Dr. Jonathan L. Sessler is a distinguished chemist renowned for his pioneering contributions to macrocyclic and supramolecular chemistry. He currently holds the R. P. Doherty, Jr. - Welch Regents Chair in Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, where he has established himself as a leading figure since joining the faculty in 1984. Sessler earned his B.S. in chemistry with highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley in 1977 and completed his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Stanford University in 1982 under Professor James P. Collman. Following postdoctoral research with Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Lehn at the University of Strasbourg and with Professor Tabushi in Kyoto, Japan, he began his independent career at UT Austin, progressing to Full Professor by 1992.
Dr. Sessler is particularly celebrated for his groundbreaking development of expanded porphyrins, including the texaphyrins - larger synthetic analogues of naturally occurring blood pigments that form stable complexes with lanthanide cations. His characterization of texaphyrin using crystallography in 1988 launched a new field of research with significant biomedical applications, as these compounds demonstrated remarkable potential as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. This foundational work directly led to the co-founding of Pharmacyclics, Inc., a biotechnology company that developed cancer treatments based on his porphyrin chemistry and was ultimately acquired by AbbVie for $21 billion in 2015. With over 600 publications and more than 70 U.S. patents, Sessler's research has profoundly influenced chemistry through his development of calixpyrroles for anion recognition and innovative ion transport systems.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Sessler has significantly shaped the field through his leadership in professional organizations and his commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between chemistry and medicine. His laboratory continues to explore innovative applications of porphyrin analogues in drug discovery, heavy element coordination chemistry, and materials science, with recent work focusing on anion transport mechanisms and supramolecular assembly. As an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors, and the European Academy of Sciences, Sessler maintains considerable influence in directing the future of chemical research. He actively contributes to the development of the next generation of scientists while continuing to bridge the gap between fundamental chemistry and practical biomedical applications through initiatives like the Texas Institute for Drug and Diagnostic Development.
