In its broadest term, chemical biology involves the use of small molecules to investigate and control living systems. This definition begs quite a few questions. Where do you get these molecules? What are the targets of these agents? How do you know that you are having an effect on the biological system being probed? Which specific targets are giving rise to the responses observed? The answers to these questions necessitate a multi-disciplinary approach that incorporates everything from synthetic and analytical chemistry to structural and molecular biology. 

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Our main goal is to provide students with interdisciplinary training that is at the interface of chemistry, biochemistry and biology, with a primary emphasis on understanding how the chemical biology approach can be used to solve complex biological problems such as the mechanisms of disease, the regulation of biological pathways and the roles of different biomolecules in controlling cellular function (or dysfunction).

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The interdisciplinary nature of the Chemical Biology graduate program at McMaster is reflected by the diversity of our affiliated faculty members.  These highly engaged 40 principal investigators come from seven different departments (Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Pathology, and Molecular Medicine, Medicine, Chemical Engineering, Physics, and Astronomy) across three faculties (Sciences, Engineering, and Health Sciences) at McMaster. These investigators are leaders in diverse Chemical Biology fields and they engage in several collaborations within McMaster as well as other research institutions worldwide.  Have a look at the research interests of the participating faculty members and you’ll get a sense of the range of projects on offer.

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The chemical biology graduate program is different from many others. While students will work with a faculty member with particular expertise in a particular “home” department, research projects extend beyond traditional departmental borders. The multidisciplinary nature of the program is such that collaboration and interactions with colleagues outside a researcher’s main discipline area broadens and enriches the training experience of the students in the program. Students graduate as highly qualified researchers possessing a diverse skill set and capable of operating within multidisciplinary teams speaking both the “languages” of chemistry and biology. Take a look at the testimonials of our alumni, which speak volumes about the doors that open for our graduates.

 

I encourage you to spend some time wandering around our website. There are a couple of additions to the site that you should visit. The video page, for example, presents current students discussing their research and the chemical biology program. In addition, the chemical biology graduate program has been the academic home for many of the students participating in NSERC CREATE training programs in molecular imaging probes or biointerfaces. These CREATE programs have been centered around Focus Groups, an interdisciplinary mix of researchers each bringing their unique skill set to tackle a broad research problem.

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Have a look around the website and feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions.