Yvan Guindon, C.M., C.Q., PhD, FRSC

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  • Director, Bioorganic Chemistry research unit
  • Full IRCM Research Professor
  • Full professor, Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal
  • Adjunct professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa 
  • Outgoing President, RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada
  • Member of the Board of Directors, Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Carbohydrate Science (AICCS)
Dr. Guindon is interested in the synthesis of molecules that hold potential as therapeutic agents. He and his team are developing new methodologies for synthesizing and perfecting reactions that involve free radicals as reaction intermediaries. These new tools are then applied to the preparation of complex molecules of biological interest. New families of nucleoside analogues have been conceptualized and approaches to synthesizing them are in progress. The molecules are evaluated for their antiviral and anti-tumoural effects. Natural polypropionate-type products are also targeted for their antibacterial effects.

Degrees and relevant experience

  • PhD in Chemistry, Université de Montréal (1981)
  • Diploma in Administrative Sciences (DSA), HEC (1983)
  • Senior Director, Chemistry Department, Merck-Frosst Canada (1979-1987)
  • Vice-President, Research and Development, Bio Mega/Boehringer-Ingelheim,
    (1987-2004)
  • President, RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada
    (2007-2009)
  • CEO and Scientific Director, IRCM (1994-2004)
  • Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Stem Cell Network
  • Director of the Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory at the IRCM (1994- )


Honours

  • Elected to the Academy of Science, Royal Society of Canada (1990)
  • Member of the Order of Canada (CM) (2004)
  • Prize winner of the Marcel Piché Award, IRCM (2004)
  • Prize winner of the Lionel Boulet Award, Prix du Québec (2006)
  • Member of the Association des diplômés de l'Université de Montréal (2006)
  • Prize Winner of the Alfred-Bader Award, Canadian Chemsitry Society (2012)
  • Chevalier de l'ordre national du Québec (2012)
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) (2014)