Biochemist wins international award for copper discoveries with life-saving potential
Gohil named recipient of 2024 Ivano Bertini Award
Vishal Gohil, Ph.D., a professor and scientist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Ivano Bertini Award at the 13th International Copper Conference in Sorrento, Italy.
Named after a professor from Florence, Italy, the Ivano Bertini award recognizes a mid-career or senior investigator whose basic science research has uncovered fundamental aspects of copper biology.
The selection process is carried out by a panel of leading experts who perform an independent evaluation of a nominee’s contributions to the field. Recognition as a recipient of the Bertini award adds Gohil to an elite group of biochemists honored for their outstanding research in understanding the connections between metallic ions and biological cell functions.
“I am greatly honored to receive the Ivano Bertini award,” Gohil said. “This recognition not only highlights the importance of our work in mitochondrial copper biology but also serves as a reminder of the potential that fundamental research has in transforming lives.”
Life-saving research
Gohil’s recognition is a result of his discovery of an experimental pharmaceutical compound capable of transporting copper to mitochondria of critical organs. His discovery led to the first approved use of the copper-transporting drug in a child with Menkes disease by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products.
There is no other approved treatment for Menkes disease, a rare but lethal genetic disease that prevents the acquisition and distribution of copper throughout the body. Because copper is critical for our body’s energy production, the poor distribution, especially in the brain, impairs neurological development and shortens a child’s life expectancy to about three years.
“Dr. Gohil’s work in copper biology has significantly advanced our understanding of key biochemical processes,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “And beyond that, it’s given hope to families burdened by a currently incurable disease. Dr. Gohil is a world leader in biochemistry, and we are excited to see his efforts continue to pave the way for longer, healthier lives.”
The Bertini award marks the latest recognition Gohil has received. Earlier this year, he was selected as a 2024 Fellow of the Chancellor’s Enhancing Development and Generating Excellence in Scholarship, EDGES, Fellowship program.
Gohil served as co-chair of the 13th International Copper Conference as well as a keynote speaker at the recent International Meeting on Menkes and Other Rare Copper Diseases in Málaga, Spain.
His work is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Welch Foundation and Engrail Therapeutics. Other researchers in Gohil’s lab have earned numerous accolades as well, including research presentation awards, excellence awards and scholarships.
