George P. Smith, MU Curators Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, wins Nobel Prize in chemistry

George P. Smith, MU Curators Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, wins Nobel Prize in chemistry

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced today that George P. Smith, MU Curators Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, is one of a trio of researchers who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Smith is the first University of Missouri professor to receive a Nobel Prize for research conducted at the university.

Smith developed phage display, which allows a virus that infects bacteria to evolve new proteins. He was particularly focused on applying phage display to develop vaccines for malaria and other difficult diseases.

“I am very conscious that I am far from alone in this recognition,” Smith said. “I am representing a whole array of people who created what was necessary for me to make this final little step — people who have shown the way for many imaginative applications.” Learn More

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