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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
David GranvilleAssociate professor, UBC and founder and CSO, viDA Therapeutics Inc.Age: 37 Between 1994 and 2001, David Granville was tucked away in a lab at QLT Inc. conducting pre-clinical research. Such research is less glamorous than later-stage clinical research but is nonetheless an essential part of the drug-development cycle. Granville acquired worldwide recognition in certain medical circles for his work with the Vancouver company, which was making its first market inroads with Visudyne, a drug that has treated blindness in more than two million people and generated billions of dollars in revenue for QLT. “Seeing how that drug went all the way through from preclinical trials through to clinical trials and then getting approved was quite an inspiration,” said Granville. Granville’s work since returning to Vancouver in 2003 from a two-year stint at the renowned Scripps Research Institute in San Diego has been nothing short of prolific: 28 manuscripts, several new patents, book chapters and further lab discoveries. In addition to his commercial research, Granville continues his work as an associate professor at UBC. “I can somewhat guide development on the industry side but also keep my discovery-based research going, which is the part that really drives me,” he said. Much of his research has been focused on a protein-degrading enzyme that’s been known to play a role in cardiovascular disease. Recently, Granville discovered that the same enzyme prevented hair loss and tissue degeneration in mice. Granville formed viDA Therapeutics with biotech veterans such as Julia Levy to investigate whether the research could be applicable to humans. “We have something here that may potentially be a gold mine for treating a lot of age-related tissue-degenerating diseases,” he said. Put differently, viDA could have on its hands nothing less than a modern-day fountain of youth. • Birthplace: Lachine, Quebec Where do you live now: Port Coquitlam Highest level of education: PhD, pathology and laboratory Medicine, UBC Car or chosen mode of transport: Acura TL Currently reading: Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants, PhD theses, The Adventures of Scooby-Doo Last CD bought or music downloaded: Jack Johnson Favourite movie: The Fugitive Favourite local restaurant: Ciopinno’s and the Cannery Person you would most like to meet (living or deceased): Terry Fox Profession you would most like to try: Perhaps a politician, so I could make a few changes to improve the funding for heart and lung research in B.C. Mentor: Bruce McManus, Julia Levy and the faculty, trainees and staff who surround me at the Heart and Lung Institute at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC Most memorable career milestone or event: Receiving a Canada Top-40-Under-40 Award; discovering a novel therapeutic target for treating age-related cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms Toughest business or professional decision: Leaving QLT in 2001 after the FDA-approval of Visudyne to relocate to San Diego to embark on a new career path with my pregnant wife and two-year-old son What’s left to do: We are only at the tip of the iceberg with regard to what has to be done. viDA has identified a novel age-related, tissue-degenerating enzyme that we believe promotes aneurysm progression and rupture. We are currently making drugs to inactivate this protein. Taking these drugs from the experimental stage into the clinic will be an enormous team effort This article from Business in Vancouver December 29, 2009-January 4, 2010; issue 1053 Business in Vancouver (www.biv.com) has been publishing in-depth local business news, analysis and commentary since 1989. The newspaper also produces a weekly ranked list of the biggest companies and players in a wide range of B.C. industries and commercial sectors, monthly features and industry-focused sections that arm its subscribers with a complete package of local business intelligence each week. |
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