
Congratulations to N1 Life co-founder and Stanford Professor Paul A. Wender for receiving the 2024 Sir Derek Barton Gold Medal from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), in recognition of his groundbreaking advancements in synthesis, photochemistry, organometallic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug delivery, and translational science of profound research and societal impact. This prestigious award is presented by the Royal Society of Chemistry to honor the memory of British chemist Sir Derek Barton (1918-1998), renowned for his significant contributions to organic synthesis and conformational analysis.
The Sir Derek Barton Gold Medal is awarded biennially to chemists who have made exceptional achievements in the field of organic chemistry. Recipients are recognized for their remarkable innovation and contributions to organic chemistry research, significantly influencing the advancement of chemical sciences.
Founded in 1841, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is one of the most important chemical societies in the UK and one of the most influential academic organizations in the global chemistry community.

The history of the RSC dates back to the early 1800s, when chemists began to realize the need for professional organizations to promote the development and exchange of chemical science. On March 31, 1841, a group of chemists and chemistry enthusiasts in London decided to establish the "Chemical Society." In 1850, Queen Victoria granted the organization a royal charter, renaming it the "Royal Society of Chemistry" and bestowing upon it the royal title.

Chemists awarded the Sir Derek Barton Gold Medal are not only renowned in academia but also widely recognized for their contributions and influence on chemical sciences. This award reflects the RSC's high recognition and respect for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry.
Over time, the RSC has established a broad influence and reputation worldwide. Its mission is to advance the development and application of chemical knowledge, support the professional development of chemists, and promote chemical education and public understanding. The RSC publishes numerous scientific journals, organizes international conferences and events, and plays a crucial role in policy-making and scientific advocacy within the field of chemistry.
Today, the RSC's members come from all over the world, including academia, industry, and government institutions. It continues to be dedicated to driving innovation and development in chemical sciences, providing support and resources for chemists, and promoting the role of chemistry in solving global challenges.

Paul A. Wender is the Francis W. Bergstrom Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University and also holds a part-time professorship in the Department of Chemical and Systems Biology. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Yale University and completed his NIH postdoctoral research at Columbia University. Before joining Stanford University, Professor Wender taught at Harvard University.
Professor Wender's research team utilizes new computational tools, chemical reactions, reagents, strategies, and designs to tackle challenges in chemistry, synthesis, biology, medicine, and materials science. Through collaborations with the School of Medicine, Imaging Center, Chemical Biology Program, and Molecular Therapeutics Program, as well as extensive internal and external partnerships, Wender's lab emphasizes using chemistry, design, and synthesis to address major problems in biology and medicine, including eradicating HIV, overcoming drug-resistant cancer, cancer immunotherapy, and treating cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Professor Wender has made significant achievements in synthetic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, and his synthetic strategies are widely applied in the synthesis of natural products and drug molecules. Additionally, his invention of cell-penetrating peptide technology has opened new pathways for drug delivery. Recently, in collaboration with Professors Chang and Waymouth, Wender developed the innovative GSer-CART delivery platform, utilizing a charge-neutralization mechanism to achieve highly selective delivery of therapeutic RNA to specific organs, demonstrating immense potential in the field of RNA vaccines.
Professor Wender's scientific achievements have earned him numerous awards, including the Tetrahedron Prize, the Prelog Medal (ETH Zurich), the Arthur Cope Award (American Chemical Society), the Cohen Medicinal Chemistry Excellence Award (Israel Chemical Society), and the Leibniz Association Research Award for Bioactive Substances and Biotechnology (Germany). He has also received several teaching awards, including the Hoagland Award, the Bing Teaching Award, and the Dean's Teaching Award. Wender is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, a foreign member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
N1 Life continues to develop mRNA delivery tools based on the technical platform of Stanford's research groups. The successfully developed ChARLS delivery system boasts significant advantages in encapsulation efficiency, stability, safety, and processability. It can achieve targeted delivery to extrahepatic organs and immune cells in vivo.