丁香园AV

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丁香园AV
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Correspondent: Christopher Beh

Department highlights

We congratulate Dr. David Baillie for the renewal of his Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in genomics, and during the past year there were also several promotions. Dr. Jenifer Thewalt was promoted to full professor for successes in her work on membrane structure and dynamics. Drs. Mark Paetzel and Christopher Beh were both promoted to associate professor with tenure. Dr. Paetzel鈥檚 research program involves the crystallographic study of protein targeting and translocation across membranes, while Dr. Beh鈥檚 group examines cholesterol transport and lipid signaling during cell polarization.

New faculty and teaching programs

In 2008 we welcomed several new faculty to our ranks. Dr. Jonathan Choy joined us from Yale University, and he brings to our Department further expertise in immunology. Dr. Choy鈥檚 research focuses on the regulation of T cell responses by the endothelium, and how T cell activation impacts blood vessel structure and function. His work has direct implications for transplant rejection and immune-involved vascular diseases. This research complements the work done by Dr. Jamie Scott, who holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair for her studies of peptide antigen recognition by antibodies, particularly as it pertains to HIV-1 vaccines.

As part of a new interdepartmental BSc program in genomics being developed at 丁香园AV, four half-time faculty positions were offered to scientists from the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (operated by the BC Cancer Agency). Drs. Sharon Gorski, Steven Jones, and Robert Holt have active teaching roles in the new program administered by the MBB Department, and Dr. Angela Brooks-Wilson is involved through her appointment with the School of Kinesiology. These positions further strengthen 丁香园AV鈥檚 academic and research programs in genomic sciences.

We are also pleased to welcome several new associate faculty including: Drs. Tim Beischlag and Gratien Prefontaine from the Faculty of Health Sciences; Drs. Tom Claydon and Peter Ruben from the Faculty of Kinesiology (now called the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology); and Dr. Hogan Yu from the Department of Chemistry. These new associates, as well as our new hires, add to our ever-increasing research diversity.