Anders Hallberg

Anders Hallberg (born 29 April 1945 in Vetlanda) is a Swedish chemist who was rector magnificus of Uppsala University from July 2006 until December 2011.

Anders Hallberg Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt

Education

Hallberg grew up in Tranås and studied at Lund University, where he received his M.Sc. degree in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1980. His dissertation, Methoxythiophenes and Related Systems (1980), was supervised by Prof. Salo Gronowitz.

Career

Hallberg has worked at Lund University and as assistant professor at The University of Arizona in Tucson and later became Head of Medicinal Chemistry at the pharmaceutical corporation Astra (later merged to become AstraZeneca) in Lund. He was appointed professor of Medicinal chemistry at Uppsala University in 1990, became Head of the Department of Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1991 and served as Dean for Research and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy until he was appointed Rector magnificus and president of Uppsala University in 2006.

Anders Hallberg was elected a member of the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala 1994, of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences in Uppsala in 2004, of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund in 2005, of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 2006, and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2007. Since 2009 he is also member of the Board of Åbo Akademi, Finland.

Research

Anders Hallbergs research is devoted to finding new pharmaceuticals via fast chemistry to combat infections diseases such as HIV, the HCV (Hepatitis C virus) and Malaria as well as finding new therapies for cardio-vascular disorders.

His research encompasses a range of protein targets of pharmaceutical relevance, including proteases and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). One of the primary themes is to identify selective low molecular weight ligands for these targets. Strategies are developed for both the design and for the synthesis of small, drug-like molecules. Lead compounds are optimized using computer-aided techniques and are preferentially synthesized using high-speed chemistry[1][2][3] and efficient transition metal-catalyzed reactions developed.[4][5] Major indications that are addressed are infections caused by HIV[6][7][8][9] and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus)[10][11][12][13] as well as the infectious disease Malaria.[14][15][16][17] In addition, basic research is conducted to identify novel ligands that interfere with proteins in the renin/angiotensin system.[18][19][20][21] The first drug-like selective and potent angiotensin II, type II receptor agonist with a high oral bioavailability was recently discovered.[22][23][24][25]

Anders Hallberg has published approximately 250 articles in international journals and filed several patents.

Uppsala University

As Rector magnificus of Uppsala University Anders Hallberg strongly promoted high priority areas including genomics / proteomics, energy research, research on peace and democracy. He was engaged in building and strengthening international relations, in particular with Asia.

Hallberg was succeeded as Vice-chancellor by Eva Åkesson on 1 January 2012.

Controversy

On February 8, 2007, two chaired professors of mathematics at Uppsala University resigned from their positions, after a lengthy period of conflict at the Mathematics Institute, and received 2.2 million SEK each. The professors were asked to resign by Anders Hallberg, and opinions differ as to whether they were duly cautioned by the rector, or whether they were inappropriately forced into resigning. A number of distinguished mathematicians criticised Hallberg's actions.[26][27][28]

Honours and awards

Anders Hallberg has received several awards and prizes.

  • The Fabian Gyllenberg Award from the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, for best PhD thesis in chemistry (over a three-year period) in Lund
  • Senior Individual Grant Award to Outstanding Senior Scientist (SSF)
  • First recipient of the National Swedish Prize in Organic Chemistry (The Holmquist Prize)
  • The Oscar Carlsson Medal for Excellence from the Swedish Chemical Society
  • The Best Teacher Prize 2006 from the Pharmaceutical Student Union, Uppsala University
  • Honorary Member of the Småland Student Nation and the Upland Student Nation in Uppsala
  • Honorary Member of Rotary International
  • Honorary Member of Uppsala University Choir, Allmänna Sången.
  • In 2009 he became Doctor honoris causa (Faculty of Medicine), Université de Sherbrooke, Canada.[29]
  • Honorary doctorate (Pharmacie Doctor honoris causa) from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Uppsala University in January 2014.[30]

For his achievements as Rector magnificus and president of Uppsala University, he was awarded H. M. The King's Medal for significant contributions to higher education and research in June 2008.

References
  1. Kaiser, NF; Bremberg, U; Larhed, M; Moberg, C; Hallberg, A (2000). "Fast, Convenient, and Efficient Molybdenum-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation under Noninert Conditions: An Example of Microwave-Promoted Fast Chemistry We gratefully acknowledge financial support from Personal Chemistry, the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (C.M.), and the Swedish Research Council for Engineering Sciences (M.L., A.H.)". Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 39 (20): 3595–3598. doi:10.1002/1521-3773(20001016)39:20<3595::aid-anie3595>3.0.co;2-s. PMID 11091409.
  2. M. Larhed, A. Hallberg: Microwave-assisted high speed chemistry. A new technique in drug discovery. Drug Discovery Today, 6 (2001) 406-416
  3. M. Larhed, C. Moberg, A. Hallberg: Microwave-accelerated homogeneous catalysis in organic chemistry. Accounts of Chemical Research, 35 (2002) 717-727
  4. P. Nilsson, M. Larhed, A. Hallberg: Highly regioselective, sequential, and multiple palladium-catalyzed arylations of vinyl ethers carrying a coordinating auxiliary: An example of a Heck triarylation process. J Am Chem Soc, 123 (2001) 8217-8225
  5. P. Nilsson, M. Larhed, A. Hallberg: A new highly asymmetric chelation-controlled Heck arylation. J Am Chem Soc, 125 (2003) 3430-3431
  6. J. K. Ekegren, T. Unge, M. Z. Safa, H. Wallberg, B. Samuelsson, A. Hallberg: A new class of HIV-1 protease inhibitors containing a tertiary alcohol in the transition-state mimicking scaffold. J Med Chem, 48 (2005) 8098-8102
  7. J. K. Ekegren, N. Ginman, Å. Johansson, H. Wallberg, M. Larhed, B. Samuelsson, T. Unge, A. Hallberg: Microwave accelerated synthesis of P’-extended HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary alcohol in the transition-state mimicking scaffold. J Med Chem, 49 (2006) 1828-1832
  8. X. Wu, P. Öhrngren, J. K. Ekegren, J. Unge, T. Unge, H. Wallberg, B. Samuelsson, A. Hallberg, M. Larhed: Two-carbon elongated HIV-1 protease inhibitors with a tertiary-alcohol-containing transitionstate mimic. J Med Chem, 51 (2008) 1053-1057
  9. A. K. Mahalingam, L. Axelsson, J. K. Ekegren, J. Wannberg, J. Kihlström, T. Unge, H.Wallberg, B. Samuelsson, M. Larhed, A. Hallberg: HIV-1 protease inhibitors with a transition-state mimic comprising a tertiary alcohol: Improved antiviral activity in cells. J Med Chem, 53 (2010) 607-615
  10. R. Rönn, Y. A. Sabnis, T. Gossas, E. Åkerblom, U. H. Danielson, A. Hallberg, A. Johansson: Exploration of acyl sulfonamides as carboxylic acid replacements in protease inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus full-length NS3. Bioorg Med Chem, 14 (2006) 544-559
  11. P. O. Johansson, M. Back, I. Kvarnström, K. Jansson, L. Vrang, E. Hamelink, A. Hallberg, A. Rosenquist, B. Samuelsson: Potent inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease: Use of a novel P2 cyclopentane-derived template. Bioorg Med Chem, 14 (2006) 5136-5151.
  12. F. Thorstensson, F. Wangsell, I. Kvarnstroem, L. Vrang, E. Hamelink, K. Jansson, A. Hallberg, Å. Rosenquist, B. Samuelsson: Synthesis of novel potent hepatitis C virus NS3 protease inhibitors: Discovery of 4-hydroxy-cyclopent-2-ene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid as a N-acyl--hydroxyproline bioisostere. Bioorg Med Chem, 15 (2007) 827-838.
  13. M. Bäck, P. O. Johansson, F. Wångsell, F. Thorstensson, I. Kvarnström, S. Avesa, H. Wähling, M. Pelcman, K. Jansson, S. Lindström, H. Wallberg, B. Classon, C. Rydergård, L. Vrang, E. Hamelink, A. Hallberg, Å. Rosenquist, B. Samuelsson: Novel potent macrocyclic inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease: Use of cyclopentane and cyclopentene P2-motifs. Bioorg Med Chem, 15 (2007) 7184-7202.
  14. K. Ersmark, M. Nervall, E. Hamelink, L. K. Janka, J. C. Clemente, B. M. Dunn, M. J. Blackman, B. Samuelsson, J. Åqvist, A. Hallberg: Synthesis of malarial plasmepsin inhibitors and prediction of binding modes by molecular dynamics simulations. J Med Chem, 48 (2005) 6090-6106
  15. K. Ersmark, B. Samuelsson, A. Hallberg: Plasmepsins as potential targets for new antimalarial therapy. Medicinal Research Reviews, 26 (2006) 626-666.
  16. H. Gutierrez-de-Teran, M. Nervall, K. Ersmark, P. Liu, L. K. Janka, B. Dunn, A. Hallberg, J. Åqvist: Inhibitor binding to the plasmepsin IV aspartic protease from Plasmodium falciparum. Biochemistry, 45 (2006) 10529-10541
  17. S. Bjelic, M. Nervall, H. Gutierrez-de-Teran, K. Ersmark, A. Hallberg, J. Åqvist: Computational inhibitor design against malaria plasmepsins. Cellular Molecular Life Sciences, 64 (2007) 2285-2305
  18. U. Rosenström, C. Sköld, B. Plouffe, H. Beaudry, G. Lindeberg, M. Botros, F. Nyberg, G. Wolf, A. Karlén, N. Gallo-Payet, A. Hallberg: New selective AT2 receptor ligands encompassing a γ-turn mimetic replacing the amino acid residues 4-5 of angiotensin II act as agonists. J Med Chem, 48 (2005) 4009-4024
  19. J. Georgsson, C. Sköld, B. Plouffe, G. Lindeberg, M. Botros, M. Larhed, F. Nyberg, N. Gallo-Payet, A. Karlén, A. Hallberg: Angiotensin II pseudopeptides containing 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene scaffolds with high AT2 receptor affinity. J Med Chem, 48 (2005) 6620-6631
  20. U. Rosenström, C. Sköld, G. Lindeberg, M. Botros, F. Nyberg, A. Karlén, A. Hallberg: Design, synthesis, and incorporation of a β -turn mimetic in angiotensin II forming novel pseudopeptides with affinity for AT1 and AT2 receptors. J Med Chem, 49 (2006) 6133-6137
  21. J. Georgsson, C. Sköld,, M. Botros, F. Nyberg, A. Karlén, A. Hallberg, M. Larhed: Synthesis of a new class of drug-like angiotensin II C-terminal mimics with affinity for the AT2 receptor. J Med Chem, 50 (2007) 1711-1715.
  22. Y. Wan, C. Wallinder, B. Plouffe, H. Beaudry, A. K. Mahalingam, X. Wu, B. Johansson, M. Holm, M. Botros, A. Karlén, A. Pettersson, F. Nyberg, L. Fändriks, N. Gallo-Payet, A. Hallberg, M. Alterman: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of the first selective non-peptide AT2 receptor agonist. J Med Chem, 47 (2004) 5995-6008
  23. E. Kaschina, A. Grzesiak, J. Li, A. Foryst-Ludwig, M. Timm, F. Rompe, M. Sommerfeld, U. R. Kemnitz, C. Curato, P. Namsolleck, C. Tschöpe, A. Hallberg, M. Alterman, T. Hucko, I. Paetsch, T. Dietrich, B. Schnackenburg, K. Graf, B. Dahlöf, U. Kintscher, T. Unger, U. M. Steckelings: Angiotensin II type 2 receptor stimulation. A novel option of therapeutic interference with the reninangiotensin system in myocardial infarction? Circulation, 118 (2008) 2523-2532
  24. P. Gelosa, A. Pignieri, L. Fändriks, M. de Gasparo, A. Hallberg, C. Banfi, L. Castiglioni, L. Turolo, U. Guerrini, E. Tremoli, L. Sironi: Stimulation of AT2 receptor exerts beneficial effects in stroke-prone rats: focus on renal damage. J Hypertens, 27 (2009) 2444-2451
  25. S. Bosnyak, I. K. Welungoda, A. Hallberg, M. Alterman, R. E. Widdop, E. S. Jones: Stimulation of angiotensin AT2 receptors by the non-peptide agonist, Compound 21, evokes vasodepressor effects in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. Br J Pharmacol, 157 (2010) 709-716
  26. Swedish University, Alleging Culture Clash, Forces Out 2 Tenured Foreign Professors Chronicle of Higher Education, Volume 53, Issue 38, Page A49; May 25, 2007
  27. "Two mathematicians forced to resign at Uppsala University, Swed".
  28. "Oleg Viro's home page".
  29. "Anders Hallberg - Université de Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada)". www.usherbrooke.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  30. "Pharmacy names Anders Hallberg honorary doctor - Uppsala University, Sweden". www.uu.se. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
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