2003 winners of the Distinguished Academics Awards

David Dolphin has worked throughout his career on compounds call porphyrins (pronounced POUR-fur-ins). Porphyrins are pigments found in both animal and plant life. They are involved in the formation of many important substances in the body including hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.

Dr. Dolphin used his ability to synthesize these compounds to create a porphyrin to absorb a specific wavelength of light. When injected into tissue and exposed to laser light, this compound was found to be effective in killing skin cancer cells.

In the course of clinical trials, it was discovered that the compound, called Visudyne today, also stopped the growth of new blood vessels, thus closing down the nutrient source for the cancer cells.

This unintended effect proved effective in treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The “wet” version of this disease results in spontaneous growth of new blood vessels in the retina of the eye, which kills off the normal cells, thereby causing blindness. By using Visudyne and laser light to stop the growth of new blood vessels, vision is preserved.

The clinical trials of Visudyne to treat AMD — the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 50 in the Western world — were successful and the treatment has now been approved for use in 70 countries. The causes of AMD are unknown, but thanks to David Dolphin’s work in creating Visudyne, millions of people worldwide will be able to keep their sight.

Keith Slessor credits his long fascination with science to his high-school chemistry teacher in Ladysmith, B.C. The long-time Maple Ridge resident has turned that fascination into a distinguished career as a teacher and researcher.

Dr. Slessor’s research has focussed mainly on the identification and synthesis of insect pheromones. His research has resulted in methods of monitoring pest populations and forecasting potential outbreaks.

His honours include the Science Council of B.C. Gold Medal for the Natural Sciences in 1992 and the E.C. Manning Award for Innovation in 1997, both of which he shared with SFU Biologist Mark Winston (himself the 2001 CUFA/BC Academic of the Year) for their work in using pheromones to boost honey production in bees — a line of research inspired by Dr. Slessor’s father’s hobby of bee keeping.

Dr. Slessor has always looked beyond the boundaries of his academic field for new ideas. It was this desire that resulted in his creating SFU’s Science 300 course to foster an appreciation in non-scientists of the role and importance of science in our society. He is also working with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to promote research projects that cross the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines.