Winner of the Golden Spatula 2023
Extending the Scope of Peptiligase, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen
This year, the KNCV Golden Spatula Selection Committee chose the thesis by
Roy Blom, written as part of his Applied Science, Chemistry degree at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, as the winner of the Golden Spatula 2023 nomination.
During his internship at EnzyTag BV, Roy worked on setting up the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant peptide macrocycles using peptiligase with sidechain-to-tail cyclization and its application to cyclic lipodepsipeptides. In addition, he investigated the synthesis of antimicrobial amphisin, including optimization of the relevant synthesis parameters. These macrocycles are gaining interest as a potential alternative to small-molecule and biological drugs due to their interesting pharmacological properties.
According to his supervisors, he set up this research independently, including coordination with foreign project partners and professors. The thesis has been rated as excellent, and this is evident from reading it. The level of the presentation of the problem statement, research, and reporting is very high. His introduction reads like a pleasant literature study that accurately describes the state of the art and demonstrates excellent insight into the problem. The jury is impressed by the quality of the carefully described results and the associated conclusions. Roy is also critical of his results and substantiates deviating results with theory and a hypothesis, after which experiments are devised to test this.
Roy is still affiliated with EnzyTag BV as a consultant through his own company, Blinc Life Science BV, which he runs alongside his master's studies at Maastricht University.
The other two prizes were awarded to:
