Grant: CIHR New Investigator

This proposal aims to use metabolic engineering to access new therapeutic molecules. Our approach commandeers biosynthetic machinery from microorganisms to make complex natural products and derivatives. These molecules cannot be acquired in sufficient amounts through either organic synthesis or cultivation of an unmodified organism. Instead, by using genomics, metabolic engineering, and chemistry, we will develop engineered biological platforms for the robust, high-level production of molecules, and we will systematically test the activities of purified molecules both in vitro and in vivo. Our work capitalizes on our substantial preliminary data, the strong tradition of natural products research in British Columbia, and the world-class facilities for structure elucidation in the UBC Department of Chemistry. Our program is a unique approach, fusing genomic and chemical tools to develop new drug leads. Results from our work lay the groundwork for collaborative efforts in drug research, development, formulation, testing, and commercialization.