Anthony Barrett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Gerard Martin Barrett
FRS FMedSci
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| Born | 2 March 1952 |
| Nationality | British, US |
| Alma mater | Imperial College London |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Northwestern University, Colorado State University, Imperial College London |
| Doctoral advisor | Derek Barton |
| Doctoral students | Matthew Fuchter |
Anthony Gerard Martin Barrett is a British chemist who has made important discoveries in the field of chemistry. He is a professor at Imperial College London, a famous university in the United Kingdom. He also leads the Wolfson Centre for Organic Chemistry in Medical Science.
Professor Barrett is recognized for his work. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1999. This is a very old and respected group for scientists. In 2003, he also became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. This group honors top scientists in health and medicine. He earned his first degree and his PhD from Imperial College London in the 1970s.
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Early Life and Learning
Anthony Barrett went to Heles Grammar School in Exeter, England. After school, he studied at Imperial College London. He earned a top degree there in 1973. He then continued his studies and received his PhD in 1975. For his PhD, he worked with Sir Derek Barton. Sir Derek Barton was a Nobel Prize winner. This means he received a very important award for his scientific work.
A Career in Chemistry
Professor Barrett started his teaching career at Imperial College London in 1975. He taught organic chemistry there. In 1983, he moved to the United States. He became a full professor at Northwestern University in Illinois. Later, in 1990, he moved to Colorado State University.
After ten years of research in the US, he returned to Imperial College London. He became a special professor of organic chemistry. He also became the head of the organic chemistry section. In 1999, he was given the title "Sir Derek Barton Professor." This honored his former teacher.
Making New Chemical Reactions
Professor Barrett has invented many new ways to make chemicals. These are called "reactions" in chemistry. Some of his inventions include:
- New ways to join sugar molecules.
- Efficient ways to change ring-shaped molecules.
- Reactions that use metals to add oxygen or hydrogen.
- Methods using special gels to help reactions.
- Ways to combine several molecules at once.
Building Complex Molecules
He has also helped create many important natural products. These are chemicals found in nature that can be useful. For example, he worked on making molecules like papulacandin D and showdomycin. These molecules can have special properties. He also developed ways to make molecules that look like rings or cages.
Working with Other Scientists
Professor Barrett often works with other scientists. He worked with Brian M. Hoffman on special molecules called porphyrazines. These molecules can attach to metal ions. Some of these metal complexes can help find cancers. They can also be used in a treatment called PDT.
He also teamed up with Simak Ali and R. Charles Coombes. They worked with Dennis Liotta and James P. Snyder from Emory University. Together, they found new ways to fight cancer. They invented special inhibitors for certain proteins called Cyclin Dependent Kinases. One of these, ICEC0942, is being tested to treat cancers.
Professor Barrett was also the first to show that certain ring-shaped molecules are very stable. This discovery helped other scientists. It led to the creation of new materials. It also helped explain how certain charged atoms interact in solutions.
Awards and Recognition
Professor Barrett has received many awards for his important research. Here are some of them:
- Royal Society of Chemistry Awards: He received many medals and lectureships from this group. These include the Meldola Medal (1980) and the Corday-Morgan Medal (1986).
- American Chemical Society: He won the Cope Scholar Award in 1986.
- Royal Society: He received the Wolfson Research Merit Award in 2002.
- Imperial College: He was given the Armstrong Medal in 1981.
- Other Awards: He also received awards from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation and Glaxo Wellcome.
In 2017, he received a special award from Imperial College. It was the President's Medal for Excellence in Research. This award recognized his great work in innovation.
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Professor Anthony Barrett
