The award, which was first presented in 1985, acknowledges outstanding service to the Division and to the field of carbohydrate chemistry. It was named in honour of Professor Melville L. Wolfrom (1900-1969), a noted carbohydrate chemist who worked at Ohio State University.

Carmen has been given the award in recognition of her important and innovative contributions to the field of carbohydrate synthesis, with applications to oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates, among others. She is Editor in Chief of Carbohydrate Research, Secretary of the International Carbohydrate Organisation, and has served as secretary to the RSC Carbohydrate group.