National chemistry prizes conferred

Announcing the winners, the Chemistry Institute said on Tuesday that university professor Gobec was one of the most successful researchers in pharmaceutical chemistry in Slovenia, his work also extending to synthesis chemistry.

Most recently, Gobec has focused on structurally-supported development of low-molecular-weight inhibitors of therapeutically interesting enzymes. He has also developed bacterial enzyme inhibitors as potential anti-bacterial agents.

The results of his research were published in 78 articles in high-profile scientific journals in the last five years, while his patented discoveries and awarded international patents have contributed to successes of the Slovenian pharmaceutical industry, the Pregl Prize commission explained.

Physics professor Mali is among the most successful Slovenian researchers of the structure of materials and processes within materials with atomic-level resolution. He has introduced to Slovenia high-resolution methods for solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Mali has gained international recognition primarily in the development and use of NMR methods for research of metallic-organic porous materials for storage of heat and bacterial materials based on sulphur and light metals.

The results of his research were published in 33 articles in high-profile scientific journals in the last five years, the commission said, adding that what spoke about the excellence and relevance of his work were numerous invitations to conferences at home and abroad.

The Pregl Prizes, named after Slovenian-born chemist and Nobel Prize winner Friderik Pregl (1869-1930), were conferred as part of the Chemistry Institute Week, running between 12 and 16 June.