Focus on awards: Unilever Colworth Prize

28 March 2017

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Each year, the Microbiology Society awards the Unilever Colworth Prize to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding contribution to translational microbiology.

In 2016, the Prize was awarded to Professor Gurdyal ‘Del’ Besra, who heads a multidisciplinary team that investigates the physiology of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall. His work has identified the modes of action of the many anti-TB drugs, and he is working to identify new drug targets.

Professor Besra's principal achievement has been to develop and apply a combination of biochemical, immunological and molecular biological methods help us better understand the barriers to effective TB treatment.  This work has led to many of the developments that have taken place over the last decade in our understanding of the structure and biosynthesis of the mycobacterial cell wall. Professor Besra has gone on to develop platforms and technology to identify drug targets and inhibitors, and is working with GSK to identify new drugs to tackle TB.

You can watch Professor Besra’s interview and Prize Lecture on our YouTube channel.

Members are invited to nominate an exceptional individual who has demonstrated translational achievement in microbiology. More details can be found on our Prizes page.