Professor Sir Philip Cohen stands as a preeminent figure in biochemistry, celebrated for his transformative contributions to understanding cellular regulation mechanisms. He currently serves as Professor of Enzymology and Deputy Director of the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy at the University of Dundee's School of Biological Sciences, where he has maintained continuous research leadership since joining the Department of Biochemistry in 1971. As founding Director of the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit since 1990, he established one of the world's leading centers for studying post-translational modifications in cell regulation. His distinguished career was recognized with a knighthood in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours for exceptional services to biochemical sciences.
Sir Philip's pioneering research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events that regulate virtually all aspects of cellular life, with his work providing critical insights into insulin signal transduction pathways and the classification of protein phosphatases. His systematic dissection of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades has reshaped scientific understanding of cellular responses to external stimuli, while his development of comprehensive kinase profiling panels has been instrumental in pharmaceutical industry drug development efforts. His investigations into the interplay between protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation have illuminated key mechanisms in innate immunity during bacterial and viral infections, opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention. These contributions have earned him recognition as one of the world's most cited scientists in biochemistry, with extraordinary impact across multiple biological disciplines. Notably, his foundational work laid the groundwork for the development of 75 kinase-targeting drugs approved for clinical use since 2001.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Sir Philip has been instrumental in establishing the University of Dundee as a global epicenter for life sciences research, with his leadership directly contributing to a biotechnology ecosystem accounting for approximately 15% of the city's economy. His entrepreneurial vision led to the creation of commercial ventures including Upstate, acquired for $205 million in 2004, and Ubiquigent, a Dundee-based SME specializing in ubiquitin-related reagents. As a scientific leader, he has attracted numerous academics and biotechnology companies to Dundee, fostering a collaborative environment that continues to drive innovation in signal transduction research. Currently, his laboratory remains at the forefront of investigating signaling networks within the innate immune system, with ongoing work focused on unraveling the complex regulatory relationships between protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation that govern cellular defense mechanisms against pathogens.
