The Prince of Asturias Foundation
Francisco Bolivar Zapata (Mexico, 1948) holds a PhD in Chemistry (Biochemistry) from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Spanish acronym, UNAM), an institution of which he is a Professor and Researcher Emeritus. He is regarded worldwide as a pioneer for his research and technological development work in the field of molecular biology and biotechnology, particularly in the isolation, characterisation and manipulation of genes in microorganisms.
He has made a major contribution to the design, construction and characterisation of molecular vehicles for the cloning and expression of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In fact, this Mexican researcher took part in the pioneering experiments of genetic engineering as a member of the team of researchers who, in 1979 in California, founded and organised the first genetic engineering company, Genentech. This company, based in San Francisco, is known for the production of bacteria of the human hormones insulin and somatostatin which are related to the growth hormone. In 1982, he was appointed the first director of the newly established Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the UNAM, which later became the Institute of Biotechnology. Bolívar continued to direct the Institute until 1997, when he was appointed coordinator of scientific research at the same university, a position he held for three years. Between 1996 and 2000, he also served as vice-president and president of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
He has authored over 200 publications in journals and books which have been cited over 12,000 times in the world literature, including more than 800 citations in more than 330 textbooks and specialized books, several written by Nobel laureates and renowned specialists.
His contribution to the training of human resources has been enormous, as many of his co-workers form part of the academic staff of a good number of Latin American universities as well and in biotech industries.
Holder of honorary doctorates from the University of Liege (Belgium) and the Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico (Spanish acronym, UAM), he is a member of the National System of Researchers and of the Science Advisory Council of the Presidency of the Republic of Mexico. He currently serves on the governing boards of the UNAM and the National Council of Science and Technology and has served on several UNESCO, UNIDO and WHO committees of experts. He has received several honours and awards, outstanding among which are the National Prize for Chemistry, the Natural Sciences Research Award of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, the Manuel Noriega Award in Science and Technology of the Organization of American States and the TWAS Prize in Biology which the Third World Academy of Sciences confers in Italy.
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