Professor Jean-Marie Lehn (born September 30, 1939, in Rosheim, France) is a French chemist who earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Strasbourg in 1963. He is a Professor at the University of Strasbourg, Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Emeritus Professor at the University of Strasbourg, and Honorary Professor at the Collège de France in Paris.

He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 for his studies on the chemical basis of "Molecular Recognition" the way in which a receptor molecule recognizes and selectively binds a substrate—which plays a fundamental role in biological processes. Over the years, his work led to the definition of a new field of chemistry, which he called "Supramolecular Chemistry." This field deals with complex entities formed by the association of two or more chemical species held together by intermolecular forces. Subsequently, the area developed into the chemistry of "Self-Organization" processes and, more recently, into "Constitutional Dynamic Chemistry."

Professor Lehn founded the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering in Strasbourg in 2002. He has been involved in numerous public and private boards and committees and has also participated in several start-up companies. As president of the non-governmental International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD), he aims, together with a group of dedicated colleagues, to contribute to helping chemists in developing countries.

Author of more than 1,000 scientific publications and two books, Lehn is a member of many academies and institutions. He has received numerous international honors and awards, including Officer of the French National Order of Merit (1993), Grand Officer of the French Legion of Honour (2014), Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Austrian Decoration for Science and Art, first class, 2001), the Grosses Verdienstkreuz mit Stern der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, 2009), and the Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class, Gold and Silver Star conferred by the Government of Japan (2019).

Professor Atta-ur-Rahman (FRS) is a Fellow of the Royal Society (London) and an Honorary Life Fellow of King's College, Cambridge University. He has authored or edited 300 books published by major US and European presses and has 1,200 research publications, 62 book chapters, and 15 patents to his credit. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of several chemistry journals, including Current Medicinal Chemistry. He also edits the book series Studies in Natural Product Chemistry, published by Elsevier Science Publishers. Eighty-seven volumes of this monumental series have been published to date.

Professor Atta-ur-Rahman has been awarded Doctor of Science degrees by several universities, including Cambridge University, and received the UNESCO Science Prize in 1999. He has also received the highest civil awards from the governments of Pakistan, Austria, and China in recognition of his contributions to medicinal chemistry and education. He has established several institutions across different countries, including Malaysia, China, and Pakistan.

Dr. Maryam Matar is a globally recognized Emirati physician and thought leader who pioneered Longevity Medicine in the Arab world in 2011. She has since become a driving force in aligning future medicine including genomics, regenerative medicine, and predictive healthcare—with national health strategies, legislation, and infrastructure.

At just 28, she became the first female Senior Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Health, following the success of her volunteer health initiatives, which later shaped federal policy. She transformed zero-budget community projects into five sustainable NGOs, including UAEGDA and Emirates Down Syndrome Association, now operating at national impact levels.

Her leadership has led to six major legislative changes in the UAE, such as:

• • Premarital genetic and infectious disease screening.


• • Public smoking bans.


• • Legal fertility preservation for women.


• • Inclusive higher education for people of determination.

Dr. Matar also served as Director General of the Dubai Community Development Authority, managing an AED 800M budget, and led the Dubai Strategic Plan 2008–2017 for Health, Education, and National Identity. She has guided one of the largest genetic surveys in the GCC, impacting 11,000+ Emiratis.

Key Roles s Affiliations

• • Executive Advisory Member, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah (2014–Present)


• • Co-Chair, Global Commission on Rare Diseases.


• • Panel Member, WHO Global Network for Rare Diseases.


• • Ambassador, Women in STEM – Springer Nature.


• • Selection Committee, Zayed Sustainability Prize.


• • Steering Committee Co-Lead, NNEdPro Middle East Network.

Current Focus: Advancing translational research and consultancy in genomics, longevity, and regenerative medicine, while scaling innovative health projects globally.