Creating molecules and fighting cancer at U of T

The passion for science came at an early age for University of Toronto Mississauga’s Chemical and Physical Sciences Professor Patrick Gunning, fuelled by the gift of a chemistry set from an aunt who taught the subject.

After completing an honours undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Glasgow and post-doctoral medical chemistry research at Yale, Gunning headed to UTM where, through his work with molecule synthesis, he hopes to find a cure for cancer.

Gunning, recently named one of the Toronto Star's People to Watch in 2013,  spoke with U of T News about his research, teaching approach, and his aspirations for 2013 and beyond.

Tell us a little about your research.
My main research focus is cancer research; we’re medicinal chemists. We [his research team] design and synthesize novel anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of human cancers, particularly breast cancer, leukemia, and brain cancer. The molecules we develop bind to target proteins inside the cancer cells and elicit biological effects that lead to the cancer cell’s death. These compounds are designed so that they do not kill healthy cells but they are selective of cancer cells.

Why this career?
My aunt was a chemistry teacher and she bought me a chemistry set when I was really young. So I was interested in chemistry from a really early age, not specifically chemistry, but science in general. My other interest was art, and I was hugely interested in pursuing architecture as well in university. I was accepted to art school, but also a chemistry program at the University of Glasgow. It was a very last-minute decision, based purely on the fact that the chemistry course was four years and the architecture was seven. So I felt the four year course was more appealing. (He laughs.)

It wasn’t really until my fourth year of university that I fell in love with chemistry. I did my first research project and I loved it – I was hooked. And I decided to do my PhD in the same lab I did my undergraduate. From there I did my post doc at Yale University with Andrew Hamilton; and that was in medicinal chemistry. That really was the first time worked on making molecules that killed cancer cells; it was a hugely rewarding experience and it made me feel like the molecules I was synthesizing were of some purpose to the general populous. It made me think that what I was doing was valuable and that I could have a career in medicinal chemistry and cancer research.

What are your hopes for 2013 and beyond 2013?
The main objective is to validate STAT3 and STAT5 proteins as molecular targets for treating the cancer. Very specifically what I want to do is have to have molecules reach clinical trials against these targets and ultimately to have the STAT3 or STAT5 in the clinic either as an anti-cancer agent for leukemia, breast, or brain cancer or as adjunct therapy that can be used in conjunction with traditional chemotherapy treatments.

Another main goal is to establish the company around the IP (intellectual property) generated from my lab. There are too many things to do, but not enough time; but it’s all fun!

How does teaching compare with research?
I enjoy teaching; I teach second-year organic chemistry and fourth-year medicinal chemistry. I like the whole aspect of teaching students; how to make molecules that have never been made before and to open their eyes to the power of organic chemistry and how important it is in our modern society. And to tell them it’s not all about Breaking Bad.

How do you encourage your students?
I always consider chemistry to be another language; I consider organic chemistry a new language they have to learn and become fluent in. The only way to become better in organic chemistry is to practice. They need to work hard, because it’s not an easy subject. (He laughs.)

I try to relate in class what I’m teaching to what it’s like to be in a laboratory doing chemistry. I tell them stories about my experiences in lab. They work with paper, but it’s to show how what they learn can be physically used. I also bring my research expertise to the class to engage them and get them excited about organic chemistry; I bring in my cancer research results to show them that there is a purpose to organic chemistry and the results can be very impactful.

Why U of T?
I was made a number of offers all over the world, and I came to U of T because I liked my colleagues that were here. And I felt U of T really supported world-class research. They provided the funds that enabled me to establish world-class laboratories. U of T really gives its young faculty a head start, and I think it really supports research; for me that was the motivating aspect.