Dame Margaret Brimble recognised for world chemistry role

Distinguished Professor Dame Margaret Brimble has been honoured by the Royal Society of Chemistry (London).

She has been named an Honorary Fellow, the organisation’s highest accolade, for “decades of drug discovery innovation”. Of the seven people named Honorary Fellows, three were Nobel Prize winners.

Dame Margaret says she is “very humbled” to be recognised towards the end of a medicinal chemistry career spanning more than four decades.

The honour highlighted the world-class science capabilities of the University of Auckland, and would inspire young scientists, she said.

“Honours like this are important for our young scientists in New Zealand… no matter where you are in the world, you can be recognised.”

Dame Margaret was recognised for advancing medicinal chemistry, translating chemistry into real-world impact, and for her scientific leadership, mentorship – especially of women – and service to global chemistry.

Her lab contributed to the medicinal chemistry underpinning the discovery of DAYBUE™ (trofinetide), approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2023 as the first treatment for Rett syndrome, a rare neurological and developmental disorder.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said this recognition is a remarkable honour and a testament to the profound impact of Dame Margaret's work.

"She has shaped the field of medicinal chemistry on the world stage while also inspiring generations of scientists here in Aotearoa," Freshwater said. "Her commitment to discovery, mentorship and real-world impact reflects the very best of our University. We are immensely proud of her achievements and delighted to see her contribution acknowledged in this way.”

Dr Annette Doherty, the society’s president, said Dame Margaret’s work “has broadened the horizons of the chemical sciences and enriched the communities they serve”.

“Her pioneering contributions to peptide and neuroprotective drug development have opened new avenues for treating disease and improving lives.”

Creating aspirin in the lab as a student at the University of Auckland got Dame Margaret hooked on organic chemistry – she could make useful things – and started her on the path to becoming the University’s first Director of Medicinal Chemistry.

Today, she is part of two New Zealand teams developing broad-spectrum antiviral agents and new generation antibiotics, and she is working on agrochemical projects including the development of pest control agents, methanogen inhibitors and marine antifouling agents.

Dame Margaret was previously elected a Fellow of the Royal Society London, appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and awarded the Royal Society London Davy Medal, the American Chemical Society Ernest Guenther Award for Natural Products Chemistry and the Royal Society of Chemistry Pedler Award for Research and Innovation in Organic Chemistry.

The new Honorary Fellows at the Royal Society of Chemistry this year included Nobel Prize winners Professor Carolyn R. Bertozzi (Stanford University), Sir Demis Hassabis (Google DeepMind) and Professor Sir David MacMillan (Princeton University).