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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Short description|Indian-born British chemist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Sir Shankar Balasubramanian
| honorific_prefix  = [[Professor]] [[Sir]]
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRS|FMedSci|size=100%}}
| name             = Shankar Balasubramanian
| image = Shankar Balasubramanian, Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry.jpg
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRS|FMedSci|size=100%}}
| caption = Shankar Balasubramanian, [[Herchel Smith]] Professor of [[Medicinal Chemistry]]
| image             = Shankar Balasubramanian, Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|09|30}}<ref name="whoswho">
| caption           =  
{{Who's Who | author=Anon| surname = Balasubramanian | othernames = Prof. Shankar | id = U256669 | year = 2017  | edition = online [[Oxford University Press]]|location=Oxford|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.256669}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|09|30}}<ref name="whoswho">
| birth_place = [[Chennai|Madras]], [[Madras State]]<br/> (now [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]), India
{{Who's Who | author=Anon| title=Balasubramanian, Prof. Shankar | id = U256669 | year = 2017  | edition = online [[Oxford University Press]]|location=Oxford|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.256669}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[University of Cambridge]] (MA, MSci, PhD)
| birth_place       = [[Madras]], [[Madras State]]<br /> (now [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]), India
| doctoral_advisor = [[Chris Abell]]
| alma_mater       = [[University of Cambridge]]
| influences = [[Stephen J. Benkovic]]
| doctoral_advisor = [[Chris Abell]]
| doctoral_students = [[Julian Huppert]]<ref name=Huppert2005>{{cite journal|last1=Huppert|first1=J. L.|last2=Balasubramanian|first2=S.|title=Prevalence of quadruplexes in the human genome|journal=[[Nucleic Acids Research]]|volume=33|issue=9|year=2005|pages=2908–2916|doi=10.1093/nar/gki609|pmid=15914667|pmc=1140081}}</ref><ref name=huphd>{{cite thesis|degree=PhD|publisher=University of Cambridge|title=Studies on genomic G-quadruplexes|first= Julian Leon|last=Huppert|date=2005|url=https://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=44CAM_ALMA21431254530003606&context=L&vid=44CAM_PROD&search_scope=SCOP_CAM_ALL&tab=cam_lib_coll&lang=en_US|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.604822}}|oclc=885437272|website=lib.cam.ac.uk}}</ref>
| doctoral_students = [[Julian Huppert]]<ref name=Huppert2005>{{cite journal|last1=Huppert|first1=J. L.|last2=Balasubramanian|first2=S.|title=Prevalence of quadruplexes in the human genome|journal=[[Nucleic Acids Research]]|volume=33|issue=9|year=2005|pages=2908–2916|doi=10.1093/nar/gki609|pmid=15914667|pmc=1140081}}</ref><ref name=huphd>{{cite thesis|degree=PhD|publisher=University of Cambridge|title=Studies on genomic G-quadruplexes|first= Julian Leon|last=Huppert|date=2005|url=https://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=44CAM_ALMA21431254530003606&context=L&vid=44CAM_PROD&search_scope=SCOP_CAM_ALL&tab=cam_lib_coll&lang=en_US|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.604822}}|oclc=885437272|website=lib.cam.ac.uk}}</ref>
| residence = UK
| website           = {{URL|http://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/group/shankar}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/group/shankar}}
https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/balasubramanian-group
https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/balasubramanian-group
| nationality = {{GBR}}
| thesis_title     = Studies on the reaction mechanism of chorismate synthase
| thesis_title = Studies on the reaction mechanism of chorismate synthase
| thesis_url       = http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.386780
| thesis_url = http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.386780
| thesis_year       = 1992
| thesis_year = 1992
| awards           = {{Plainlist|
| awards = {{Plainlist|
* [[Corday-Morgan Prize]] (2002)
* [[Corday-Morgan Prize]] (2002)
* [[EMBO Member]] (2013)<ref name="embo"/>
* [[EMBO Member]] (2013)<ref name="embo"/>
* [[Tetrahedron Prize]] (2013)
* [[Tetrahedron Prize]] (2013)
* [[Royal Medal]] (2018)}}
* [[Royal Medal]] (2018)
| work_institution = {{Plainlist|
* [[Millennium Technology Prize]] (2020)
* [[Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences]] (2022)
* [[Canada Gairdner International Award]] (2024)}}
| work_institution = {{Plainlist|
* [[University of Cambridge]]
* [[University of Cambridge]]
* [[Pennsylvania State University]]<ref name="whoswho"/>
* [[Pennsylvania State University]]<ref name="whoswho"/>
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* Cambridge Epigenetix
* Cambridge Epigenetix
* [[Solexa]]
* [[Solexa]]
* [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]}}|
* [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]}}
| known_for = {{Plainlist|
| known_for         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Nucleic acid]]s research
* [[Nucleic acid]]s research
* [[G-quadruplex]]es
* [[G-quadruplex]]es
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}}
}}


'''Sir Shankar Balasubramanian''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRS|FMedSci}} (born 30 September 1966)<ref name="whoswho"/> is an Indian-born British chemist<ref>{{Cite journal
'''Sir Shankar Balasubramanian''' (born 30 September 1966)<ref name="whoswho"/> is an Indian-born British chemist<ref>{{Cite journal
  | pmid = 17582897
  | pmid = 17582897
| year = 2007
| year = 2007
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| pages = 170–1
| pages = 170–1
| doi = 10.1016/j.tibs.2013.02.006
| doi = 10.1016/j.tibs.2013.02.006
}}</ref> and Herchel Smith Professor<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Cambridge, 2011. ''Herchel Smith Academics .'' |url=http://www.herchelsmith.cam.ac.uk/community/academics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117205122/http://www.herchelsmith.cam.ac.uk/community/academics/ |archive-date=17 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }} [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref> of Medicinal Chemistry in the [[Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge|Department of Chemistry]] at the [[University of Cambridge]],<ref name="www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk">{{cite web|title=University of Cambridge, 2013. ''The Balasubramanian Group.''|url=http://www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk}} [Accessed 4 April 2013].</ref><ref name="ch.cam.ac.uk">University of Cambridge, 2013. ''Professor Shankar Balasubramanian FMedSci FRS.''[online] Available at: <http://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/sb10031> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref> Senior Group Leader at the [[Cancer Research UK]] Cambridge Institute <ref>Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, 2012. '' Balasubramanian Group.''[online] Available at: <http://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/balasubramanian-group> [Accessed 4 April 2013].</ref> and Fellow of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]].<ref>Trinity College, Cambridge, 2013. ''The Fellowship.''[online] Available at: <http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=321> [Accessed 4 April 2013].</ref> He is recognised for his contributions in the field of [[nucleic acid]]s.<ref name="scopus">{{Scopus|id=7201550638}}</ref> He is scientific founder of Solexa <ref>Illumina, 2013. ''SBS Technology.''[online] Available at: <{{cite web |url=http://technology.illumina.com/technology/next-generation-sequencing/solexa-technology.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20141009113509/http://technology.illumina.com/technology/next-generation-sequencing/solexa-technology.html |archive-date=9 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}> [Accessed 8 April 2013]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Bentley | first1 = D. R. | last2 = Balasubramanian | first2 = S. | last3 = Swerdlow | first3 = H. P. | last4 = Smith | first4 = G. P. | last5 = Milton | first5 = J. | last6 = Brown | first6 = C. G. | last7 = Hall | first7 = K. P. | last8 = Evers | first8 = D. J. | last9 = Barnes | first9 = C. L. | last10 = Bignell | doi = 10.1038/nature07517 | first10 = H. R. | last11 = Boutell | first11 = J. M. | last12 = Bryant | first12 = J. | last13 = Carter | first13 = R. J. | last14 = Keira Cheetham | first14 = R. | last15 = Cox | first15 = A. J. | last16 = Ellis | first16 = D. J. | last17 = Flatbush | first17 = M. R. | last18 = Gormley | first18 = N. A. | last19 = Humphray | first19 = S. J. | last20 = Irving | first20 = L. J. | last21 = Karbelashvili | first21 = M. S. | last22 = Kirk | first22 = S. M. | last23 = Li | first23 = H. | last24 = Liu | first24 = X. | last25 = Maisinger | first25 = K. S. | last26 = Murray | first26 = L. J. | last27 = Obradovic | first27 = B. | last28 = Ost | first28 = T. | last29 = Parkinson | first29 = M. L. | last30 = Pratt | first30 = M. R. | display-authors = 29 | title = Accurate whole human genome sequencing using reversible terminator chemistry | journal = Nature | volume = 456 | issue = 7218 | pages = 53–59 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18987734 | pmc =2581791 | bibcode = 2008Natur.456...53B }}</ref> and Cambridge Epigenetix.<ref>Cambridge Epigenetix, 2013. ''CEGX ''[online] Available at: <http://www.cambridge-epigenetix.com/en_GB/about-us> [Accessed 19 July 2013].</ref><ref name=gov>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706081324/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Ba6y-nMuKv3KG3r7164IhB0Nrs8/appointments|archive-date=2016-07-06|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Ba6y-nMuKv3KG3r7164IhB0Nrs8/appointments|website=companieshouse.gov.uk|publisher=[[Companies House]]|location=London|title=Shankar BALASUBRAMANIAN}}</ref>
}}</ref> and Herchel Smith Professor<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Cambridge, 2011. ''Herchel Smith Academics .'' |url=http://www.herchelsmith.cam.ac.uk/community/academics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117205122/http://www.herchelsmith.cam.ac.uk/community/academics/ |archive-date=17 November 2012 }} [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref> of Medicinal Chemistry in the [[Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge|Department of Chemistry]] at the [[University of Cambridge]],<ref name="www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk">{{cite web|title=University of Cambridge, 2013. ''The Balasubramanian Group.''|url=http://www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk}} [Accessed 4 April 2013].</ref><ref name="Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry">{{cite web | title=Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FMedSci FRS | website=Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry | url=https://www.ch.cam.ac.uk/person/sb10031 | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> Senior Group Leader at the [[Cancer Research UK]] Cambridge Institute<ref name="Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute 2021" /> and Fellow of [[Trinity College, Cambridge]].<ref name="Trinity College Cambridge 2021_3">{{cite web | title=Master & Fellows | website=Trinity College Cambridge | date=10 November 2021 | url=https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/fellows/master-fellows/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> He is recognised for his contributions in the field of [[nucleic acid]]s.<ref name="scopus">{{Scopus|id=7201550638}}</ref> He is scientific founder of Solexa<ref>Illumina, 2013. ''SBS Technology.''[online] Available at: <{{cite web |url=http://technology.illumina.com/technology/next-generation-sequencing/solexa-technology.html |title=History of Illumina Sequencing |access-date=2014-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141009113509/http://technology.illumina.com/technology/next-generation-sequencing/solexa-technology.html |archive-date=9 October 2014 }}> [Accessed 8 April 2013]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Bentley | first1 = D. R. | last2 = Balasubramanian | first2 = S. | last3 = Swerdlow | first3 = H. P. | last4 = Smith | first4 = G. P. | last5 = Milton | first5 = J. | last6 = Brown | first6 = C. G. | last7 = Hall | first7 = K. P. | last8 = Evers | first8 = D. J. | last9 = Barnes | first9 = C. L. | last10 = Bignell | doi = 10.1038/nature07517 | first10 = H. R. | last11 = Boutell | first11 = J. M. | last12 = Bryant | first12 = J. | last13 = Carter | first13 = R. J. | last14 = Keira Cheetham | first14 = R. | last15 = Cox | first15 = A. J. | last16 = Ellis | first16 = D. J. | last17 = Flatbush | first17 = M. R. | last18 = Gormley | first18 = N. A. | last19 = Humphray | first19 = S. J. | last20 = Irving | first20 = L. J. | last21 = Karbelashvili | first21 = M. S. | last22 = Kirk | first22 = S. M. | last23 = Li | first23 = H. | last24 = Liu | first24 = X. | last25 = Maisinger | first25 = K. S. | last26 = Murray | first26 = L. J. | last27 = Obradovic | first27 = B. | last28 = Ost | first28 = T. | last29 = Parkinson | first29 = M. L. | last30 = Pratt | first30 = M. R. | display-authors = 29 | title = Accurate whole human genome sequencing using reversible terminator chemistry | journal = Nature | volume = 456 | issue = 7218 | pages = 53–59 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18987734 | pmc =2581791 | bibcode = 2008Natur.456...53B }}</ref> and biomodal (formally Cambridge Epigenetix).<ref name="Cambridge Epigenetix has a vision to improve healthcare through routine measurement of the epigenome. 2020">{{cite web |date=19 January 2020 |title=Shankar Balasubramanian |url=https://biomodal.com/team/shankar-balasubramanian/ |access-date=13 December 2021 |website=biomodal integrates multiple modes of biology from a single sample in a single experiment to provide transformative insights into health and disease.}}</ref><ref name=gov>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706081324/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Ba6y-nMuKv3KG3r7164IhB0Nrs8/appointments|archive-date=2016-07-06|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Ba6y-nMuKv3KG3r7164IhB0Nrs8/appointments|website=companieshouse.gov.uk|publisher=[[Companies House]]|location=London|title=Shankar BALASUBRAMANIAN}}</ref>


==Education==
==Education==
Born in [[Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]) [[India]] in 1966,<ref name="whoswho"/> Shankar Balasubramanian moved to the UK with his parents in 1967. He grew up in a rural area just outside [[Runcorn]] in [[Cheshire]] and attended Daresbury Primary School, then Appleton Hall High School (which has since amalgamated to form [[Bridgewater High School (Warrington)|Bridgewater High School]]). He then went on to study the [[Natural Sciences Tripos]] at [[Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge]], where he did his undergraduate degree from 1985–88 and continued with a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]<ref name="shankarphd">{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Shankar|last=Balasubramanian |title=Studies on the reaction mechanism of chorismate synthase |publisher=University of Cambridge |date=1991 |url=http://ulmss-newton.lib.cam.ac.uk/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=5839|oclc=60112382|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.386780}}|website=lib.cam.ac.uk}}</ref> for research on the [[reaction mechanism]] of the enzyme [[chorismate synthase]] supervised by [[Chris Abell]] (1988-1991).<ref name="fitz">{{cite web|url=http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-198|title=Fitz alumni on top science list|year=2014|publisher=Fitzwilliam College|access-date=6 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222004916/http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-198|archive-date=22 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Born in [[Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]) [[India]] in 1966,<ref name="whoswho"/> Shankar Balasubramanian moved to the UK with his parents in 1967. He grew up in a rural area just outside [[Runcorn]], [[Cheshire]], and attended Daresbury Primary School, then Appleton Hall High School (which has since amalgamated to form [[Bridgewater High School (Warrington)|Bridgewater High School]]). He went on to study the [[Natural Sciences Tripos]] at [[Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge]], where he did his undergraduate degree from 1985 to 1988 and continued with a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]<ref name="shankarphd">{{cite thesis|degree=PhD|first=Shankar|last=Balasubramanian|title=Studies on the reaction mechanism of chorismate synthase|publisher=University of Cambridge|date=1991|url=http://ulmss-newton.lib.cam.ac.uk/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=5839|oclc=60112382|id={{EThOS|uk.bl.ethos.386780}}|website=lib.cam.ac.uk|archive-date=3 January 2022|access-date=6 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103130332/https://ulmss-newton.lib.cam.ac.uk/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=5839|url-status=dead}}</ref> for research on the [[reaction mechanism]] of the enzyme [[chorismate synthase]] supervised by [[Chris Abell]] (1988–1991).<ref name="fitz">{{cite web|url=http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-198|title=Fitz alumni on top science list|year=2014|publisher=Fitzwilliam College|access-date=6 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222004916/http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-198|archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>


==Career and research==
==Career and research==
Following his PhD, Balasubramanian travelled to the USA as a SERC/NATO Research Fellow and worked in the group of [[Stephen J. Benkovic]] at [[Pennsylvania State University]] (1991-1993). He started his independent academic career in 1994 in the University of Cambridge and has remained there ever since, first as College Lecturer, then University Lecturer (1998), University Reader in Chemical Biology (2003) and Professor of Chemical Biology (2007). He was most recently appointed Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 2008.<ref>University of Cambridge, 2013. ''Professor Shankar Balasubramanian The Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry.''[online] Available at: <http://www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk/shankar> [Accessed 4 April 2013].</ref> He currently{{when|date=July 2016}} directs research laboratories in the Department of Chemistry<ref name="www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk"/><ref name="ch.cam.ac.uk"/>  and also the [[Cancer Research UK]] (CRUK) Cambridge Institute at the [[Cambridge Biomedical Campus]].<ref>Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, 2013. ''Balasubramanian Group.''[online] Available at: <http://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/balasubramanian-group> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref> His former doctoral students include [[Julian Huppert]].<ref name=Huppert2005/><ref name=huphd/>
Following his PhD, Balasubramanian travelled to the United States as a SERC/NATO Research Fellow and worked in the group of [[Stephen J. Benkovic]] at [[Pennsylvania State University]] (1991–1993). {{citation needed|date=January 2023}}


Balasubramanian works in the field of [[nucleic acid]]s.  His citation on election to the Royal Society reads:  {{centered pull quote|Shankar Balasubramanian is an internationally recognised leader in the field of nucleic acids who is distinguished for pioneering contributions to chemistry and its application to the biological and medical sciences. He is a principal inventor of the leading next generation sequencing methodology, Solexa sequencing, that has made routine, accurate, low-cost sequencing of human genomes a reality and has revolutionised biology. He has made seminal contributions to the identification, elucidation and manipulation of [[Noncoding DNA|non-coding genetic elements]], particularly four-stranded structures called [[G-quadruplex]]es. His work on the intervention of nucleic acid function using small molecules has revealed a number of molecular mechanisms that can be exploited, e.g. to modulate the biology of cancer.<ref>[https://royalsociety.org/people/fellowship/2012/shankar-balasubramanian/]</ref>}}
He began his independent academic career in 1994 at the [[University of Cambridge]] and has remained there ever since, first as College Lecturer, then University Lecturer (1998), University Reader in Chemical Biology (2003) and Professor of Chemical Biology (2007). He was most recently appointed Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 2008.<ref name="Balasubramanian Group 2016">{{cite web | title=Home | website=Balasubramanian Group | date=19 August 2016 | url=https://www.balasubramanian.co.uk/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
 
He currently{{when|date=July 2016}} directs research laboratories in the Department of Chemistry<ref name="www-shankar.ch.cam.ac.uk"/><ref name="Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry" /> and also the [[Cancer Research UK]] (CRUK) Cambridge Institute at the [[Cambridge Biomedical Campus]].<ref name="Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute 2021">{{cite web | title=Balasubramanian Group | website=Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute | date=6 September 2021 | url=https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/balasubramanian-group | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> His former doctoral students include [[Julian Huppert]].<ref name=Huppert2005/><ref name=huphd/>
 
Balasubramanian works in the field of [[nucleic acid]]s.  His citation on election to the Royal Society reads:  {{centered pull quote|Shankar Balasubramanian is an internationally recognised leader in the field of nucleic acids who is distinguished for pioneering contributions to chemistry and its application to the biological and medical sciences. He is a principal inventor of the leading next generation sequencing methodology, Solexa sequencing, that has made routine, accurate, low-cost sequencing of human genomes a reality and has revolutionised biology. He has made seminal contributions to the identification, elucidation and manipulation of [[Noncoding DNA|non-coding genetic elements]], particularly four-stranded structures called [[G-quadruplex]]es. His work on the intervention of nucleic acid function using small molecules has revealed a number of molecular mechanisms that can be exploited, e.g. to modulate the biology of cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/fellowship/2012/shankar-balasubramanian/|title = Shankar Balasubramanian &#124; Royal Society}}</ref>}}


More recently Balasubramanian has been inventing and applying new chemical methods to study epigenetic changes to DNA bases including single base resolution sequencing of 5-formylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1126/science.1220671| title = Quantitative Sequencing of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine at Single-Base Resolution| journal = Science| volume = 336| issue = 6083| pages = 934–937| year = 2012| last1 = Booth | first1 = M. J.| last2 = Branco | first2 = M. R.| last3 = Ficz | first3 = G.| last4 = Oxley | first4 = D.| last5 = Krueger | first5 = F.| last6 = Reik | first6 = W.| last7 = Balasubramanian | first7 = S.| pmid = 22539555| bibcode = 2012Sci...336..934B| s2cid = 13922525}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
More recently Balasubramanian has been inventing and applying new chemical methods to study epigenetic changes to DNA bases including single base resolution sequencing of 5-formylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1126/science.1220671| title = Quantitative Sequencing of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine at Single-Base Resolution| journal = Science| volume = 336| issue = 6083| pages = 934–937| year = 2012| last1 = Booth | first1 = M. J.| last2 = Branco | first2 = M. R.| last3 = Ficz | first3 = G.| last4 = Oxley | first4 = D.| last5 = Krueger | first5 = F.| last6 = Reik | first6 = W.| last7 = Balasubramanian | first7 = S.| pmid = 22539555| bibcode = 2012Sci...336..934B| s2cid = 13922525}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
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| doi = 10.1186/gb-2012-13-8-r69
| doi = 10.1186/gb-2012-13-8-r69
| pmc = 3491369
| pmc = 3491369
| doi-access = free
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1038/nchem.1893| pmid = 24755596| title = Quantitative sequencing of 5-formylcytosine in DNA at single-base resolution| journal = Nature Chemistry| volume = 6| issue = 5| pages = 435–40| year = 2014| last1 = Booth | first1 = M. J. | last2 = Marsico | first2 = G. | last3 = Bachman | first3 = M. | last4 = Beraldi | first4 = D. | last5 = Balasubramanian | first5 = S. | bibcode = 2014NatCh...6..435B| pmc = 4188980}}</ref>
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1038/nchem.1893| pmid = 24755596| title = Quantitative sequencing of 5-formylcytosine in DNA at single-base resolution| journal = Nature Chemistry| volume = 6| issue = 5| pages = 435–40| year = 2014| last1 = Booth | first1 = M. J. | last2 = Marsico | first2 = G. | last3 = Bachman | first3 = M. | last4 = Beraldi | first4 = D. | last5 = Balasubramanian | first5 = S. | bibcode = 2014NatCh...6..435B| pmc = 4188980}}</ref>


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Honours and awards include:
Honours and awards include:
* 1998 [[Glaxo Wellcome]] Award for Innovative Organic Chemistry
* 1998 [[Glaxo Wellcome]] Award for Innovative Organic Chemistry
* 2002 [[Corday–Morgan Medal]] and Prize of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]]<ref>Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013. ''Corday-Morgan Medal and Prize Winners''[online] Available at: <http://www.rsc.org/ScienceAndTechnology/Awards/CordayMorganPrizes/PreviousWinners.asp> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref>
* 2002 [[Corday–Morgan Medal]] and Prize of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]]<ref name="Royal Society of Chemistry 2020">{{cite web | title=Corday-Morgan Prizes | website=Royal Society of Chemistry | date=10 September 2020 | url=https://www.rsc.org/prizes-funding/prizes/find-a-prize/corday-morgan-prizes/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2009 Royal Society [[Mullard Award]]<ref>The Royal Society. ''Royal Society Mullard Award.''[online] Available at: <http://royalsociety.org/awards/mullard-award/> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref>
* 2009 Royal Society [[Mullard Award]]<ref name="Royal Society 2021">{{cite web | title=Royal Society Mullard Award | website=Royal Society | date=12 November 2021 | url=https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/awards/mullard-award/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2010 [[BBSRC]] Innovator of the Year <ref name="bbsrc.ac.uk">BBSRC, 2013. ''DNA sequencing pioneer named BBSRC Innovator of the Year 2010''[online] Available at: <http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/policy/2010/100319-pr-dna-sequencing-pioneer-innovator.aspx> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref>
* 2010 [[BBSRC]] Innovator of the Year<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20210302194829/https://bbsrc.ukri.org/innovation/maximising-impact/fostering-innovation/innovator-of-the-year/ BBSRC Innovator of the Year], BBSRC.ukri.org. Accessed 30 January 2023.</ref>
* 2010 [[BBSRC]] Commercial Innovator of the Year <ref name="bbsrc.ac.uk"/>
* 2010 [[BBSRC]] Commercial Innovator of the Year
* 2011 Elected a [[Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences]] (FMedSci)<ref>The Academy of Medical Sciences. ''Directory of Fellows.''[online] Available at: <http://www.acmedsci.ac.uk/p59.html> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref>
* 2011 Elected a [[Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences]] (FMedSci)<ref name="The Academy of Medical Sciences">{{cite web | title=Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian | website=The Academy of Medical Sciences | url=https://acmedsci.ac.uk/fellows/fellows-directory/ordinary-fellows/fellow/Shankar-Balasubramanian-0033z00002qIJGCAA4 | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2012 Elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] (FRS) <ref>The Royal Society. ''Fellows.''[online] Available at: <http://royalsociety.org/about-us/fellowship/fellows/> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref>
* 2012 Elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] (FRS)<ref name="Royal Society 2015">{{cite web | title=Shankar Balasubramanian | website=Royal Society | date=19 September 2015 | url=https://royalsociety.org/people/shankar-balasubramanian-11031/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2012 Elected a member of the [[European Molecular Biology Organization]] (EMBO) <ref name="embo">EMBO, 2013. ''EMBO welcomes 55 leading life scientists as members''[online] Available at: <http://www.embo.org/news/press-releases/press-releases-2012/embo-welcomes-55-leading-life-scientists-as-members> [Accessed 8 April 2013].</ref>
* 2012 Elected a member of the [[European Molecular Biology Organization]] (EMBO)<ref name="embo">{{cite web | title=Find people in the EMBO Communities | website=Find people in the EMBO Communities | url=https://people.embo.org/profile/shankar-balasubramanian | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2013 [[Tetrahedron Prize]]<ref>Elsevier Tetrahedron prize winners: <{{cite web |url=http://www.elsevier.com/physical-sciences/chemistry/organic-chemistry/tetrahedron-prize-for-creativity-in-organic-chemistry-or-bioorganic-medicinal-chemistry |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909101444/http://www.elsevier.com/physical-sciences/chemistry/organic-chemistry/tetrahedron-prize-for-creativity-in-organic-chemistry-or-bioorganic-medicinal-chemistry |archive-date=9 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }}></ref>
* 2013 [[Tetrahedron Prize]]<ref>Elsevier Tetrahedron prize winners: <{{cite web |url=http://www.elsevier.com/physical-sciences/chemistry/organic-chemistry/tetrahedron-prize-for-creativity-in-organic-chemistry-or-bioorganic-medicinal-chemistry |title=Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry or Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry &#124; Elsevier |access-date=2015-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909101444/http://www.elsevier.com/physical-sciences/chemistry/organic-chemistry/tetrahedron-prize-for-creativity-in-organic-chemistry-or-bioorganic-medicinal-chemistry |archive-date=9 September 2014 }}></ref>
* 2014 [[Biochemical Society]] [[Norman Heatley|Heatley Medal and Prize]]<ref>Biochemical Society, 2009-12.''2014 Biochemical Society award winners announced''[online] Available at: <{{cite web |url=http://www.biochemistry.org/Awards/2014Winners.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130616235734/http://www.biochemistry.org/Awards/2014Winners.aspx |archive-date=16 June 2013 |df=dmy-all }}> [Accessed 10 April 2013].</ref>
* 2014 [[Biochemical Society]] [[Norman Heatley|Heatley Medal and Prize]]<ref>Biochemical Society, 2009–12.''2014 Biochemical Society award winners announced''[online] Available at: <{{cite web |url=http://www.biochemistry.org/Awards/2014Winners.aspx |title=2014 Winners |access-date=2013-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616235734/http://www.biochemistry.org/Awards/2014Winners.aspx |archive-date=16 June 2013 }}> [Accessed 10 April 2013].</ref>
* 2015 [[Chemical Research Society of India]] Medal<ref>https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/honour-for-trinity-fellow-professor-shankar-balasubramanian/</ref>
* 2015 [[Chemical Research Society of India]] Medal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/honour-for-trinity-fellow-professor-shankar-balasubramanian/|title = Honour for Trinity Fellow Professor Shankar Balasubramanian|date = 10 January 2017}}</ref>
* 2017 [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2017 New Year Honours]] for services to science and medicine.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61803|supp=y|page=N2|date=31 December 2016}}</ref>
* 2017 Appointed [[Knight Bachelor]] in the [[2017 New Year Honours]] for services to science and medicine.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61803|supp=y|page=N2|date=31 December 2016}}</ref>
* 2018 [[Royal Medal]]<ref>[https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/awards/royal-medal/ Royal Medal 2018]</ref>
* 2018 [[Royal Medal]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/awards/royal-medal/|title=Royal Medals &#124; Royal Society|website=royalsociety.org|accessdate=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2020 [[Millennium Technology Prize]]
* 2020 [[Millennium Technology Prize]]<ref name="Trinity College Cambridge 2021_2">{{cite web | title=Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian co-awarded Millennium Technology Prize | website=Trinity College Cambridge | date=19 May 2021 | url=https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-sir-shankar-balasubramanian-co-awarded-millennium-technology-prize/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2022 [[Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences]]<ref name="Trinity College Cambridge 2021">{{cite web | title=Trinity Fellows awarded Breakthrough Prizes | website=Trinity College Cambridge | date=10 September 2021 | url=https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/trinity-fellows-awarded-breakthrough-prizes/ | access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2023 Elected international member of the [[National Academy of Sciences]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/2023-nas-election.html | title=News - NAS }}</ref>
* 2024 [[Canada Gairdner International Award]]<ref>[https://www.gairdner.org/winners Canada Gairdner International Award 2024]</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}
{{Reflist}}


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[[Category:British biochemists]]
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[[Category:British fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Members of the University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry]]
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Latest revision as of 15:05, 26 February 2026


Professor Sir

Shankar Balasubramanian

FRS FMedSci
Born (1966-09-30) 30 September 1966 (age 59)[1]
Madras, Madras State
(now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Known for
Awards
Scientific career
Institutions
ThesisStudies on the reaction mechanism of chorismate synthase (1992)
Doctoral advisorChris Abell
Doctoral studentsJulian Huppert[3][4]
Websitewww.ch.cam.ac.uk/group/shankar https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/balasubramanian-group

Sir Shankar Balasubramanian (born 30 September 1966)[1] is an Indian-born British chemist[5][6] and Herchel Smith Professor[7] of Medicinal Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge,[8][9] Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute[10] and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.[11] He is recognised for his contributions in the field of nucleic acids.[12] He is scientific founder of Solexa[13][14] and biomodal (formally Cambridge Epigenetix).[15][16]

Education[edit | edit source]

Born in Madras (now Chennai) India in 1966,[1] Shankar Balasubramanian moved to the UK with his parents in 1967. He grew up in a rural area just outside Runcorn, Cheshire, and attended Daresbury Primary School, then Appleton Hall High School (which has since amalgamated to form Bridgewater High School). He went on to study the Natural Sciences Tripos at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he did his undergraduate degree from 1985 to 1988 and continued with a PhD[17] for research on the reaction mechanism of the enzyme chorismate synthase supervised by Chris Abell (1988–1991).[18]

Career and research[edit | edit source]

Following his PhD, Balasubramanian travelled to the United States as a SERC/NATO Research Fellow and worked in the group of Stephen J. Benkovic at Pennsylvania State University (1991–1993). [citation needed]

He began his independent academic career in 1994 at the University of Cambridge and has remained there ever since, first as College Lecturer, then University Lecturer (1998), University Reader in Chemical Biology (2003) and Professor of Chemical Biology (2007). He was most recently appointed Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 2008.[19]

He currently[when?] directs research laboratories in the Department of Chemistry[8][9] and also the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Cambridge Institute at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.[10] His former doctoral students include Julian Huppert.[3][4]

Balasubramanian works in the field of nucleic acids. His citation on election to the Royal Society reads: Template:Centered pull quote

More recently Balasubramanian has been inventing and applying new chemical methods to study epigenetic changes to DNA bases including single base resolution sequencing of 5-formylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine.[20][21][22]

Honours and awards[edit | edit source]

Honours and awards include:

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Anon (2017). ",". Who's Who (online Oxford University Press ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.256669. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help) (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Find people in the EMBO Communities". Find people in the EMBO Communities. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huppert, J. L.; Balasubramanian, S. (2005). "Prevalence of quadruplexes in the human genome". Nucleic Acids Research. 33 (9): 2908–2916. doi:10.1093/nar/gki609. PMC 1140081. PMID 15914667.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huppert, Julian Leon (2005). Studies on genomic G-quadruplexes. lib.cam.ac.uk (PhD thesis). University of Cambridge. OCLC 885437272. Template:EThOS.
  5. ↑ Balasubramanian, S (2007). "From DNA to mountain climbing. Shankar Balasubramanian talks to Alison Stoddart about his research and other interests". Molecular BioSystems. 3 (5): B37. PMID 17582897.
  6. ↑ Balasubramanian, S (2013). "An interview with Shankar Balasubramanian". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 38 (4): 170–1. doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2013.02.006. PMID 23522090.
  7. ↑ "University of Cambridge, 2011. Herchel Smith Academics .". Archived from the original on 17 November 2012. [Accessed 8 April 2013].
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "University of Cambridge, 2013. The Balasubramanian Group.". [Accessed 4 April 2013].
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FMedSci FRS". Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Balasubramanian Group". Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Master & Fellows". Trinity College Cambridge. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  12. ↑ Template:Scopus
  13. ↑ Illumina, 2013. SBS Technology.[online] Available at: <"History of Illumina Sequencing". Retrieved 21 October 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)> [Accessed 8 April 2013]
  14. ↑ Bentley, D. R.; Balasubramanian, S.; Swerdlow, H. P.; Smith, G. P.; Milton, J.; Brown, C. G.; Hall, K. P.; Evers, D. J.; Barnes, C. L.; Bignell, H. R.; Boutell, J. M.; Bryant, J.; Carter, R. J.; Keira Cheetham, R.; Cox, A. J.; Ellis, D. J.; Flatbush, M. R.; Gormley, N. A.; Humphray, S. J.; Irving, L. J.; Karbelashvili, M. S.; Kirk, S. M.; Li, H.; Liu, X.; Maisinger, K. S.; Murray, L. J.; Obradovic, B.; Ost, T.; Parkinson, M. L.; et al. (2008). "Accurate whole human genome sequencing using reversible terminator chemistry". Nature. 456 (7218): 53–59. Bibcode:2008Natur.456...53B. doi:10.1038/nature07517. PMC 2581791. PMID 18987734.
  15. ↑ "Shankar Balasubramanian". biomodal integrates multiple modes of biology from a single sample in a single experiment to provide transformative insights into health and disease. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Shankar BALASUBRAMANIAN". companieshouse.gov.uk. London: Companies House. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016.
  17. ↑ Balasubramanian, Shankar (1991). Studies on the reaction mechanism of chorismate synthase. lib.cam.ac.uk (PhD thesis). University of Cambridge. OCLC 60112382. Template:EThOS. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  18. ↑ "Fitz alumni on top science list". Fitzwilliam College. 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Home". Balasubramanian Group. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  20. ↑ Booth, M. J.; Branco, M. R.; Ficz, G.; Oxley, D.; Krueger, F.; Reik, W.; Balasubramanian, S. (2012). "Quantitative Sequencing of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine at Single-Base Resolution". Science. 336 (6083): 934–937. Bibcode:2012Sci...336..934B. doi:10.1126/science.1220671. PMID 22539555. S2CID 13922525.
  21. ↑ Raiber, E. A.; Beraldi, D; Ficz, G; Burgess, H. E.; Branco, M. R.; Murat, P; Oxley, D; Booth, M. J.; Reik, W; Balasubramanian, S (2012). "Genome-wide distribution of 5-formylcytosine in embryonic stem cells is associated with transcription and depends on thymine DNA glycosylase". Genome Biology. 13 (8): R69. doi:10.1186/gb-2012-13-8-r69. PMC 3491369. PMID 22902005.
  22. ↑ Booth, M. J.; Marsico, G.; Bachman, M.; Beraldi, D.; Balasubramanian, S. (2014). "Quantitative sequencing of 5-formylcytosine in DNA at single-base resolution". Nature Chemistry. 6 (5): 435–40. Bibcode:2014NatCh...6..435B. doi:10.1038/nchem.1893. PMC 4188980. PMID 24755596.
  23. ↑ "Corday-Morgan Prizes". Royal Society of Chemistry. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  24. ↑ "Royal Society Mullard Award". Royal Society. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  25. ↑ BBSRC Innovator of the Year, BBSRC.ukri.org. Accessed 30 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian". The Academy of Medical Sciences. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Shankar Balasubramanian". Royal Society. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  28. ↑ Elsevier Tetrahedron prize winners: <"Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry or Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry | Elsevier". Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.>
  29. ↑ Biochemical Society, 2009–12.2014 Biochemical Society award winners announced[online] Available at: <"2014 Winners". Retrieved 10 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)> [Accessed 10 April 2013].
  30. ↑ "Honour for Trinity Fellow Professor Shankar Balasubramanian". 10 January 2017.
  31. ↑ "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N2.
  32. ↑ "Royal Medals | Royal Society". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  33. ↑ "Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian co-awarded Millennium Technology Prize". Trinity College Cambridge. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  34. ↑ "Trinity Fellows awarded Breakthrough Prizes". Trinity College Cambridge. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  35. ↑ "News - NAS".
  36. ↑ Canada Gairdner International Award 2024

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