Preemium Members

Marc G Aucoin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Prof Aucoin’s work is focused on developing genetic and process tools and strategies to control the quality of complex biologics produced in cell culture. Overall, his research aims to take a holistic approach to engineer the biological entity and its environment using state of the art techniques to achieve higher yields of specialty biotherapeutics. One area that his lab has concentrated in has been the use of 1D-1H NMR to improve media formulations and support the cells and process operation. Another has been using gene editing tools to control gene expression levels in cells.

Julian Zhu is full professor at the Chemistry Department, Université de Montréal. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Polymer Biomaterials. Professor Zhu heads a research group that focuses on the synthesis, characterization and development of new polymeric materials, including hydrogels, degradable polymers, shape-memory materials and nano- and microparticles, for biomedical and industrial applications.

Xavier Banquy is associate professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université de Montréal. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Bioinspired materials and surfaces since 2013. His research interests are divided into three main streams: biomaterials development and characterization of their interactions with host tissue; development of multifunctional nanoformulations for cancer treatment; fundamental research in colloidal and surface science at the biointerface.

Bruno Gaillet is a professor at the chemical engineering Department of Université Laval. His research group constructs viral vectors and their derivates including virus-like particles to transfer genes, RNA and proteins for therapeutic purposes as well as methods to produce and purify these particles in large quantities and at low cost. He also develops recombinant protein expression systems using optimized non-viral and viral vectors and engineered mammalian cell lines (CHO, HEK293, etc.).

Gregory De Crescenzo is full professor in the Chemical Engineering department of Polytechnique Montreal where He held the Canada Research Chair in Protein-enhanced Biomaterials for 10 years. His research interests include 1) the bioconjugation of proteins to materials, 2) the development of novel process analytical technologies, 3) the kinetic characterization of biomolecular interactions.

Yves Durocher is Principal Research Officer at the National Research Council Canada and he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry at the Université de Montréal in 1993. He joined the NRC in 1995 to work on the production of membrane receptors and recombinant proteins for various industrial partners involved in drug discovery projects. Yves manages a section of 30 scientists and 4 PhD students involved in protein expression and stable CHO cell line development for internal projects and external clients. His research activities focus on improving large-scale transient gene expression (LSTGE) platforms using HEK293 and CHO cells for protein production and on developing and engineering stable CHO pool and clonal cell line platforms for recombinant protein manufacturing. Yves is also an associated professor at the Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire at the Université de Montréal.

Daria Boffito holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Intensified Mechano-Chemical Processes for Sustainable Biomass Conversion. She is spearheading process intensification techniques to manufacture solid and colloidal particles, and to deposit nano-sized constituents at the interface of varied matrices. Her expertise includes synthesis of specialty chemicals from different types of biomass, continuous flow spray, ultrasonic atomization, and sol-gel synthesis. The target is intensified zero-solvent and zero waste processes. Her laboratory is equipped with facilities for the continuous synthesis of solid particles, viscosimeters, and ultrasonic horns and atomizers of different powers for liquid processing and synthesis.

Amine Kamen is Professor of Bioengineering at McGill University, and Canada Research Chair in Bioprocessing of Viral Vaccines. Heis Researcher Emeritus of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) where he was employed until early 2014, as head of the Process Development section of the Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio. His current research activities focus on uncovering mechanisms associated with cell production of viral vectors and viral vaccines; cell and metabolic engineering; process control and monitoring; and process analytical technologies of high yield productions of viral vectors for gene delivery and vaccination. He published overone hundred and thirty papers in refereed international journals and acts asconsultant for several national and international private and public organizations.

Roderick Slavcev is an Associate Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chartered Biologist with the Royal Society of Biology, specializing in bacteriophage (phage) and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and gene therapy with experience in both academic and industrial settings. His current research and companies, Mediphage Bioceuticals and Theraphage, exploit bacteriophages and genetic elements of phage with the ultimate aim of bringing new genetic therapeutic solutions to the global environment. Coliphages and phage-encoded genes and genetic elements are extensively applied in generation of novel platforms to design and construct vectors for the development of vaccines, targeted gene therapy systems, and the generation of novel sequence cassettes to enhance gene delivery applications.

Marc A Gauthier is Associate Professor at the EMT Research Center of the INRS, and an FRQS Research Scholar. Prof Gauthier’s work is focused on developing new types of dynamic covalent bonds, designing therapeutic protein–polymer conjugates, establishing new technologies for drug discovery, and investigating new opportunities for physically actuating therapeutic bioconjugates. Overall, his research exploits discoveries in the natural sciences & engineering and applies them as tools to develop better therapies to improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the financial burden of healthcare on society.