ROCKVILLE, MD – The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce that William Dowhan, PhD, the John S. Dunn Chair of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at University of Texas Heath Science Center, Texas has been named the recipient of the Society’s 2022 Anatrace Membrane Protein Award. Dowhan will be honored at the Society’s 66th Annual Meeting, being held in San Francisco, California from February 19-23, 2022.

Dowhan is being recognized for his seminal contributions towards understanding lipid regulation of integral membrane protein topology. His focus on understanding how lipids affect membrane protein structure and function using a combination of molecular genetic, biochemical and structural approaches both in vivo and in vitro sets him apart from others who focus mainly on the protein component of membranes.

“It is an honor to recognize William’s outstanding contributions to our understanding of membrane proteins,” said BPS President Frances Separovic, University of Melbourne, Australia. “His creative approaches developed for the cloning, expression and deletion of genes in bacteria and yeast have contributed significantly to our understanding of membrane biogenesis and its regulation and plasticity. His research provided the foundation for elucidating the role of lipid-protein interactions in various membrane protein associated processes. His work has influenced researchers across the globe, and we are excited to highlight his impact in this field.”

About the Award - Funded by Anatrace, Inc., this award recognizes an outstanding investigator who has made a significant contribution to the field of membrane protein research. The award is designed to promote membrane protein studies and recognize excellence in the field.