The EFMC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 call for nominations for the title of Honorary Fellows.
EFMC Honorary Fellow is a life-long title aiming to recognize the individuals who have provided outstanding support to the EFMC and contributed in strengthening the position of medicinal chemistry, chemical biology or related fields in Europe.
Congratulations and thanks to:
The award ceremony will take place during the opening of the XXVII EFMC International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC 2022), scheduled to take place in Nice, France on September 4-8, 2022. Appointed Honorary Fellows will be invited to attend the meeting and receive their recognition on stage.
The EFMC Recognition Programme will continue awarding outstanding contributors to EFMC and sciences in the future. More information will be available here: www.efmc.info/honorary-fellows.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the official ceremonies for both the 2020 and 2021 edition of the EFMC Honorary Fellows took place during the XXVI EFMC International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC 2021), held on August 29-September 2, 2021 in an hybrid format: virtually and from the Novartis Campus in Basel, Switzerland.
The ceremony was hosted by Dr Yves P. Auberson (Past EFMC President) and Prof. Rui Moreira (EFMC President).
The EFMC Honorary Fellows ceremony was an important moment to take time to recognise the people who have forged EFMC, who have developed it, who have kept our community moving regarding how we are organised, how we communicate, how medicinal chemistry and chemical biology are encouraged and come together.
These awardees have dedicated many years of efforts to support our community at large, and this recognition is only a small token of the way we perceive and appreciate their contribution. We would like to name the following EFMC members as Honorary Fellows:
The EFMC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 call for nominations for the title of Honorary Fellows.
EFMC Honorary Fellow is a life-long title aiming to recognize the individuals who have provided outstanding support to the EFMC and contributed in strengthening the position of medicinal chemistry, chemical biology or related fields in Europe.
Congratulations and thanks to:
Ly and Edmond Differding were proposed for a joint nomination to the EFMC Honorary Fellowship. While this recognition is normally meant for single individuals, the committee felt that the contribution of Ly and Edmond Differding to EFMC, and to the advancement of medicinal chemistry in Europe, can hardly be separated. Edmond Differding was EFMC secretary and vice-chair, contributing to the reorganization of the EFMC, and to the development of its new structure at a period that critically shaped the Federation. More recently, he was actively involved in the celebration of EFMC’s 50th anniversary, preparing two papers that review the scientific content of all EFMC-ISMC and the development of medicinal chemistry in Europe. Ly Differding plays a pivotal role in EFMC and in the organisation of the most important EFMC conferences. She actively participates in EFMC activities and not only guarantees operational support, but also provides constant advice and an historical perspective to the president, executive committee, and conference organizers. Her dedicated contributions to the success of EFMC and medicinal chemistry in Europe is unparalleled. Furthermore, Ly fully supported EFMC during the recent pandemic crisis, proactively looking for creative solutions and facilitating their implementation.
In addition, the committee decided to consider for posthumous recognition:
Dr Emilio Kyburz (d. 2005) was very active in EFMC, as he was member of the executive committee in 1989, vice-chair in 1991-92, elected as chairman in 1995, secretary in 1997 and re-elected in this position in 1999. During this period, Dr. Kyburz put much emphasis on internationalisation of the medicinal chemistry developed in Europe, especially the expanding the interactions with the ACS. His well-curated archives, combined with those of Prof. Nauta, allowed EFMC to revisit its history for the first 30 years of existence.
The EFMC wishes to recognise the immense contribution of those who have contributed to strengthening the position of medicinal chemistry in Europe, through a major contribution to the service of the EFMC.
The first recipients have created and nurtured the mission and vision of EFMC during its first 50 years. All are former Presidents but have been contributors beyond expectations, and remain active supporters of EFMC. Congratulations and thanks to:
A central figure of EFMC, who has been instrumental to the Federation from its very beginning. Prof. Timmermann has been active in supporting the EFMC for more than 50 years and is still today an advisor to EFMC, attending all meetings and events, and continuing to be the active memory of EFMC.
Who played an important role in expanding the scope of EFMC and reinforcing its imprint across Europe.
Who played a critical role in modernising the EFMC, and changing its structure to adapt it to current challenges.
Who continued supporting the modernisation of EFMC, and implemented the first official EFMC journal.
Who played an important role in generating new ideas for EFMC. He was the driving force behind the first EFMC workshop, after which many of the activities that shaped the community over the last decade were initiated.
His 11 years commitment to EFMC as Executive Committee member, Secretary and President thoroughly contributed to shape the EFMC.
In addition, the EFMC would like to recognise:
Who played an important role in initiating the Young Medicinal Chemist’s Symposium (EFMC-YMCS) series, which has with evolved with time and now plays a key role in bringing the young generation of scientists together.