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NINT Principal Investigator, Nano Life Sciences
Professor, Departments of Computer Science and Biological Science, University of Alberta
Dr. David Wishart leads Nano Life Sciences research at NINT, which investigates the fields of synthetic biology, computational biology, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology and metabolomics.
Synthetic biology is equivalent to synthetic chemistry. This new field involves designing novel genes and gene circuits so that cells can be "re-programmed" to perform specific tasks or synthesize unusual compounds. Re-programmed bacteria have many qualitative features that resemble ultra-small robots or nanobots. Dr. Wishart's group is currently developing a useful 'toolkit' to simplify the design and construction of bacterial nanobots. The group's next goal is to create nanobots that replicate the programmed behaviours of classical electronic robots.
The design of new genes and gene circuits often requires the use of advanced software to help model the processes that go on inside the cell. Members of Dr. Wishart's team are simulating cellular processes using a technique called dynamic cellular automata. Using a program called SimCell, they have been able to model many of the natural cellular events such as metabolism, chemotaxis and intracellular signalling. SimCell has also modeled artificially "designed" processes such as oscillating genetic circuits, biological clocks, and biological counters. SimCell may soon be used as part of the nanobot toolkit.
Dr. Wishart is also the project leader for the Human Metabolome Project. The project's researchers are cataloguing and collecting all known metabolites (over 1 micromolar concentration) in the human body. The information being collected by the project will have a significant impact on medical research and treatment in the future.
Employment
- NINT Principal Investigator, NINT, National Research Council, Edmonton, Alberta. 2002-Present.
- Professor, Depts. of Computer Science and Biological Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. 2003-Present.
- Assistant Professor/ Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. 1995-2000/2000-2003.
Education
- PhD, Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 1991.
- M.Sc., Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 1986.
- B.Sc. (Honours, 1st Class), Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. 1983.
Highlights
- Dr. Wishart has 97 published papers, given 76 invited presentations, and holds 2 patents.
- Young Investigator Prize, Astra-Zeneca, 2001.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research Chair, 1995-2000 and 2000-2005.
- New Investigator Award, American Assoc. Colleges of Pharmacy, 1997.
- Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1991-1994.
Contact Information
341 Athabasca Hall,
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Canada T6G 2E8
11421 Saskatchewan Drive
NINT Building
Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9
9107 - 116 Street,
University of Alberta
B318 Biological Sciences
Edmonton, AB
Canada T6G 2E9
Phone: 780-492-0383
Fax: 780-641-1601
E-mail: David.Wishart@ualberta.ca
