Jonathan L. Vennerstrom: I Was Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Lukas Meier

doi:10.2533/chimia.2023.609

Jonathan L. Vennerstrom: I Was Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Authors

Lukas Meier Swiss Tropical and Public Health-Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2023.609

Keywords:

Antimalarial drugs, Antischistosomal drugs, Synthetic ozonides

Abstract

Jonathan L. Vennerstrom grew up in Ethiopia, where he was witness to the effects of leprosy and other infectious diseases of poverty on the local population. After his studies in organic chemistry, he began to research antiprotozoal agents, which resulted in the discovery of the synthetic ozonides. Fruitful collaborations with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) have paved the way for antimalarial and antischistosomal drugs. In recognition of his many achievements, Vennerstrom received the 2019 ACS Award for Creative Invention.