David Dolphin
Encyclopedia
David H. Dolphin, OC
, FRS
, FRSC
(born January 15, 1940) is a Canadian
biochemist
.
He is an internationally recognized expert in porphyrin
chemistry and biochemistry. He was the lead creator of Visudyne
, a medication used in conjunction with laser treatment to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration.
Born in London
, England
, he received a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1962 and a Ph.D. in 1965 from the University of Nottingham
. He then attend Harvard University
as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Harvard organic chemist Robert B. Woodward. In 1966, he was appointed an assistant professor at Harvard. In 1974, he joined the faculty of science at the University of British Columbia
where he became the Killam Research Professor. From 1988 to 1989, he was the acting Dean of Science. From 1999 to 2000, he was the acting Vice President Research.
He is Chief Executive Officer of the BC Innovation Council and Vice-President, Technology Development at Quadra Logic Technologies Incorporated (QLT Inc.).
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
, the Royal Society
, Canadian Institute of Chemistry
, and the Royal Society of Chemistry
. In 2006, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 2005, he was awarded the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, "with a guarantee of $1 million in research funding over the next five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC)".
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(born January 15, 1940) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
biochemist
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
.
He is an internationally recognized expert in porphyrin
Porphyrin
Porphyrins are a group of organic compounds, many naturally occurring. One of the best-known porphyrins is heme, the pigment in red blood cells; heme is a cofactor of the protein hemoglobin. Porphyrins are heterocyclic macrocycles composed of four modified pyrrole subunits interconnected at...
chemistry and biochemistry. He was the lead creator of Visudyne
Verteporfin
Verteporfin , a benzoporphyrin derivative, is a medication used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration...
, a medication used in conjunction with laser treatment to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1962 and a Ph.D. in 1965 from the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
. He then attend Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Harvard organic chemist Robert B. Woodward. In 1966, he was appointed an assistant professor at Harvard. In 1974, he joined the faculty of science at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
where he became the Killam Research Professor. From 1988 to 1989, he was the acting Dean of Science. From 1999 to 2000, he was the acting Vice President Research.
He is Chief Executive Officer of the BC Innovation Council and Vice-President, Technology Development at Quadra Logic Technologies Incorporated (QLT Inc.).
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, Canadian Institute of Chemistry
Chemical Institute of Canada
The Chemical Institute of Canada is a Canadian professional umbrella organization for chemists , chemical engineers and chemical technologists ....
, and the Royal Society of Chemistry
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
. In 2006, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2005, he was awarded the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, "with a guarantee of $1 million in research funding over the next five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a Canadian government agency that provides grants for research in the natural sciences and in engineering. Its mandate is to promote and assist research....
(NSERC)".