Marc J. Adler, PhD

Associate Professor, Chemistry

Co-founder, VI SIX

From there to here, from here to there, synthetic organic chemistry is everywhere

The MJA Lab is focused on synthetic organic chemistry. Projects fall within two major research themes: 1) synthetic methods development and 2) bioapplied molecules. In the area of synthetic methodology, the group discovers novel organic reactions utilizing silicon-containing reagents and/or catalysts. Silicon is a highly abundant atom that is largely safe and environmentally friendly and possesses unique and unharnessed reactivity, offering an opportunity to enable green and impactful chemical transformations. In the area of bioapplied molecules, the lab engages in extensive collaboration to impact biology and medicine, from the development of imaging probes to early-stage drug discovery. We also study kinetics of the maturation of whisky and other spirits, and impacting factors.

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Sarah Sabatinos, PhD

Associate Professor, Biology

Battles in the genome: how DNA structures impact fertility

Abstract/research summary coming soon.

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Andrew Laursen, PhD

Professor, Biology

What do we still not know about water?

Low energy electromagnetic treatment of water can increase gas mass transfer and can be used as an aeration technology. We have been working on ecological applications, including improved oxygen status, processing of nutrients, algae control, and reductions in methane emissions. Increased mass transfer is related to changes in physical properties of water under EM treatment. These changes in properties, which cannot be accounted for by the low energy input of the EM device, may give us new insights into the behaviour of water at the level of water clusters.

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Walaa Bedewy, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemistry & Biology

Protein-protein interactions: covalent targeting and developing biochemical detection assays

Walaa joined TMU in 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Marc Adler. Her doctorate degree is in Pharmaceutical Sciences jointly received from Ohio State University-USA and Helwan University-Egypt. Walaa works on developing covalent protein binders to inhibit protein-protein interactions via synthesis and screening of peptide libraries and generating non-peptidic α-helical and β-sheet mimics. She also holds an internship under the Mitacs Accelerate program under the supervision of Dr. Marc Adler, Dr. Dustin Little, and Dr. Gennadi Saiko to develop a reliable and fast assay for point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.

Michael Sugiyama, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher, Biology,

Consultant (Amplitude Ventures), Science writer/editor (Scicomwiz and ScienceUpFirst)

When the sunlight hits the olive oil: career lessons from the Tragically Hip

Abstract/research summary coming soon.