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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Biochemistry: Chemical Biology

Offered by: Biochemistry     Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. in Biochemistry; Chemical Biology is overseen by the Chemical Biology Thematic Group, and it engages in research topics that span structural biology, enzymology, nucleic acid research, signaling pathways, single molecule biophysics, biophysical chemistry of living tissues, and new chemistry and physics from biological systems to develop pharmaceutical applications. The thesis must focus on chemical biology related to biochemistry.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (6 credits)

* Students choose either BIOC 696D1/D2 or BIOC 696N1/N2. Students fast-tracking from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program, and who registered for and passed BIOC 696 at the M.Sc. level, do not register for BIOC 696 at the Ph.D. level. Likewise, students fast-tracking from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program, and who registered for and passed BIOC 610 and 611 at the M.Sc. level, do not register for BIOC 610 and 611 at the Ph.D. level.
** NOTE: Students DO NOT register for these courses until notified by the Student Affairs Officer.
Students must complete BIOC 701 in the third term after admission to the program, BIOC 702 in the sixth term, and BIOC 703 approximately six months prior to submission of the Ph.D. thesis.

Complementary Courses*** (9 credits)

3 credits from the following:

  • CHEM 502 Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry (3 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Chemistry : This course will cover biologically relevant molecules, particularly nucleic acids, proteins, and their building blocks. In each case, synthesis and biological functions will be discussed. The topics include synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides; chemistry of phosphates; enzyme structure and function; coenzymes, and enzyme catalysis; polyketides; antiviral and anticancer agents.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Thibodeaux, Christopher; Wahba, Alexander; Mittermaier, Anthony (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Prerequisite: CHEM 302

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CHEM 402.

  • CHEM 503 Drug Discovery (3 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Chemistry : The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to the overall drug discovery process. The main focus of the course will be on medicinal chemistry, synthesis and catalysis, as they relate to large-scale production of pharmaceutical agents. However, other aspects of drug discovery, including structural research (e.g. NMR, X-ray), biochemistry, drug metabolism and bioavailability will also be included.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Tsantrizos, Youla S (Winter)

  • PHAR 503 Drug Discovery and Development 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Chemistry, mechanisms of action, and steps in drug discovery and development.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Munter, Lisa; Sharif Naeini, Reza; Meerovitch, Karen; Berghuis, Albert; Mooser, Vincent (Fall)

3 credits from the following:

  • BIOC 600 Advanced Strategies in Genetics and Genomics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Advanced technologies and methods in genomics research, presented by experts actively pursuing the experimental approaches discussed.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Duchaine, Thomas; Montpetit, Alexandre; Dejgaard, Kurt; Dostie, Josee; Giguere, Vincent; Najafabadi, Hamed; Yamanaka, Yojiro; Huang, Sidong; Watson, Ian; Kazak, Lawrence (Winter)

    • Enrolment limited to 15 graduate students.

    • Prerequisite: BIOC 454 or equivalent

    • Restriction: Must take part in the Biochemistry graduate program

  • BIOC 603 Genomics and Gene Expression (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Examination of recent developments in analysis of eukaryotic cell genomes and control of gene expression during differentiation and growth control. Molecular genetics; genomics and the bioinformatics of analysis of genomic and functional-genomic data; mechanisms and signal-transduction pathways for regulation of gene expression; applications to human disease with a strong emphasis on cancer.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: McCaffrey, Luke; Muller, William Joseph; Gallouzi, Imed Eddine; Siegel, Peter; Huang, Sidong; Walsh, Logan; Kazak, Lawrence; Pastor, William (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Prerequisites: BIOC 454 and permission of instructor.

  • BIOC 604 Macromolecular Structure (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : X-Ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy. Theory and methods used to determine macromolecular structures will be covered. Several practical sessions with hands-on experience for students are included.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Nagar, Bhushan (Winter)

    • Offered in the Winter term, in even alternate years.

  • BIOC 605 Protein Biology and Proteomics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Examination of recent developments in protein biology and proteomics analysis. Proteomics, modeling and biophysical approaches to characterize the functional interactions of biological macromolecules; applications to biological problems. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by practical training in proteomics.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Denis, Maxime; Dejgaard, Kurt (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Prerequisite: BIOC 450 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.

  • BIOC 670 Biochemistry of Lipoproteins (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Structure, function and metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins as they relate to lipid storage diseases, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Kiss, Robert; Nilsson, Tommy (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: BIOC 311 or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Open to graduate students only with permission of instructor.

    • Winter

  • EXMD 615 Essentials of Glycobiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : Examination of the structure, function, and biosynthesis of glycoproteins, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans, and the biological role of complex carbohydrates. Lectins, methods for elucidating carbohydrate structure, glycomics, and human diseases due to disorders of glycan synthesis.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Gilfix, Brian (Winter)

    • Winter

  • EXMD 635D1 Experimental/Clinical Oncology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : The course will deal, on a site by site basis, with the incidence of cancer, present treatment, treatment outcome, underlying causes, current research and directions for development of new treatments. Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and nutrition as therapy and treatment of cancer will be included.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Nepveu, Alain; Teodoro, Jose Guerreiro; Tanguay, Simon; Gregorieff, Alexander; Deblois, Genevieve; Fuks, Abraham; Sebag, Michael; Fiset, Pierre; Ursini-Siegel, Josie; Malag贸n, Tal铆a (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Students must request permission from the instructor.

    • Students must register for both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2

    • No credit will be given for this course unless both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

    • Previous solid knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology required. Students will be required to write a long essay and give an oral presentation.

  • EXMD 635D2 Experimental/Clinical Oncology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : See EXMD 635D1 for course description.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Nepveu, Alain; Basik, Mark; Teodoro, Jose Guerreiro; Kassouf, Wassim; Zogopoulos, George; Johnson, Nathalie; Kukolj, George; Laneuville, Pierre; Shenouda, George; Tremblay, Michel (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: EXMD 635D1 and permission from the instructor.

    • Students must register for both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2

    • No credit will be given for this course unless both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

    • Previous solid knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology required. Students will be required to write a long essay and give an oral presentation.

Plus additional credits to a total of at least 9 complementary course credits from the following list:

  • CHEM 522 Stereochemistry (3 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Chemistry : Stereoisomers, their nomenclature and configuration. Conformational analysis, separation of stereoisomers, and stereocontrol in organic synthesis.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Winter

    • Prerequisite: CHEM 302

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CHEM 623

  • CHEM 582 Supramolecular Chemistry (3 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Chemistry : Introduction to supramolecular organization will be followed by discussions on the nature of interactions and methodologies to create ordered aggregates of high complexity. Potential of supramolecular chemistry in fabricating smart materials will be explored using specific topics including inclusion chemistry, dendrimers, molecular self-assembly and crystal engineering.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • CHEM 591 Bioinorganic Chemistry (3 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Chemistry : The roles of transition and main group elements in biology and medicine will be examined with an emphasis on using tools for structure and genome searching as well as becoming acquainted with experimental spectroscopic methods useful for bioinorganic chemistry such as macromolecular X-ray diffraction, EPR and EXAFS.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Winter

    • Prerequisite: CHEM 381

    • Restriction: For Honours and Major Chemistry students or with permission

  • CHEM 621 Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry (5 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Chemistry : A systematic survey of the mechanisms of the most common organic reactions from studies of reactions in the current literature.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Li, Chaojun (Winter)

  • CHEM 629 Organic Synthesis (5 credits)

    Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Chemistry : An advanced course in the synthesis of organic molecules with an emphasis on stereoselective transformations. Topics will include multiple bond formation, functional group interconversions, carbon-carbon bond formation and stereoselective oxidations and reductions.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Lumb, Jean-Philip (Winter)

  • EXMD 510 Bioanalytical Separation Methods (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : The student will be taught the capabilities and limitations of modern separation methods (gas and high-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, hyphenated techniques). Application of these techniques to solve analytical problems relevant to biomedical research will be emphasized, with special attention being paid to the processing of biological samples.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Jean-Claude, Bertrand; Dejgaard, Kurt; Hambalek, Robert; Gilfix, Brian; Soucy, Jean-Paul; Larroque, Anne-Laure (Fall)

    • Fall

  • EXMD 602 Techniques in Molecular Genetics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : Precise description of available methods in molecular genetics, and rationales for choosing particular techniques to answer questions posed in research proposals for targeting genes in the mammalian genome. Emphasis placed on analysis of regulation of gene expression and mapping, strategies for gene cloning. Course divided between lectures and student seminars.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Radzioch, Danuta (Winter)

    • Offered in conjunction with the Department of Experimental Medicine.

    • Prerequisite (Graduate): Admission by permission of instructor.

  • PHAR 504 Drug Discovery and Development 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Nobel Prize-winning discoveries as a basis for drug development.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Multhaup, Gerhard (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Prerequisites: PHAR 301 or PHAR 303; or permission of instructor

    • Restriction: U3 and graduate students. Students can register only with permission of coordinators.

  • PHAR 562 Neuropharmacology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Bowie, Derek; Trempe, Jean-Francois; Leyton, Marco; McKinney, R. Anne; Stellwagen, David; Khoutorsky, Arkady; Multhaup, Gerhard; Munter, Lisa (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Prerequisite: PHAR 301 or with permission of instructor.

    • Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.

  • PHAR 563 Endocrine Pharmacology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Pharmacology and Therapeutics : This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Bernard, Daniel; Robaire, Bernard; Trasler, Jacquetta M (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: PHAR 301 or permission of the instructor(s)

    • Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.

    • Course material will be presented in the form of lectures and student-led presentations.

  • PHAR 707 Topics in Pharmacology 6 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Topics in pharmacology.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor.

*** Complementary courses are chosen in consultation with the Research Director.

The Graduate Advisory Committee may stipulate additional coursework depending on the background of the candidate. BIOC 450 (Protein Structure and Function) and BIOC 454 (Nucleic Acids) are additional requirements for those who have not previously completed equivalent courses in their prior training. These additional courses are not counted towards the credits for this program.

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 22, 2024) (disclaimer)
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