Dr. Warren Wakarchuk named new GlycoNet Associate Scientific Director

GlycoNet is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Warren Wakarchuk as the Network’s new Associate Scientific Director, effective November 2, 2018.

Dr. Wakarchuk is a Network Investigator and Professor of chemistry and biology at Ryerson University in Toronto. He received his PhD degree in microbiology from the University of British Columbia. He was a Research Officer at the National Research Council Canada for 19 years, before taking his current position at Ryerson in 2012. He has an outstanding international reputation within the glycomics community, and he has an extensive track record in research partnerships with industry.

“I am very excited to be taking on this new position as part of the GlycoNet executive team,” says Dr. Wakarchuk. “I am looking forward to working with everyone to shape the direction of the Network as we head toward the Cycle II call for proposals.”

Research in the Wakarchuk Lab is centred around the investigation of the structure and function of the enzymes involved in making various glycoconjugates. Major areas of research include the determination of glycosyltransferase enzyme donor/acceptor specificity and enzyme engineering for improved activity and 3-dimensional structure determination. The lab has invested in producing these enzymes in sufficient quantities to make possible the enzymatic synthesis of authentic glycans and modified derivatives. The application of these enzymes to the synthesis of bioactive glycoconjugates in vitro and in vivo for health and wellness is the goal of its research.

GlycoNet would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Network Investigator Dr. Stephen Withers for his service as Associate Scientific Director for the past four years.

“Steve provided critical leadership throughout the first four years of the Network,” says GlycoNet Scientific Director Todd Lowary. “We look forward to continuing to work with him as a Network Investigator and are excited about working with Warren in his new role.”