Lewis Kay honoured with Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics

January 31, 2025 by Celebrates

Lewis Kay, a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a University Professor in the departments of molecular genetics and biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine--with a cross appointment to the U of T Department of Chemistry--has been recognized with the Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics

Portrait of Dr. Lewis Kay standing in front of a brick building.
Lewis Kay (photo by Lisa Longbourn)

According to an article in U of T Celebrates, the Hollaender Award is presented every three years by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of biophysics and carries a $20,000 prize. It is named for Alexander W. Hollaender, who is credited with bringing the field of photobiology to prominence. 

Kay was honoured for groundbreaking work in biochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which has transformed human understanding of the structure, dynamics and functions of macromolecules. He is recognized for leading advances in the application of NMR toward understanding an array of molecular systems, and for devising techniques to investigate the dynamic properties of proteins.

"In addition to developing a wide variety of solution-state NMR spectroscopic methods, Kay has also led the way in applying NMR to understand an enormous range of molecular systems involved in diverse processes," reads the NAS announcement. "He has developed techniques to study the dynamic properties of proteins as well as helped establish the importance of these dynamics to fundamental processes of life, including signaling, catalysis, folding, and aggregation."

"Kay’s impact extends well beyond his own research, inspiring and providing others with the techniques to make advances in our basic understanding of how proteins and nucleic acids work."

He will be honoured at an April 27 ceremony during the National Academy of Sciences’ 162nd annual meeting.