MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

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LMB Nobel Facts

  • 12 LMB Nobel prizes shared amongst 16 individuals:
    • 2018 - Greg Winter (Chemistry)
    • 2017 - Richard Henderson (Chemistry)
    • 2013 - Michael Levitt (Chemistry)
    • 2009 - Venki Ramakrishnan (Chemistry)
    • 2002 - Sydney Brenner, Bob Horvitz & John Sulston (Physiology or Medicine)
    • 1997 - John Walker (Chemistry)
    • 1984 - César Milstein & Georges Köhler (Physiology or Medicine)
    • 1982 - Aaron Klug (Chemistry)
    • 1980 - Fred Sanger (Chemistry)
    • 1962 - John Kendrew & Max Perutz (Chemistry)
    • 1962 - Francis Crick & Jim Watson (Physiology or Medicine)
    • 1958 - Fred Sanger (Chemistry)
  • In 1962, the LMB was awarded 2 separate Nobel Prizes: Francis Crick and Jim Watson (Physiology or Medicine), and Max Perutz and John Kendrew (Chemistry).
  • On 2 occasions a Nobel Prize has been awarded to a single LMB scientist and has not been a shared prize: Fred Sanger (1958) and Aaron Klug (1982).
  • Fred Sanger was the first person to win 2 Nobel Prizes for Chemistry.
  • 9 prizes in the field of chemistry; 3 in the field of physiology or medicine.
  • 12 LMB Alumni have also received Nobel Prizes (LMB position and dates in italics):
    • 2022 - Morten Meldal (Chemistry) Postdoctoral Visitor 1985-1986
    • 2013 - Martin Karplus (Chemistry) Visitor 1969-1970
    • 2013 - Arieh Warshel (Chemistry) Visitor 1974-1975
    • 2012 - John Gurdon (Physiology or Medicine) Scientific Staff 1972-1983
    • 2009 - Tom Steitz (Chemistry) Postdoctoral Fellow 1967-1970
    • 2009 - Elizabeth Blackburn (Physiology or Medicine) PhD Student 1971-1974
    • 2008 - Martin Chalfie (Chemistry) Postdoctoral Staff 1977-1982
    • 2006 - Andrew Fire (Physiology or Medicine) Postdoctoral Fellow 1983-1986
    • 2006 - Roger Kornberg (Chemistry) Postdoctoral Visitor 1972-1975
    • 1993 - Richard Roberts (Physiology or Medicine) Visitor 1970, 1978-1979
    • 1993 - Michael Smith (Chemistry) Postdoctoral Visitor 1975-1976
    • 1989 - Sidney Altman (Chemistry) Postdoctoral Visitor 1969-1971
  • The LMB has been nicknamed ‘The Nobel Prize Factory’. (Inside the Nobel Prize Factory. Steve Connor. The Independent on Sunday, 13 October 2002).