BioSolveIT is proud to put forth that Prof. Dr. Matthias Rarey, co-founder and a key contributor to the company’s success, shall be recognized with the 2025 Herman Skolnik Award by the American Chemical Society’s Division of Chemical Information (ACS CINF). This award honors his significant contributions to the field of Cheminformatics, his pioneering role in molecular design methodologies, and his ability to bridge academic research and industry application.
A Pillar of BioSolveIT’s Vision and Innovation
Prof. Rarey’s contributions are integral to BioSolveIT’s mission. As a Professor at the University of Hamburg, his research continuously shapes our software solutions. Many of the innovations that power our tools today—particularly in virtual screening, lead discovery, and molecular design—originate from his academic work. Prof. Rarey is also the mind behind the concept of Chemical Spaces, which has revolutionized the way researchers can efficiently explore molecular diversity in ultra-vast compound collections for accessible results and has become an important part of our product development efforts.
From the beginning, Prof. Rarey has been a central figure at BioSolveIT, ensuring that the company’s solutions are not only scientifically robust but also relevant to real-world drug discovery challenges. His contributions have set the foundation for many of the tools that researchers use today.
Shaping the Vision and Innovation at BioSolveIT
Prof. Rarey’s research has led to a number of innovative algorithms and tools, many of which are now integral to our product portfolio:
- FlexX – A protein-ligand docking program that has become a standard in structure-based molecular design.
- HYDE – Used for accurately scoring hydrogen bond and dehydration energies, crucial in drug design.
- FTrees, SpaceLight and SpaceMACS – Advanced similarity searching tools that have expanded the possibilities of chemical space exploration.
- FastGrow – Efficient screening of hundred-thousands of molecular extensions to complement a binding site.
- ReCore – A scaffold-hopping solution that significantly accelerates lead discovery.
Prof. Rarey’s Role in Education and Mentorship
In addition to his contributions to BioSolveIT, Prof. Rarey has had a lasting impact on the field of cheminformatics through his role as the founding director of the Center for Bioinformatics at the University of Hamburg. He has been instrumental in developing educational programs in Cheminformatics and Computational Molecular Design, mentoring a new generation of scientists who are now leading figures in both academic and industrial sectors.
A Lasting Legacy in Cheminformatics
The Herman Skolnik Award acknowledges Prof. Rarey’s influence on cheminformatics and drug discovery. With over 18,000 citations and numerous accolades, including the 2005 Corwin Hansch Award and the ACS Emerging Technologies Award in 2011, his work continues to shape the field.
At BioSolveIT, we recognize Prof. Rarey’s ongoing leadership and vision that are central to our mission of providing advanced and intuitive software solutions for researchers around the world.
Prof. Rarey will be formally recognized at the Fall 2025 ACS National Meeting in Washington, D.C., where he is invited to organize an award symposium.