Masad J. Damha BSc, PhD

Masad Jose Damha was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua and emigrated to Canada in 1978. He attended McGill University, completing a B.Sc. in Chemistry (’83) and then a Ph.D. (’87) in Organic Chemistry there with Professor Kelvin K. Ogilvie. His doctoral thesis focused on the synthesis and conformational analysis of nucleic acids (RNA). He was awarded an NSERC PDF in 1987 but declined the honor in favor of an Assistant Professorship at the University of Toronto’s Erindale College (UTM). In 1992, he returned to his Alma Mater, whereas Distinguished James McGill Professor of Chemistry, he is working in the field of bio-organic and bio-medicinal nucleic acid chemistry. His research is bearing fruit in the development of new therapeutic drugs based on protein and RNA targeting. With his students, he has authored more than 190 publications, and filed/received several patents worldwide.

In 1999, Professor Damha co-founded Anagenis, Inc. – a start-up company with proprietary antisense technologies. Currently, Prof. Damia's FANA technology is exclusively licensed to AUM LifeTech, whereas his RNA ‘chip’ (microarray) chemistries are being commercialized by ChemGenes Corporation. Prof. Damha is President of the International Society of Nucleosides, Nucleotides, and Nucleic Acids (IS3NA). He recently served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry (2013-2018), Associate Vice-Principal (Research & International Relations) at McGill (2010-2011), Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemistry (McGill; 2000-2010), and as Member and Chair of the NSERC Grant Selection Committee (GSC24; 2007-2009). He also served as President of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutic Society (2012-2014), and as Treasurer of the IS3NA (2008-2016).