Winner: 2022 Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal
Dr Holly Reeve
For her outstanding work in establishing a highly innovative approach – now patented – to decarbonising biocatalysis that addresses many of the requirements for net-zero manufacturing.
The recipient of the 2022 RSC Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal was Dr Holly Reeve, of HydRegen Ltd., Oxford.
Holly received the award for her outstanding work in establishing a highly innovative approach – now patented – to decarbonising biocatalysis that addresses many of the requirements for net-zero manufacturing, taking it forward from proof-of-concept to commercialisation.
Holly graduated with a Master of Chemistry degree in 2010 and a DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford in 2015. Then from 2016, she led an Innovate UK research program taking a biotechnology, HydRegen, from proof-of-concept results to commercial offering as a spinout. The technology promises to transform biocatalysis in chemical manufacturing, allowing isolated enzymes to be handled in the same way as supported metal catalysts for hydrogenation reactions.
Significantly, by recognising trends in translating heterogeneous hydrogenation chemistry into continuous flow reactors, she directed a research programme implementing HydRegen in continuous flow including the use of the industrial-standard hydrogenation flow reactor, the H-cube (DOI:10.1039/C7CC04465H, DOI:10.1002/cctc.202000763, DOI:10.3389/fceng.2021.718257). This, along with other key research decisions, has been critical to chemists recognising the potential of HydRegen for sustainable processes across the chemicals sector.
Since 2017, Holly has co-authored 17 publications, 4 as corresponding author, in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.9b00410) and Chemical Science (DOI:10.1039/D1SC00295C). Holly is also an inventor of arising biotechnology patents. Since 2020, she raised over £1.3 million in spinout funding from Innovate UK and investors to commercialise HydRegen as a spinout (www.hydregenoxford.com) and will commence prototyping towards sales in 2022. The impact will be further increased by partnerships with two major UK chemical companies. She has also been committed to public outreach and has developed a suite of videos and animations to promote the use of biology in chemistry (Watch examples here).
HydRegen technology, originally demonstrated in her Masters project, offers a transformational approach to biocatalysis in chemical manufacturing: hydrogenase supplies electrons through a carbon bead to an NAD+ reductase, generating NADH to support reductive catalysis by a plethora of NADH-dependent reductases. This platform approach decarbonises biotechnology by avoiding glucose for driving cofactor recycling, while also facilitating heterogenisation on a solid support. Holly quickly recognised the power of this in translating to continuous flow chemistry, precision insertion of heavy isotope deuterium, and addressing key challenges toward net-zero manufacturing. The strong technology foundation gives the spin-out enormous scope for future expansion.
Holly says the following: “I’m delighted to receive the Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal 2022 in recognition of our work developing technologies at the interface of chemistry and biology. At HydRegen, we are passionate about reducing the environmental impact of chemical manufacturing and are committed to enabling companies across the chemicals sector to make use of industrial biotechnology to improve their energy and resource efficiency whilst moving towards continuous manufacturing processes.”
Holly was presented with the award after her lecture given at the RSC meeting “Biotransformations II” held at Burlington House on Friday 24th March 2023.