STOCKHOLM — On Wednesday, October 9, US scientists David Baker and John Jumper, along with British researcher Demis Hassabis, were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work in decoding protein structures and creating new proteins, which has led to advancements in drug development.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that Baker received half of the prize for "computational protein design," while Hassabis and Jumper shared the other half for their contributions to "protein structure prediction."

Baker, 62, is a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, while 48-year-old Hassabis is the CEO of Google DeepMind, where Jumper, 39, serves as a senior research scientist.

Hassabis and Jumper employed artificial intelligence to predict the structures of nearly all known proteins, while Baker focused on mastering and designing entirely new proteins, according to the award-giving body.

Hassabis expressed his amazement, stating, "It's totally surreal, quite overwhelming," while thanking DeepMind, Google, and Jumper. He praised Baker for his significant contributions to protein design, expressing excitement about sharing the prize with him.

This award marks the second recognition this week for work involving artificial intelligence, highlighting the increasing significance of machine learning and large language models in scientific research.

Hassabis noted the potential dangers of powerful technologies, stating, "It can be used for harm if put in the wrong hands."

Valued at 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately S$1.4 million), the Nobel Prize is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the scientific community.

Baker recounted that he was asleep when he received the call from the Royal Swedish Academy. "The phone rang, and they started telling me about the prize, and my wife started screaming very loudly," he said. "It was a little chaotic at the beginning, but it was very exciting."

His work on designing new proteins aims to address issues like global warming and emerging diseases. "If we have a lot of time to wait, new proteins might evolve to solve those problems," he explained. "What we have done with protein design is discover how to create new proteins that can tackle new challenges."

In 2003, Baker utilized amino acids, known as the building blocks of life, to design a novel protein, paving the way for the rapid development of various proteins for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and tiny sensors.

Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, highlighted Baker's achievements, stating that he developed computational tools that enable scientists to design remarkable new proteins with unique shapes and functions, creating endless possibilities for benefiting humanity.

In 2020, Hassabis and Jumper introduced an AI model called AlphaFold2, which has allowed them to predict the structures of nearly all 200 million proteins identified by researchers. Their work has significant scientific implications, such as enhancing the understanding of antibiotic resistance and creating enzymes that can break down plastic.

"We could draw a direct line from our work to improved health outcomes because of what we learn about cell biology and more, and it's just extraordinary," Jumper remarked, making him the youngest chemistry laureate in over 70 years.

The chemistry prize is the third award given each year, following those for medicine and physics, announced earlier this week. The Nobel prizes, established by the will of inventor Alfred Nobel, honor those who have made significant contributions to humanity over the previous year.

First awarded in 1901, the prizes recognize achievements in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace. The economics prize is a more recent addition funded by the Swedish central bank.

Notable past recipients of the chemistry prize include radioactivity pioneers Ernest Rutherford and Marie Curie. Along with the cash award, the winners will receive a medal from the Swedish king on December 10, followed by a grand banquet in Stockholm City Hall.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters