From decoding the fundamentals of life to pioneering treatments that change clinical practice, the UCL Faculty of Life Sciences has a proud tradition of excellence recognised at the very highest level. Eleven Nobel laureates have been associated with our Faculty, reflecting the breadth and impact of our research in physiology, medicine, neuroscience, pharmacology and chemistry. Their discoveries continue to shape our teaching, research and collaboration - driving new ideas from the lab bench to real-world benefit. Explore their achievements and the legacy they continue to inspire.
2020s
Honoured for foundational research on artificial neural networks and deep learning, laying the groundwork for modern AI.
Recognised for leading the development of AlphaFold, an AI system that predicts protein structures with unprecedented accuracy, transforming the life sciences.
2010s
Awarded for the discovery of ‘place cells’ in the brain, which form the basis of the internal spatial navigation system.
2000s
Recognised for pioneering work on gene targeting in mice and embryonic stem cell research, enabling major advances in genetics and medicine.
1990s
Awarded for developing the patch-clamp method to study single ion channels in cells, revolutionising cellular physiology.
1980s
Honoured for developing β-blockers and H2 receptor antagonists, medicines that transformed the treatment of heart disease and stomach ulcers.
1970s
Recognised for uncovering how nerves communicate through chemical signals at synapses, fundamental to understanding the nervous system.
1960s
Honoured for discoveries explaining acquired immune tolerance and the mechanisms of graft rejection, which paved the way for successful organ transplantation.
Awarded for revealing the ionic processes underlying the transmission of nerve impulses, a landmark in neuroscience.
1930s
Recognised for discoveries on the chemical transmission of nerve signals, particularly the role of acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.
1920s
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking studies on the production of heat in muscles, helping to shape the modern fields of physiology and biophysics.