Masad Damha
Encyclopedia
Masad Damha is a Canadian
academic and nucleic acid
chemist. He is James McGill
Professor of Chemistry
at McGill University
in Montreal
, Canada
.
, Damha moved to Montreal
, Canada
for his post-secondary education and received his BSc
and PhD
degrees from McGill
, the latter under the supervision of Prof. Kelvin Ogilvie
. He then accepted a position as assistant professor at the University of Toronto
's Erindale College
from 1987–1992, at which point he returned to McGill University
where he has been teaching ever since.
Damha and his research group have also made several contributions to the synthesis of RNA
and novel RNA structures. These include the synthesis of branched and lariat RNA structures as well as novel levulinyl
-based protecting group strategies that allow RNA to be synthesized directly on glass microarrays by eliminating the need for fluoride
-mediated deprotection.
's 2007 Bernard Belleau
Award for significant contributions to medicinal chemistry by a Canadian chemist.
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...
academic and nucleic acid
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acids are biological molecules essential for life, and include DNA and RNA . Together with proteins, nucleic acids make up the most important macromolecules; each is found in abundance in all living things, where they function in encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information...
chemist. He is James McGill
James McGill
James McGill was a Scottish-Canadian businessman, military commander and philanthropist known for being the founder of McGill University...
Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
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...
.
Education and career
After growing up in NicaraguaNicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Damha moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
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...
for his post-secondary education and received his BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degrees from McGill
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, the latter under the supervision of Prof. Kelvin Ogilvie
Kelvin Ogilvie
Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie is a Canadian academic and politician. A former president of Acadia University in Wolfville, he was named to the Senate of Canada as a Conservative on August 27, 2009...
. He then accepted a position as assistant professor at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's Erindale College
University of Toronto Mississauga
The University of Toronto Mississauga is a satellite campus of the University of Toronto, located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The university is set upon a park-like campus on the valley of the Credit River, approximately 33 kilometres west of Downtown Toronto...
from 1987–1992, at which point he returned to McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
where he has been teaching ever since.
Research
Damha's group developed 2'F-ANA in 1998, which was the first sugar-modified oligonucleotide to allow cleavage by the enzyme RNase H. A drug candidate made of 2'F-ANA is being developed by Topigen Pharmaceuticals and received approval to start clinical trials in December 2008.Damha and his research group have also made several contributions to the synthesis of RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
and novel RNA structures. These include the synthesis of branched and lariat RNA structures as well as novel levulinyl
Levulinic acid
Levulinic acid, or 4-oxopentanoic acid, is an organic compound with the formula CH3CCH2CH2CO2H. It is a keto acid. This white crystalline is soluble in water, ethanol, and diethyl ether.-Synthesis and uses:...
-based protecting group strategies that allow RNA to be synthesized directly on glass microarrays by eliminating the need for fluoride
Fluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
Awards
Damha received the Chemical Institute of CanadaChemical Institute of Canada
The Chemical Institute of Canada is a Canadian professional umbrella organization for chemists , chemical engineers and chemical technologists ....
's 2007 Bernard Belleau
Bernard Belleau
Bernard Belleau, OC, FRSC was a Canadian molecular pharmacologist best known for his role in the discovery of Lamivudine, a drug used in the treatment of HIV and Hepatitis B infection....
Award for significant contributions to medicinal chemistry by a Canadian chemist.