The 2020 Morton Lecture was awarded to Professor Gurdyal S. Besra of the University of Birmingham, UK. 

Gurdyal’s research focuses on improving our understanding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell-wall assembly, the discovery of novel mycobacterial lipid antigens, the identification of novel drug targets for tuberculosis, and the identification and chemical synthesis of mycobacterial CD1 lipids for evaluation of their immunological properties for a range of medical applications. His research group played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the biosynthesis of mycolic acids and elucidation of the mechanism(s) of action of existing and novel mycolate inhibitors. Gurdyal is now starting to exploit his fundamental M. tuberculosis research findings in terms of drug targets, using specialised in vitro assays and phenotypic whole-cell screens to provide new hit-to-leads for tuberculosis. With international collaborators, Gurdyal has also been at the forefront in the discovery of M. tuberculosis T-cell antigens and elucidation of the CD1 antigen presentation pathway. He is currently exploring the immunotherapeutic potential of glycosyl ceramides and synthetic small-molecules against tumours, inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, systemic lupus erythematosus, and tuberculosis by designing analogues that can effectively promote the appropriate functions of CD1d-restricted T-cells, to treat diseases in which it is important to alter Th1 or Th2 polarisation. 

Gurdyal said: “I am delighted with this award that recognises the outstanding work members of my laboratory, past and present, have produced over the years.”

Gurdyal presented his Award lecture on Wednesday 7 July 2021 as part of the Biochemistry Focus webinar series. View the recording. 

In 2018 the Morton Lectureship was awarded to Michael Wakelam from the Babraham Institute, Cambridge. Michael’s research focuses upon understanding the role and regulation of lipid signalling pathways in inflammation and cancer and his lab has a major focus upon the use and development of lipidomics methodologies in determining the functions of individual lipid molecular species. Michael’s work to develop ways of assessing the acyl-chain composition initially using HPLC and TLC techniques and subsequently with mass spectrometry were amongst the first to allow molecular analysis of lipid sidechains. These studies permitted the understanding of how these critical parts of the lipid molecule contribute to cellular function. Michael’s group have produced an extensive body of work describing the regulation, behaviour and cellular functions of phospholipase D. Michael also identified how small GTPases such as Ras regulate phospholipase C enzymes, and his lab have continued to produce an important portfolio of work detailing how this family of enzymes is regulated. Michael is also expert at lipidomics of phosphoinositides, important signalling molecules that cannot be studied easily by conventional mass spectrometry. Michael’s expertise in lipidomics has allowed several high-profile collaborative studies to be achieved, in both basic and translational research that have informed our understanding of lipid metabolism in cancer and PI 3-kinase signalling in health and disease.

Of winning the Morton Lectureship, Michael said “I am delighted and surprised to have been awarded the Morton Lectureship by the Biochemical Society. I am extremely grateful for the efforts of the many excellent scientists who have contributed to the success of my laboratory over the years. Additionally I am proud to join the list of great lipid scientists who have been previous recipients of this award.” 

Michael presented his award lecture at the Society conference ‘Structure and mechanism of membrane proteins’ on 2-3 August 2018 at Aston University, UK.

The Morton Lecture in 2016 was presented to John Harwood, from Cardiff University. John Harwood has had a long career at the forefront of research into lipid biochemistry. John’s original contributions to lipid biochemistry are many and varied; he has worked in both animal and plant lipid biochemistry, and made important contributions to both. His research has covered all levels of lipid biochemistry, from genes to medical products.

John presented his lecture in Cardiff on 10 November 2016.

Read John's article published in Biochemical Society Transactions - Inspired by lipids: the Morton Lecture Award Presentation.