The New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) has recognised the scientific contributions of five chemists from the Ferrier Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington.
Dr Peter Tyler was awarded the Maurice Wilkins Centre Prize for Chemical Science, which recognises achievement in the field of industrial or applied chemistry.
Dr Tyler is a named inventor on over 30 patent families for new drug candidates, many of which have been licensed worldwide and have resulted in more than $20 million in royalty payments to New Zealand.
Professor Bradley Williams was awarded the NZIC's prize for Industrial and Applied Chemistry. The award recognises his work on the development and implementation of a new industrial process.
Dr Gavin Painter, Jenny Mason and Dr Phillip Rendle were made Fellows of the NZIC at the ceremony. Fellowships are awarded in recognition of substantial contributions to chemistry. They join Drs Gary Evans, Peter Tyler and Tony Woolhouse and Professors Bradley Williams and Richard Furneaux from the Ferrier Research Institute, who are already Fellows of the organisation.
“It’s very gratifying to see our professional chemists being recognised by their peers,” says Professor Mike Wilson, Victoria’s Pro Vice-Chancellor of Science.
“The Ferrier team has developed world-leading technologies in academic and industrial collaborations. These recognitions further solidify its position as New Zealand’s foremost applied organic chemistry institute.”
