Inspiring Future Generations of Researchers

Professor Morten Meldal’s visit took place as part of the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative, a long-standing programme delivered by Nobel Prize Outreach in collaboration with AstraZeneca. The programme aims to foster connections between leading figures in global science and the next generation of researchers, encourage the exchange of experience and inspire young people to pursue their scientific ambitions.

Professor Meldal met with students, doctoral candidates and members of the academic communities of the Medical University of Warsaw, the Medical University of Łódź and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. In his presentations, he emphasised the importance of the research process, which can be lengthy and may not always proceed as expected, yet remains essential to the development of every researcher’s experience and expertise.

In science, it is very easy to focus exclusively on the outcome: to formulate a hypothesis, plan an experiment and expect a specific result. Yet genuine discoveries often begin when something happens differently from what we anticipated. Click chemistry was not an invention designed from the outset for a particular application; it was a discovery that emerged from the research process itself. This is why curiosity and attentiveness to what an experiment reveals are so important in science, even when the results lead us in an entirely different direction. Sometimes, it is precisely this unplanned path that proves the most interesting and leads to things we could not previously have imagined, the Nobel laureate emphasised.

Meetings with Nobel Prize laureates offer young researchers not only an opportunity to learn about discoveries that have transformed modern science, but, above all, a chance to speak directly with the people behind these achievements.

The initiative also exemplifies AstraZeneca’s collaboration with Polish universities, which encompasses joint educational projects, programmes designed to develop the skills of future life sciences professionals, and initiatives related to research and development.

Through the collaboration between the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology at SGGW and AstraZeneca, we can organise meetings that bring students and early-career scientists together with outstanding representatives of the global scientific community, including Nobel Prize laureates. I believe these experiences are extremely valuable because they give young people the opportunity not only to learn about groundbreaking discoveries, but, above all, to speak with the people who made them about the path to success, research challenges and the importance of having the courage to seek new solutions, said prof. Marta Mendel, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation.

 

In science, we do not always know from the outset where a particular question or experiment will lead us. And that is precisely where its strength lies. Professor Meldal’s discovery demonstrates that a breakthrough can begin with research that initially has no obvious application but eventually changes the way we understand and design new solutions. That is why it is so important for young scientists to have the freedom to ask bold questions, make mistakes and follow their curiosity. Beyond the personal dimension of meeting a Nobel laureate, such an encounter helps demonstrate that great discoveries depend not only on knowledge and talent, but also on perseverance, openness to unexpected directions and collaboration. We also seek to foster this culture of scientific curiosity through AstraZeneca’s partnerships with Polish universities, said phd. Karolina Tkaczuk, Director of Academic Collaboration and Innovation at AstraZeneca Pharma Poland.

This year’s visit continues a series of meetings between the Polish academic community and Nobel Prize laureates organised as part of the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative. In previous years, thanks to the collaboration between Nobel Prize Outreach and AstraZeneca, Warsaw welcomed, among others, Sir Peter Ratcliffe, the 2019 Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine, and Professor Craig C. Mello, who received the same award in 2006 for the discovery of the mechanism of RNA interference.

During the period when travel and in-person meetings were not possible, the programme continued online. This year’s event marks the fifth edition of the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative to be held in Warsaw.

Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative

The Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative is a global programme launched in 2010 by Nobel Prize Outreach in collaboration with AstraZeneca. It enables Nobel Prize laureates to share inspiring stories and insights with research communities, scientists and universities around the world.

For more information, visit the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative website.

A recording of the meeting with the Nobel laureate at SGGW is available on the SGGW Science YouTube channel.

Nobel Prize Outreach

Nobel Prize Outreach promotes awareness of the achievements of Nobel Prize laureates and seeks to inspire interest in science, literature and peace in accordance with the vision and legacy of Alfred Nobel.

The organisation reaches millions of people worldwide through the Nobel Prize’s official digital channels and a range of global programmes that bring Nobel laureates into dialogue with different audiences. These include the Nobel Prize Dialogue, the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative and the Nobel Prize Concert, as well as numerous other projects designed for audiences around the world.

Website: https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel-prize-inspiration-initiative/

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Disclaimer: Nobel Prize Outreach is not directly or indirectly involved in the nomination or selection of Nobel Prize laureates. These procedures are strictly confidential and governed by the Nobel Prize-awarding institutions.

Biography of Morten Meldal

Professor Morten Peter Meldal is a Danish chemist affiliated with the University of Copenhagen, where he heads the Center for Evolutionary Chemical Biology (CECB). He previously conducted research for many years at the Carlsberg Laboratory. His areas of expertise include organic and bioorganic chemistry, particularly peptide synthesis, combinatorial chemistry and the study of molecular recognition.

In 2022, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry. His research has contributed to the development of methods for connecting molecules, with applications in biomedical research, drug development and materials engineering, among other fields.