Dr. Martin Boulanger (biochemistry and microbiology) studies the structural interactions between proteins, such as the interactions between microbial pathogens and their hosts. His specialty has many applications, and projects are wide-ranging. One of his projects involves the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which causes the flu-like disease toxoplasmosis.

Although toxoplasmosis is generally mild, it is still an important disease to treat in Canada. It can be fatal to AIDS patients, and it is also a serious concern for pregnant mothers: infected fetuses can have permanent brain damage. In 1995, Victoria’s water supply was contaminated with T. gondii, and more than 100 people, including 12 newborns, were infected.

Boulanger explains, “My current research includes defining the structural basis of how eukaryotic pathogen engage host cells, elucidating the mechanisms by which pathogens are transmitted by insect vectors and designing and developing structure based inhibitors against cancer targets.”

The road to UVic

Boulanger received his PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2002 for his work on engineering bacterial enzymes to improve their ability to remove toxic nitrogen species from the environment. He then accepted an NSERC post-doctoral fellowship to study the structural basis of cell signalling molecules at Stanford University Medical School. Following his tenure as a post-doc, he joined Affinium Pharmaceuticals in Toronto as a senior scientist, where he applied structural and biophysical techniques to developing antimicrobial therapeutics.

Learn more about Dr. Boulanger’s research.