New drug targets and delivery system
The Robert Young Lab develops molecular probes to discover and validate biological drug targets, enzyme inhibitors, biological receptor agonists and antagonists, rapid parallel synthesis, synthetic methods, structure activity relationships, molecular modeling, mass spectrometry, radioactive synthesis, drug design and optimization.
The lab designs and synthesizes small molecule probes to aid in understanding disease processes and to discover novel targets and therapies for treatment.
The team characterizes gene family expression in disease states, to discover and validate novel biological targets and to develop proof of concept (POC) molecules to test the benefits/liabilities of intervention at a target.
They also optimize POC molecules and leads from design or screening, through parallel synthesis, to discover potential drug candidate molecules.
- Drug discovery and development
- Molecular probe development
- Education
- Healthcare and social services
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Three (3) Agilent 1100 High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with Diode Array Detectors (DAD) and Fluorescence Detectors (FLD) | Purity analysis |
| Agilent 1200 preparative HPLC with DAD and Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD) detectors | Purification |
| Biotage Isolera Spektra One flash chromatography | Purification |
| Thermo -Fisher MicroModulyo freeze dryer with Savant Refrigerated Vapor Trap | Sample concentration and drying |
| Thermo-Fisher Savant SpeedVac | Sample concentration |
| Biotage Initiator microwave reactor | Microwave reactions |
| BioTek Synergy 4 Microplate Reader | Bio-assays |
| Matrix PlateMate 2x2 | Bio-assays |
| Forma Scientific Cryo Fridge (-74⁰C) | Storage of biological samples |
| Intermediate level radiochemical synthesis lab | Synthesis and characterization of radio-labeled compounds |
| Perkin-Elmer MicroBeta2 scintillation counter | Analysis of radioactive compounds |
| Waters 2695 Alliance HPLC with Perkin-Elmer 150TR (Time-Resolved) Flow Scintillation Analyzer | Analysis of radioactive compounds |
Private and public sector research partners
- Merck-Frosst Canada Ltd
- Center for Drug Research and Development
- Vancouver Prostate Centre
- BC Cancer Agency
- University of British Columbia
- University of Toronto
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute/ Mount Sinai Hospital/Toronto
- BC Genomics Sciences Centre