Speeding up Drug Discovery
with
Dr. Jed Harrison,
University of Alberta, Edmonton
During the past decade, Professor Jed Harrison has played a key role
in developing “lab-on-a-chip” technology, one of three converging
trends that researchers hope will accelerate the discovery of new drugs
and improve the evaluation of human health. He employs the same methods
used to make a computer chip to make bio-chips for DNA tests, blood tests,
and protein analyses for the new field of proteomics. These chips offer
a powerful tool when combined with the dictionary of life provided by
the Human Genome Project, and the vast range of potential drug molecules
that new techniques in chemistry now provide. No wonder the lab-on-a-chip
is now being applied by industry around the world.
Jed Harrison is a native of Vancouver. He received his B.Sc. from Simon
Fraser University and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. He joined the Chemistry Department at the University of
Alberta in 1984. His research is in the application of microfabrication
technology to chemical and biochemical sensors and to instrumentation.
Professor Harrison’s program involves about 14 students and postdoctoral
researchers. He is the recipient of major national and international honours,
including a 1996 NSERC Steacie Fellowship and the 1996 Heinrich Emanuel
Merck Prize.
Simultaneous translation will be provided.
Co-Sponsors:
--the Speaker of the Senate, the Hon. Daniel Hays
--the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Hon. Peter Milliken
--Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE)
--NSERC
DATE: Tuesday May 7, 2002 from 7:30 am - 9:00 am
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