Z. Radić winner of the Spiridion Brusina Medal for 2016
Following a nomination by the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB), the recipient of the Spiridon Brusina Medal for 2016 is our former colleague from the Institute and longstanding partner in many research ventures Prof Zoran Radić from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego.
The Croatian Society of Natural Sciences established the Spiridion Brusina Medal in memory of its founder. It is awarded annually to distinguished foreign scientists who promote and support Croatian science and scientists. The Medal is an art work in bronze designed by sculptor Ratko Petrić. Eighteen scientists have received the award thus far.
Prof Radić is a graduate of the University of Zagreb in Croatia, where he first started his research into acetylcholinesterase reaction kinetics under the mentorship of the esteemed Dr Elsa Reiner. Prof Radić is an active member of the HDBMB, teaches at the Doctoral Studies in Chemistry at the University of Zagreb and continuously works alongside researchers from the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb. His expertise and reputation has helped the development of Croatian biomolecular sciences in general as well as worked in favour of their promotion. The Medal was awarded at the official ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the HDBMB in Zagreb (28 Oct 2016), when Prof Radić gave an inspiring 3D lecture entitled 50 years of allosteric hypothesis in cholinesterases, 25 years of its proof.
About Spiridion Brusina
Prof Spiridion Brusina (Zadar, 1845-Zagreb, 1908) was one of the most distinguished Croatian 19th century scientists, an outstanding zoologist and palaeontologist and father of Croatian marine biology. He was the first university professor at the Department of Zoology of the newly-established University of Zagreb (1976-1901), founder of the Croatian Society of Natural Sciences (1885) and initiator and first editor of its journal Glasnik (presently named Periodicum biologorum), and founder and largely the designer of the rich and extremely valuable library and collection of today’s Croatian Natural History Museum. Prof Brusina contributed greatly to the evolution of biological sciences in Croatia and their promotion worldwide. His scientific work in the field of ornithology, ichtiology, molluscology and mammalogy in Croatia and southeast Europe led to recognition and acceptance from all over the world.