Organizing committee

National Research Council of Canada

Profoundly inspired by the biotechnology pioneers who developed recombinant DNA and produced human insulin, Bernard joined NRC in 1985 with a conviction that molecular biology holds the power to unlock the mysteries of human health.

Sensing the enormous potential of biologics to treat cancer and chronic diseases, he applied his knowledge of viral vectors to biologics production. He has dedicated 30 years to biologics and bioprocesses, first as a research associate and progressing to roles such as group leader, R&D director, leader of the Biologics and Biomanufacturing program, and now general manager of the Human Health Therapeutics portfolio.

Today, the field of life sciences is in full bloom, and will be increasingly shaped by cross-pollination from big data and artificial intelligence. At a time when governments and industry alike are harnessing the power of biotechnology to support a healthy world, Bernard is pleased to contribute to the organization of IBS2018, a forum to showcase these advances and exchange new ideas.

McGill University

Dr. Moitessier's research program toward the development of cancer therapeutics integrates computational and organic/medicinal chemistry, spanning from software development to sugar chemistry and asymmetric catalysis. His research group has developed two computational drug/catalyst design and discovery platforms, FORECASTER and VIRTUAL CHEMIST. As a demonstration of their accuracy, they applied them to the discovery of covalent prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors and the development of novel synthetic methodologies.

Dr. Moitessier's received his PhD from the University of Nancy, France (1998) and was awarded the Reginald Fessenden Professorship in Innovation (2008), the AstraZeneca Award in Chemistry (2009) and the Fessenden Prize in Innovation (2016). In 2010, he co-founded Molecular Forecaster Inc., a company distributing the computational platforms. In 2016, he was appointed as an Editor of the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

University of Waterloo

Dr. Moo-Young supervises research on process biotechnology directed at biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and bioremediation at the University of Waterloo. He received his PhD from the University of London and has produced 17 books, 10 patents and 364 papers. His honors include the premier awards of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering and the American Chemical Society Biochemical Technology Division, and fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada.

Biotechnology is a major activity of his university and Canada overall. Murray promotes it as a global economy-driver through the IUPAC and other venues. He is the editor-in-chief of the six-volume reference work Comprehensive Biotechnology.