About BM
The Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Division (BM) of the Canadian Society for Chemistry comprises over 800 members interested in the interface between chemistry and biology or medicine. We organize the Biological and Medicinal (BM) scientific program of the annual conference of the CSC, sponsor research awards, and support scientific meetings. View the BM division’s charter.
BM executives
- Dustin King, Chair (2024 – 2026), Simon Fraser University
- Christopher Boddy, Vice Chair (2025 – 2026), University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus
- Kirsten Wolthers, Past Chair (2024 – 2026), University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus
- Lakshmi P. Kotra, Treasurer (2025 – 2026), University of Toronto
- Samy Cecioni, Secretary (2025 – 2026), Université de Montréal
Executive members at large:
- Avena Ross (2025 – 2026), Queen’s University
- Jumi Shin (2025 – 2026), University of Toronto Mississauga
- Tabitha Wood (2025 – 2026), University of Winnipeg
- Dustin Duncan (2025 – 2026), Brock University
BM Annual General Meetings
Poster award winners
Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC 2024)
Undergraduate Student Poster Winner
1st Place ($150):
Jonathan Houser
“Catching COVID: Developing a nanoparticle-peptide conjugate to target SARS-CoV-2”
Supervisor: John Trant
Bio: Jonathan has just finished 2nd year of his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. He is currently working on nanoparticle-peptide conjugates for antiviral therapeutics in the lab of Professor John Trant. In his free time, he is an international gymnast and enjoys other sports like volleyball, tennis, and golf
Graduate Student Poster Winners ($200)
Michael Capperauld
“Simple diaminonucleoside-mediated nonenzymatic ligation of oligonucleotides”
Supervisor: Derek O’Flaherty
Bio: Michael is a second year MSc. student at the University of Guelph working under the supervision of Prof. Derek O’Flaherty. His research focuses on synthesizing novel inter-nucleoside linkages for developing therapeutics and biosensors. Outside of the lab he enjoys reading, golfing, and running.
Alana Rangaswamy
“Assay Development and Engineering of Nylon-Degrading Enzymes”
Supervisor: Jeffrey Keillor
Bio: Alana is a senior PhD student in the Keillor lab at the University of Ottawa. Her research focuses on developing simple, robust, and high-throughput assays for enzyme activity quantification, with a focus on nylon-degrading enzymes. Outside of the lab, her hobbies include drawing, painting, making music, and hanging out with her cat.
Shivram Tikoo
“Synthesis of Oligonucleotide Conjugates Containing Selenium Modified Linkers.”
Supervisor: Christopher Wilds
Bio:Shivam is a second-year PhD student at Concordia University. His research focuses on the synthesis of selenium-modified oligonucleotide conjugates, which have potential applications in gene-silencing therapeutics.
BM awards
The Melanie O’Neill Young Investigator Award in Biological Chemistry is presented to a scientist residing in Canada who has made a distinguished contribution to biological chemistry while working in Canada. Award details and how to apply.
The Bernard Belleau Award is presented to a scientist residing in Canada who has made a distinguished contribution to the field of medicinal chemistry through research involving biochemical or organic chemical mechanisms. Award details and how to apply.
The Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Lectureship Award (formerly the Teva Canada Limited Biological and Medicinal Chemistry (BMC) Lectureship Award) is presented to a scientist who has made a distinguished contribution to the field of biological or medicinal chemistry within the past five years of the initial nomination deadline date while working in Canada. Award details and how to apply.