Michael Przybylski of the University of Konstanz is recognised for his significant contribution to the development and application of mass spectrometry in life sciences
German researcher Professor Michael Przybylski is the latest scientist to receive a coveted award sponsored by Applied Biosystems, which recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development and application of mass spectrometry in life sciences.
Professor Przybylski, who is head of the laboratory of analytical chemistry at the University of Konstanz, was selected by a scientific jury in recognition of his outstanding work in the area of protein analysis.
The jury was appointed by the board of the German Society of Mass Spectrometry and led by Professor Jasna Peter-Katalinic, who acknowledged his work in her award speech: "In the past two decades, mass spectrometry has undergone important developments and its use in genomics and proteomics has effectively revolutionised life science research.
"Novel concepts have allowed mass spectrometry to be used in a more dynamic way and Professor Przybylski has contributed to these developments from a very early stage.
"In the eighties, he used plasma desorption mass spectrometry for the analysis of intact biopolymers and, in more recent years, has been working on Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry".
The results of this work have given extraordinary insight into the biologically active conformations of proteins and their pathophysiological changes, for example, in the course of Alzheimer's disease, where it has recently provided the elucidation of a new vaccine lead structure (Nature Medicine, 2002).
The award and prize of €5000 was presented by Professor Peter-Katalinic in a ceremony held at the UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig-Halle at the Helmholtz Association, in Germany.
