At the Krembil Research Institute (“Krembil”), our research focus is on neuroscience, arthritis and disorders of vision via an approach extending from basic science and translational science to clinical research. The strategic plan of the Krembil Research Institute will be discussed and the role of technology development within this model presented. Specific examples of technologies being developed in association with Krembil investigators will be presented. These examples will include medical devices and pharmaceutical product development.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Donald Weaver MD, PhD, FRCPC is an internationally recognized research leader in university-based drug design and discovery for neurological disorders. He is unique, being a practicing neurologist with a PhD in medicinal chemistry/drug design. He has published widely in all aspects of brain-related drug discovery in journals such as Nature (Medicine), The New England J of Medicine, Neurology and Drug Discovery Today. He has designed and co-developed two drugs that have reached Phase III human trials and has four others in preclinical development; one of these drugs (tramiprosate) was one of the first “disease-modifying” drugs in the world to reach Phase III clinical trials for Alzheimer’s dementia. Dr. Weaver has more than 480 peer-reviewed publications and conference abstracts, has published a widely used textbook on drug design (Medicinal Chemistry: A Molecular and Biochemical Approach to Drug Design), has been an invited speaker at more than 55 national and international conferences, and holds 27 patents with another 62 patents pending. He has been a founder of eight start-up biotech companies, one of which had an IPO and was listed on NASDAQ and the TSX. He has won numerous awards including the PRIX GALIEN CANADA (2009), JONAS SALK CANADA AWARD (2011) and the S. WEIR MITCHELL AWARD (American Academy of Neurology, 1991). Don has been Director of the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, since 2013.