Tom Blundell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Tom Blundell
FRS FRSC FMedSci FRSB MAE
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Blundell in 2006
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Thomas Leon Blundell
7 July 1942 Brighton, England, UK
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| Education | Steyning Grammar School |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford (BA, DPhil) |
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| Spouse(s) |
Lady Bancinyane Lynn Sibanda
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 3 |
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| Thesis | The determination by X-ray diffraction methods of the crystal and molecular structures of some co-ordination compounds (1969) |
| Doctoral advisor | Herbert M Powell |
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Sir Thomas Leon Blundell (born 7 July 1942) is a British scientist. He is known for his work in biochemistry (the study of life's chemistry) and structural biology (studying the shapes of tiny parts of living things). He also helps manage science research.
In 1969, Sir Tom was part of a team that figured out the shape of insulin. Insulin is a very important protein hormone in our bodies. He has also helped us understand how hormones and other body signals work. This research is important for fighting diseases like cancer and tuberculosis.
Sir Tom helped create computer programs to study proteins. These programs have led to new ways of designing medicines. In 1999, he co-founded a company called Astex Therapeutics. This company has developed many new drugs that are now being tested. He has also played a big role in improving how science research is organized in Britain.
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Education and Early Life
Sir Tom Blundell was born in Brighton, England, in 1942. He went to Steyning Grammar School. He was the first person in his family to go to university. He won a special scholarship to the University of Oxford.
In 1964, he earned a top degree in Natural Sciences. Then, he started doing research on crystallography. This is a science that looks at the arrangement of atoms in solids. He worked with Herbert Marcus Powell for his PhD degree. Later, he worked with Dorothy Hodgkin on the structure of insulin.
Career and Research Discoveries
Sir Tom Blundell worked at the University of Oxford and the University of Sussex early in his career. In 1976, he joined Birkbeck, University of London. He became the head of the Crystallography Department there in 1978.
Leading Science Organizations
In the 1990s, Sir Tom started taking on bigger roles in science management. He became the Director General of the Agricultural and Food Research Council from 1991 to 1994. Then, he was the first Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) from 1994 to 1996. These groups help decide what science research gets funded in the UK. He also led the UK Science Council starting in 2011.
In 1995, he became a professor at the University of Cambridge. He also leads the School of Biological Sciences there. His work focuses on molecular biology. This field looks at how tiny molecules in our bodies work. His research has helped develop drugs for diseases like cancer and diabetes. He also helped start two companies that discover new medicines: Astex Technology Ltd and Biofabrika.
Protecting the Environment
Sir Tom has also worked to protect the environment. From 1998 to 2005, he led the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. This group advised the government on environmental issues. They wrote important reports on topics like climate change, chemicals in products, and how fishing affects the ocean.
Understanding Life's Building Blocks
Sir Tom's research aims to understand the shapes and functions of large molecules in our bodies. He uses methods from biochemistry, protein crystallography (studying protein shapes with X-rays), and bioinformatics (using computers to understand biological data). His goal is to find new ways to treat diseases like cancer and tuberculosis.
He has studied how our bodies repair DNA, how hormones work, and how cells send signals. He has added many protein structures to the worldwide Protein Data Bank. This is a huge database of protein shapes that scientists around the world use. His team has also created useful computer programs for bioinformatics. He also co-wrote a textbook about protein crystallography.
Mentoring Future Scientists
Sir Tom has guided many students and researchers in his lab. Some of his doctoral students include Tim Hubbard, Laurence Pearl, Andrej Šali, and Charlotte Deane.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Tom Blundell has received many awards for his scientific work. In 1984, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He was also made a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and the Academy of Medical Sciences.
He has received many medals and prizes, including the Alcon Award for Vision Research and the Pfizer European Prize for Innovation. In 1997, he was given a knighthood, which means he can be called "Sir Tom Blundell." He has also received honorary degrees from 16 different universities. In 2007, he was interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 program Desert Island Discs.
Personal Life
Sir Tom Blundell married Lady Bancinyane Lynn Sibanda in 1987. They have three children. His brother, Richard Blundell, is a well-known economist.
