The Bhagirath Singh Early Career Award in Infection and Immunity 2010 Recipient

Dr. Thomas Martin Schmeing

Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec

Dr. Schmeing's research interest

Dr Schmeing's research focuses on large macromolecular machines that perform important cellular processes. One such macromolecular machine is the non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) that catalyze peptide bond formation. NRPSs do not make proteins, but rather these enzymes produce a large variety of small molecules with important and diverse biological activity. For example: NRPSs synthesize anti-fungals, anti-bacterials, anti-virals, anti-tumourigenics, siderophores, and immunosuppressants including well-known compounds such as penicillin and cyclosporin. Dr. Schmeing's research on NRPSs has the potential to produce novel antibiotic discoveries, which in turn may offer a better control over novel infections.

Dr. Thomas Martin Schmeing (center) receiving the award from current III Scientific Director, Dr. Marc Ouellette (left), and from inaugural III Scientific Director, Dr. Bhagirath Singh. The ceremony took place on October 14, 2011, at the III New Investigator Forum in Lac Delage, Quebec.