ICIQ and UCB Biopharma recognize Professor Cristina Nevado with the 2nd UCB Lecture Award

The scientist and member of ICIQ Scientific Advisory Board has been recognized for her contribution in late-transition metal catalysis and natural product synthesis

The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) and UCB Biopharma proudly celebrate the second edition of the UCB Lecture Award, honoring Professor Cristina Nevado from the University of Zurich. Renowned for her work in synthetic organic chemistry, Professor Nevado has been recognized for her innovative methods in catalysis using late-transition metals, critical for synthesizing complex natural products with medicinal potential.

The award ceremony, held today in the ICIQ Auditorium Prof. Dr. Kilian Muñiz, brought together distinguished scientists, researchers, industry leaders, and the entire ICIQ community. This distinction highlights individuals who have achieved exceptional success in synthetic organic chemistry, with a Scientific Committee selecting Prof. Nevado for her contributions to the field.

As part of the celebration, Prof. Nevado delivered an inspiring keynote lecture. The event concluded with an engaging discussion, allowing students and researchers to interact with the awardee and explore her work further.

“We are thrilled to host the second edition of this award and to honor Prof. Nevado, an outstanding scientist and esteemed member of our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Prof. Emilio J. Palomares Gil, ICIQ Director. He added, “Her exploration of bioactive chemical probes and their biological mechanisms aligns with our growing focus on molecular medicine, fostering potential synergies for future research.”

The UCB Lecture Award underscores the shared commitment of ICIQ and UCB Biopharma to fostering scientific excellence and driving innovation in chemistry, with the ultimate goal of advancing science and benefiting society.

The awardee

Cristina Nevado was born in Madrid, where she graduated in chemistry at the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2000. In October 2004 she received her PhD from the same university working with Prof. Antonio M. Echavarren. She then joined the group of Prof. Alois Fürstner at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (Germany) as a postdoctoral associate. In May 2007 she started her independent career as an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Zürich. In 2011, Cristina was awarded the Chemical Society Reviews Emerging Investigator Award and the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award in recognition of her contributions in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. In 2012 she received an ERC Starting grant and in 2013 was awarded the Werner Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society and was directly promoted to Full Professor. In 2019, she received the Royal Society of Chemistry Award in Organometallic Chemistry and in 2020 the Excellence Research Award of the Royal Spanish Chemical Society (RSEQ), as well as the Margaret Faul Women in Chemistry Award. Among her many contributing roles to the community, Cristina is currently Senior Associate Editor for ACS Central Science, Organic Syntheses and Science of Synthesis. Rooted in the wide area of organic chemistry, her research program is focused on complex chemical synthesis and the discovery of new organometallic reactions.

About UCB

UCB (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With approximately 8,700 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of €5.5 billion in 2022. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).