Professor Andrei Yudin was named a recipient of the Bayer Crop Science’s Grants4AG program.
This program aims to support researchers creating novel solutions in agriculture, such as next-generation crop protection. Each recipient will receive unrestricted funding, access to technology and tools, and mentorship by a Bayer Scientist.
Yudin was chosen for his research using chemical synthesis to create “new molecules that can interact with targeted plant enzymes.”
“My group and I look forward to applying our recent inventions in the area of boron chemistry to address Bayer’s needs in crop protection,” says Yudin. “What started as a fundamental study of boron chemistry now allows us to pursue the inhibition of pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, an important agrochemical target.”
Yudin has received international recognition for his chemical synthesis research. The Yudin Lab focuses on developing novel tools to design new bioactive molecules. Some notable discoveries include nacellins, aziridine aldehydes, and α-boryl aldehydes, leading to advancements in peptide therapeutics. Overall, his research could lead to groundbreaking developments in disease treatment and agrochemicals.
Currently, Yudin is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Medicine by Design and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). He has received several awards and honours, including the Konrad Adenauer Research Award (2022), the Killam Research Fellowship (2019), and the RSC’s Rutherford Medal (2010).
Yudin discusses his research in a Q&A article with Halo, who hosted this year’s Grants4AG program.