DUBLIN-BORN scientist Brian O’Dowd has been awarded the Prix Galien 2019 award.
Referred to as the Nobel Prize of pharmaceutical research, it is the most prestigious award in the field of Canadian pharmaceutical research - recognising the efforts and achievements of pharmaceutical research and development and innovation.
Based at the University of Toronto, Professor O’Dowd shares the award with fellow university Professor Susan R George.
The pair, professors in toxicology and pharmacology respectively, received the Prix Gallen Canada – Research Award for inventing a new method to discover drugs.
The method directs receptor proteins to the cell nucleus, however if interacting drugs are present, the receptor proteins remain at the cell surface – representing a new paradigm for drug discovery.
They are also being recognised for identifying 70 receptor proteins, additional new members of the G protein coupled receptor family.
The research provides potential for enhanced drug arsenals targeting many unmet medical needs and deficits in treatments.
Born and raised in Dublin, Professor O'Dowd was educated at Ringsend Technical Institute and De La Salle College in Churchtown.
Of his award, he told The Irish Post: “It is very gratifying to me to see how our drug discovery invention has developed and will be used to discover useful therapies.
“I lost my 23-year-old son Paul to cancer and some of these newly discovered receptor proteins may prove essential for improved treatments.
"The research provides potential for enhanced drug arsenals targeting many unmet medical needs and deficits in treatments.”
Professor O’Dowd has a PhD from the University of Toronto and completed a Post-Doc with Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr Robert Lefkowitz at Duke University in North Carolina.
