At the ceremony, held at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at our university, Professor Blundell received at the hands of the rector Victor Perez this important award.

Considered one of the leading scientists worldwide, contributions from Professor Blundell have been crucial in structural biology, specifically in areas such as the first structures of a polypeptide hormone, receptor binding hypothesis, interactions between growth factors and their receptors , DNA repair, homologous recombination and non-homologous end ligation, crystalline lens of invertebrates, protein modeling and recognition of homology, databases of protein interactions and ligand, drug discovery, among others.

Thomas Blundell has spent most of his scientific career at the University of Cambridge, considered one of the most important research centers in the world. It is at this university where he led a successful multi-national team in charge of developing new drugs for cancer and AIDS.

Professor Blundell's relationship with Chile goes back a few years ago when he was invited by Professor Octavio Monasterio, Faculty of Science, to give the plenary conference of the Society of Biology of Chile. He also had an active work with the group of Dr. Jorge Allende and now with Professor Juan Asenjo carry out an important collaboration, which has materialized through the ICDB postdoctoral Alvaro Olivera, who will soon stay in Cambridge.

Along with their outstanding scientific achievements, Professor Blundell has capitalized the knowledge generated in their laboratories in the formation of companies. Thus, more than 20 years ago he created Astex Therapeutics where they discover and develop new cancer therapies.

Apart from the distinction conferred as honorary doctorate by the University of Chile, Thomas Blundell was named Foreign Correspondent Member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences.