Montréal, September 30th, 2003 – The Université de Montréal inaugurates a new research chair in medicinal chemistry, thanks to an important donation by Isis Pharmaceuticals of Carlsbad, California. The chairholder is Dr. Stephen Hanessian, F.R.S.C., O.C., professor of chemistry and internationally renowned in his field.

Research work in the context of this Chair at l’Université de Montréal will promote the development of molecules capable of recognizing and binding to various ribonucleic acids (RNA) of different sources. Proteins vital to the survival of pathogenic viruses, tumors, and bacteria are synthesized utilizing RNA-type macromolecules. Inhibiting their production and proliferation with synthetic molecules will have enormous impact in the development of effective, new-generation antiviral, antitumor, and antibiotic agents particularly towards resistant strains.

The Chair was conceived to take advantage of the vast experience of Professor Hanessian in the area of medicinal chemistry. Isis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiary Ibis Therapeutics are also one of seven companies who presently support research in Professor Hanessian’s laboratory as part of a University-Industry project in collaboration with the Natural Science and Engineering Council of Canada (NSECC).

The new research chair will be entirely supported by Isis Pharmaceuticals for three years with options for renewal. Besides work in Professor Hanessian’s group, with a group of thirty coworkers already, the budget has provisions for offering fellowships to qualified students from other research groups, as well as annual contributions to the Department of Chemistry and the Fonds de Développement de l’Université de Montréal. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Isis Pharmaceuticals is a pioneer in the area of antisense chemotherapeutic agents with important applications against certain viruses and cancers.

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For further information :
Professor Stephan Hanessian
Department of Chemistry
Université de Montréal
(514) 343-6738