Hall of Fame accolade for pioneering scientist

Professor Alessio Ciulli, of the University’s Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD), has been named as the latest inductee to the Society’s Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector Hall of Fame.

Professor Ciulli has made major contributions to the UK's prominent position in the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) and is regarded as one of the primary scientists and thought leaders internationally in this exciting field, which has given hope of curing previously ‘undruggable’ diseases. 

"I am truly honoured and humbled to be inducted into the BMCS Hall of Fame and Medal 2025,” said Professor Ciulli.

“Joining such a distinguished and illustrious list of previous awardees, whose groundbreaking work and achievements have inspired me throughout my career, is a profound privilege. 

“While this recognition is a personal milestone, it also belongs to the extraordinary individuals in my research group and the wider Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation at Dundee. Their talent, dedication, and collaboration have - been and continue to be - instrumental in our achievements. 

“It is through our collective efforts that we have pushed the boundaries of targeted protein degradation, and I am grateful to work alongside such inspiring colleagues. This award reflects our shared commitment to advancing science together.”

TPD is an emerging area of drug development for treating diseases that involves redirecting protein recycling systems in our cells to destroy disease-causing proteins. Most TPD strategies use small molecules – so-called degraders – to recruit these target proteins to a class of enzymes called ubiquitin E3 ligases. The E3 tags the target protein with ubiquitin labels, which ultimately leads to the destruction of the disease-causing protein via the cellular waste bin: the proteasome. 

Professor Ciulli’s expertise in this field has led him to establish CeTPD, while his collaborative work with pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim has led to the first PROTACs that degrade many of the oncogenic mutants of the extremely challenging protein KRAS.