Luis Moroder (1940-2024), In memoriam

Luis Moroder (1940-2024)

Prof. Dr. Luis Moroder passed away on May 18, 2024 at the age of 83. The Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry has lost a scientist of the highest rank. Luis Moroder worked from 1975 to 1991 as a scientist in the department “Peptide Chemistry” and from 1991 to 2005 as head of the research group “Bioorganic Chemistry” at the MPI of Biochemistry.

Luis Moroder began his research work in peptide chemistry with the synthesis of peptides and initial work on human peptide hormones and corresponding analogues. This was followed by studies on gastrointestinal hormones at the MPIB in Martinsried and proof of the membrane-bound mechanism of hormone recognition by receptors. He also developed various new synthetic methods in peptide and protein chemistry.

Luis Moroder later devoted his research activities to the investigation of complex biological and medical questions using chemical methods. He addressed fundamental questions on the kinetics of protein folding and made important contributions to the structure-based design and
synthesis of inhibitors of important enzymes in various diseases, including cancer.

Luis Moroder was honored with several prizes and an honorary doctorate for these discoveries. He published over 600 original scientific publications, co-edited several books and was Editor in Chief of the “Journal of Peptide Science” for many years. Until the end of his research group, he also organized the Institute’s peptide synthesis service.

With Luis Moroder, the Institute has lost a renowned scientist respected all over the world. We gratefully remember him as an extremely popular, helpful and cordial colleague.

John Briggs
on behalf of the staff and the members of the
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried