Sponsored by X-Chem
The X-Chem Research Excellence Award is presented to a scientist residing in Canada who has made a distinguished contribution to medicinally relevant organic or biophysical chemistry while working in Canada. Eligible candidates must have held their first professional appointment as an independent researcher for twelve years* or less at the time of initial nomination.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2026 winner of the X-Chem Research Excellence Award is:
Andrew A. Beharry, MCIC
University of Toronto Mississauga
Dr. Andrew Beharry is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. He obtained his B.Sc. from York University in chemistry and biology and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in biological chemistry with Prof. Andrew Woolley. He was a Human Frontiers Science Program Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University with Prof. Eric Kool, then in 2016 obtained his independent position at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Dr. Beharry’s research program lies at the interface of synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and cell biology. His lab develops small molecule fluorescent chemosensors for enzymes involved in anticancer drug resistance and for fluorescence-guided surgery of tumours, as well as novel photoactive therapeutic agents (e.g., photosensitizers) against cancers.