John L. Wallace
Encyclopedia
John L. Wallace, PhD, MBA, FRSC
, (born September 25, 1956) is a medical scientist and director of the Farncombe Institute
at McMaster University
. He is the 2009 recipient of the Premier's Summit Award in Innovation, Canada's largest value research award (C$5 million; US$4.8M) aimed at supporting the work of an individual scientist. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
, a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
and a fellow of the British Pharmacological Society
.
. He is also researching the causes of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) in the hope of developing improved therapies or a cure.
to treat inflammation
, particularly intestinal injury and dysfunction. Dr. Wallace has published more than 350 peer-reviewed papers and is among the top 0.5 percent of biomedical scientists worldwide in citations using the h-index
.
From 2003-2009, Dr. Wallace was a Professor of Pharmacology
and Therapeutics at the University of Calgary
where he held the Canada Research Chair in Inflammation. In 2005, he acted as an invited expert for the US Food and Drug Administration
's review of COX-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx.
Dr. Wallace graduated from Queen's University with his BSc and MSc and received his PhD from the University of Toronto
. He completed his post-doctoral studies under Dr. Brendan Whittle, Sir John Vane and Sir Salvador Moncada
at Wellcome Research Laboratories in the UK. From 1986-1989, he was an Assistant Professor at Queen’s University. In 1989, he joined the University of Calgary
, where he founded the Inflammation Research Network and held the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada Chair in Intestinal Disease Research.
Dr. Wallace co-founded NicOx
in 1996, creating the first pharmaceutical company to commercialize gaseous mediator technology. Dr Wallace was chair of NicOx’s Scientific Advisory Board from 1996-2003, which include Nobel Laureates Bengt Samuelsson and Louis Ignarro
. This board played an important role in overseeing the development of nitric oxide-releasing NSAIDs. He is also the founder of Antibe Therapeutics
, which is developing a gaseous mediator drug development platform based on hydrogen sulfide
.
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, (born September 25, 1956) is a medical scientist and director of the Farncombe Institute
Farncombe Institute
The Farncombe Institute is a Canadian medical research institute focussed on an integrative medicine approach to gastrointestinal health and disease. John L. Wallace is the director of the institute, which has a team of over 100 people, including fourteen senior researchers....
at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. He is the 2009 recipient of the Premier's Summit Award in Innovation, Canada's largest value research award (C$5 million; US$4.8M) aimed at supporting the work of an individual scientist. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
Brazilian Academy of Sciences
The Brazilian Academy of Sciences is the national academy of Brazil. It is headquartered in the city of Rio de Janeiro and was founded in 1916....
and a fellow of the British Pharmacological Society
British Pharmacological Society
The British Pharmacological Society is the professional association for pharmacologists in the UK.The society was formed when a group of pharmacologists met in Oxford, UK in 1931. The learned society aims to further education within Pharmacology and also organizes meetings of the world's most...
.
Research Focus
Dr. Wallace's current research focuses on the mechanisms of internal injury induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other anti-inflammatory drugs. In parallel, Dr. Wallace has been investigating the factors that regulate and promote healing of ulcersPeptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
. He is also researching the causes of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) in the hope of developing improved therapies or a cure.
Career
Dr. Wallace career has centred on the use of gaseous mediatorsGaseous mediators
Gaseous mediators are chemicals that are produced in small amounts by some cells of the mammalian body and have a number of biological signalling functions. There are three so-far-identified gaseous mediator molecules: nitric oxide , hydrogen sulfide , and carbon monoxide ....
to treat inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
, particularly intestinal injury and dysfunction. Dr. Wallace has published more than 350 peer-reviewed papers and is among the top 0.5 percent of biomedical scientists worldwide in citations using the h-index
H-index
The h-index is an index that attempts to measure both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. The index is based on the set of the scientist's most cited papers and the number of citations that they have received in other publications...
.
From 2003-2009, Dr. Wallace was a Professor of Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
and Therapeutics at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
where he held the Canada Research Chair in Inflammation. In 2005, he acted as an invited expert for the US Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
's review of COX-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx.
Dr. Wallace graduated from Queen's University with his BSc and MSc and received his PhD from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He completed his post-doctoral studies under Dr. Brendan Whittle, Sir John Vane and Sir Salvador Moncada
Salvador Moncada
Sir Salvador Enrique Moncada, FRS, FRCP, FRCS is a Honduran-British physician and pharmacologist. He is the husband of Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium, who is a member of the Belgian Royal Family.-Background:...
at Wellcome Research Laboratories in the UK. From 1986-1989, he was an Assistant Professor at Queen’s University. In 1989, he joined the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, where he founded the Inflammation Research Network and held the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada Chair in Intestinal Disease Research.
Dr. Wallace co-founded NicOx
NicOx
NicOx S.A. is a French pharmaceutical company. Its headquarters are at Sophia Antipolis...
in 1996, creating the first pharmaceutical company to commercialize gaseous mediator technology. Dr Wallace was chair of NicOx’s Scientific Advisory Board from 1996-2003, which include Nobel Laureates Bengt Samuelsson and Louis Ignarro
Louis Ignarro
Louis J. Ignarro is an American pharmacologist. He was corecipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Robert F...
. This board played an important role in overseeing the development of nitric oxide-releasing NSAIDs. He is also the founder of Antibe Therapeutics
Antibe Therapeutics
Antibe Therapeutics is a Toronto-based pharmaceutical research and development company developing inflammation-reducing drugs. The conceived mechanism of action is to deliver a gaseous mediator, specifically hydrogen sulfide to sites of inflammation or injury within the human body. Hydrogen...
, which is developing a gaseous mediator drug development platform based on hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
.