Faculty
Dr. Alison Thompson
Program Director
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Pyrrole Chemistry for Chemical Biology and Energy, Full Professor
Dalhousie University
Alison.Thompson@dal.ca
Our research focuses on the synthesis of pyrroles and polypyrroles to enable evaluation of new compounds with unique biological, physical and optical properties: applications target functional materials and improved pharmaceutical function. We develop/invent synthetic methodology, and characterize our new compounds in various ways to assess success.
Dr. Stephen Bearne
Co-Grantee
Carnegie & Rockefeller Professor and Head, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, cross-appointed Chemistry
Dalhousie University
Stephen.Bearne@dal.ca
Understanding how protein- ligand interactions influence enzyme catalysis; developing tools for identification of specific enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of bioactives; understanding the chemical mechanism of enzymes; and the development of enzyme inhibitors. Trainees secured positions in academia, industry and the professions.
Dr. Kerry Goralski
Co-Grantee
Professor of Pharmacy, cross-appointed Pharmacology
Dalhousie University
Kerry.Goralski@dal.ca
In vitro and in vivo pharmacological evaluation of bioactives to probe drug mechanisms of action, offering complementary training opportunities to the cohort. Graduates now Senior Scientist/Novo Nordisk, Indianapolis, PhD/Geneva and Quality Control/Trillium Therapeutics, Ontario.
Dr. Christopher Gray
Co-Grantee
University Research Scholar and Professor of Chemistry, cross-appointed Biology
University of New Brunswick
cgray@unb.ca
Isolates, maintains and extracts novel cultivable endophytes from Maritime medicinal plants in novel environmental niches; discovers new bioactive chemical structural diversity and biological activity. Exceptional bioactives training opportunities in technical and community aspects of collection and documentation, plus dereplication, all critical to efficient discovery of novel bioactives.
Dr. David Jakeman
Co-Grantee
Professor of Pharmacy, cross-appointed Chemistry
Dalhousie University
David.Jakeman@dal.ca
Isolation and evaluation of bioactives; investigation of enzymes in carbohydrate biosynthesis. Invited speaker Asia-Canada Glycoscience, Gordon Conferences.
Dr. David Langelaan
Co-Grantee
Assistant Professor Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dalhousie University
David.Langelaan@dal.ca
Atomic-resolution structure determination of bioactives using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Characterizes and modifies protein assemblies.
Dr. Jan Rainey
Co-Grantee
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, cross-appointed Chemistry
Dalhousie University
Jan.Rainey@dal.ca
NMR, optical spectroscopy and biophysical characterization expertise in bioactives including spider silks, bioactive peptides, membrane proteins and nanoparticles. Industrial partnerships with Japan-based Spiber Inc., DSM, and Canadian biotech companies Vive Crop Protection, Soricimed Biopharma, and Nautilus Biosciences.
Dr. Clarissa Sit
Co-Grantee
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Saint Mary’s University
Clarissa.Sit@smu.ca
Develops competition assays and screening methods for new antibacterial and antifungal bioactives. Trained in structure elucidation of complex natural products. Extensive experience handling bacteria and fungi from animal microbiome and environmental samples.
Dr. Alex Speed
Co-Grantee
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Dalhousie University
Aspeed@dal.ca
Develops new methods for rapid assembly of complex structures. Total synthesis of bioactives.