Kurt Wüthrich is a chemist and biophysicist whose pioneering work on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has revolutionised the way in which large biological molecules are studied. The spectroscopy techniques he established are now used in laboratories the world over, and have allowed him to decode the structure of many fundamental proteins and nucleic acids.

By developing NMR techniques to study molecules in solution, Kurt has been able to analyse the biological compounds in conditions that mimic their natural environment. It was this work that allowed him to determine the three-dimensional structure of molecules that play a key role in human biology, and greatly expand the capabilities of NMR research.

Kurt’s fundamental contributions have been recognised by numerous awards, including the 2002 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. An honorary fellow of learned societies around the world, from 2000 to 2001 he served as Chairman of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.