Anders Hallberg
Encyclopedia
Anders Hallberg is a Swedish
chemist
and has been elected rector magnificus of Uppsala University
from July 2006, succeeding Bo Sundqvist
.
and studied at Lund University
, where he received his M.Sc. degree in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1980. His dissertation, Methoxythiophenes and Related Systems (1980), was supervised by Prof. Salo Gronowitz.
and as assistant professor at The University of Arizona
in Tucson and later became Head of Medicinal Chemistry at the pharmaceutical corporation Astra
(later merged to become AstraZeneca
) in Lund
. He was appointed professor of Medicinal chemistry
at Uppsala University in 1990, became Head of the Department of Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1991 and served as Dean for Research and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy until he was appointed Rector magnificus and president of Uppsala University
in 2006.
Anders Hallberg was elected a member of the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
1994, of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences in Uppsala in 2004, of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
in 2005, of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
in 2006, and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
in 2007. Since 2009 he is also member of the Board of Åbo Akademi, Finland.
, the HCV (Hepatitis C
virus) and Malaria
as well as finding new therapies for cardio-vascular disorders.
His research encompasses a range of protein targets of pharmaceutical relevance, including proteases and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). One of the primary themes is to identify selective low molecular weight ligands for these targets. Strategies are developed for both the design and for the synthesis of small, drug-like molecules. Lead compounds are optimized using computer-aided techniques and are preferentially synthesized using high-speed chemistry and efficient transition metal-catalyzed reactions developed. Major indications that are addressed are infections caused by HIVJ. K. Ekegren, N. Ginman, Å. Johansson, H. Wallberg, M. Larhed, B. Samuelsson, T. Unge, A. Hallberg: Microwave accelerated synthesis of P’-extended HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary alcohol in the transition-state mimicking scaffold. J Med Chem, 49 (2006) 1828-1832 and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) as well as the infectious disease Malaria. In addition, basic research is conducted to identify novel ligands that interfere with proteins in the renin/angiotensin system. The first drug-like selective and potent angiotensin II, type II receptor agonist with a high oral bioavailability was recently discovered.
Anders Hallberg has published approximately 250 articles in international journals and filed several patents. He has also supervised 28 graduate students to the Ph.D degree. In 2009 he became Doctor honoris causa (Faculty of Medicine), Université de Sherbrooke
, Canada.
/ proteomics
, energy research, research on peace and democracy. He has been engaged in building and strengthening international relations in particular with Asia.
For his achievements as Rector magnificus and president of Uppsala University, he was awarded H. M. The King's Medal
for significant contributions to higher education and research in June 2008.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and has been elected rector magnificus of Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
from July 2006, succeeding Bo Sundqvist
Bo Sundqvist
Bo Sundqvist is a Swedish physicist and former rector magnificus of Uppsala University.Sundqvist was educated at Uppsala University, where he received his Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Physics. He was appointed professor of Ion physics in 1987, and elected rector magnificus in 1997, a position he left...
.
Education
Hallberg grew up in TranåsTranås
Tranås is a locality and the seat of Tranås Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 14,017 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:It is close to the lake Sommen in the north of Småland. Its main commercial center is located along the main street, Storgatan. The symbol of the town is the crane as...
and studied at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
, where he received his M.Sc. degree in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1980. His dissertation, Methoxythiophenes and Related Systems (1980), was supervised by Prof. Salo Gronowitz.
Career
Hallberg has worked at Lund UniversityLund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
and as assistant professor at The University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson and later became Head of Medicinal Chemistry at the pharmaceutical corporation Astra
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
(later merged to become AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
) in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
. He was appointed professor of Medicinal chemistry
Medicinal chemistry
Medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry are disciplines at the intersection of chemistry, especially synthetic organic chemistry, and pharmacology and various other biological specialties, where it is involved with design, chemical synthesis and development for market of pharmaceutical...
at Uppsala University in 1990, became Head of the Department of Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1991 and served as Dean for Research and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy until he was appointed Rector magnificus and president of Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 2006.
Anders Hallberg was elected a member of the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
The Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala , is the oldest of the royal academies in Sweden. The society has, by royal decree of 1906, 50 Swedish fellows and 100 foreign....
1994, of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences in Uppsala in 2004, of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund or Kungl. Fysiografiska Sällskapet i Lund, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. It was founded in Lund, on December 2, 1772, and received a Royal Charter by Gustav III, on March 6, 1778.- External links :*...
in 2005, of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
in 2006, and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences or Kungl. Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien , founded in 1919 by King Gustaf V, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
in 2007. Since 2009 he is also member of the Board of Åbo Akademi, Finland.
Research
Anders Hallbergs research is devoted to finding new pharmaceuticals via fast chemistry to combat infections diseases such as HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, the HCV (Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
virus) and Malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
as well as finding new therapies for cardio-vascular disorders.
His research encompasses a range of protein targets of pharmaceutical relevance, including proteases and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). One of the primary themes is to identify selective low molecular weight ligands for these targets. Strategies are developed for both the design and for the synthesis of small, drug-like molecules. Lead compounds are optimized using computer-aided techniques and are preferentially synthesized using high-speed chemistry and efficient transition metal-catalyzed reactions developed. Major indications that are addressed are infections caused by HIV
Anders Hallberg has published approximately 250 articles in international journals and filed several patents. He has also supervised 28 graduate students to the Ph.D degree. In 2009 he became Doctor honoris causa (Faculty of Medicine), Université de Sherbrooke
Université de Sherbrooke
The Université de Sherbrooke is a large university with campuses located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal approximately west of Sherbrooke. It is one of two universities, and the only French language university, in the Estrie region of Quebec.In 2007, the...
, Canada.
Uppsala University
As Rector magnificus of Uppsala University Anders Hallberg has strongly promoted high priority areas including genomicsGenomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
/ proteomics
Proteomics
Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of cells. The term "proteomics" was first coined in 1997 to make an analogy with...
, energy research, research on peace and democracy. He has been engaged in building and strengthening international relations in particular with Asia.
Awards
Anders Hallberg has received several awards and prizes.- The Fabian Gyllenberg Award from the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, for best PhD thesis in chemistry (over a three year period) in Lund
- Senior Individual Grant Award to Outstanding Senior Scientist (SSF)
- First recipient of the National Swedish Prize in Organic Chemistry (The Holmquist Prize)
- The Oscar Carlsson Medal for Excellence from the Swedish Chemical Society
- The Best Teacher Prize 2006 from the Pharmaceutical Student Union, Uppsala University
- Honorary Member of the Småland Student Nation and the Upland Student Nation in Uppsala
- Honorary Member of Rotary International
For his achievements as Rector magnificus and president of Uppsala University, he was awarded H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal , earlier known as the Court Medal , is an honour that may be bestowed on Swedish citizens.-Honour:...
for significant contributions to higher education and research in June 2008.