Robert Young Lab

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia
What the facility does

New drug targets and delivery system

Areas of expertise

The Robert Young Lab develops molecular probes to discover and validate biological drug targets, enzyme inhibitors, biological receptor agonists and antagonists, rapid parallel synthesis, synthetic methods, structure activity relationships, molecular modeling, mass spectrometry, radioactive synthesis, drug design and optimization.

We design and synthesize small molecule probes to aid in understanding disease processes and to discover novel targets and therapies for treatment.

We characterize gene family expression in disease states, to discover and validate novel biological targets and to develop proof of concept (POC) molecules to test the benefits/liabilities of intervention at a target.

We also optimize POC molecules and leads from design or screening, through parallel synthesis, to discover potential drug candidate molecules.

Research services

Drug discovery and development, molecular probe development

Sectors of application
  • Education
  • Healthcare and social services
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment

Equipment

Function

Three (3) Agilent 1100 High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with Diode Array Detectors (DAD) and Fluorescence Detectors (FLD)

Purity analysis

Agilent 1200 preparative HPLC with DAD and Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD) detectors

Purification

Biotage Isolera Spektra One flash chromatography

Purification

Thermo -Fisher MicroModulyo freeze dryer with Savant Refrigerated Vapor Trap  

Sample concentration and drying

 Thermo-Fisher Savant SpeedVac

Sample concentration

Biotage Initiator microwave reactor

Microwave reactions

BioTek Synergy 4  Microplate Reader

Bio-assays

Matrix PlateMate 2x2

Bio-assays

Forma Scientific Cryo Fridge (-74C)

Storage of biological samples

Intermediate level radiochemical synthesis lab

Synthesis and characterization of radio-labeled compounds

Perkin-Elmer MicroBeta2 scintillation counter

Analysis of radioactive compounds

Waters 2695 Alliance HPLC with Perkin-Elmer 150TR (Time-Resolved) Flow Scintillation Analyzer

Analysis of radioactive compounds

  • Merck-Frosst Canada Ltd
  • Center for Drug Research and Development
  • Vancouver Prostate Centre
  • BC Cancer Agency
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Toronto
  • Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute/ Mount Sinai Hospital/Toronto
  • BC Genomics Sciences Centre