Bench‑Top to Bedside

Dr.Weaver accepts his award at BioNova's Celebration of Excellence(Stephen Smith, photo)

Adding to a long resume of noted accomplishments, DalhousieÕs Donald Weaver has been recognized by his peers at BioNova with their 2006 Research Excellence Award.  BioNova Ð the Nova Scotia Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry Association Ð presented Dr. Weaver with the award at their annual Celebration of Research Excellence on April 26 in Halifax.

Dr. Weaver, who holds the Canada Research Chair in neuroscience at Dalhousie and is professor of Clinical Neurology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, is grateful for the honour.  ÒOur work is very oriented to commercialization and producing drugs that actually make it to people,” he says.  ÒThis award provides recognition of the direction weÕre taking and because of that we are very appreciative.”

The direction that Dr. Weaver speaks of is based on his Òbench-top to bedside” philosophy of drug design, ensuring that the drug treatments he and his colleagues create go beyond the academic world and reach patients who need them.  ÒMy main goal here at Dal is research that is clinically relevant,” he explains. ÒI like to think I practice medicine at the molecular level.”

Dr. WeaverÕs work has led to 97 patent filings, publication of almost 200 articles in scientific journals and the start-up of three life sciences companies.  He has also been profiled in New Scientist magazine.

The majority of Dr. WeaverÕs research focuses on producing drugs to treat chronic neurological disorders, in particular epilepsy and AlzheimerÕs disease. ÒTelevision likes to say that space is the final frontier,” he comments. ÒBut we think the inner mind is the real final frontier.  Studying epilepsy and AlzheimerÕs permits us to gain fundamental answers about the brain, the mind and human consciousness.” 

With existing drugs for both diseases targeting only symptoms, Dr. Weaver is working to develop drug treatments that can solve or prevent the disorders completely.  He has two new drugs on their way to FDA approval and is partnering on new projects with DalhousieÕs Department of Psychiatry and the National Research CouncilÕs Institute for Bio Diagnostics.

BioNova presents the Research Excellence Award annually to a member of the research community who has made outstanding contributions to the growth of the life sciences industry in Nova Scotia. ÒDon Weaver is an example of the combination of researcher and entrepreneur that has created the life sciences industry,” said Marli MacNeil, BioNovaÕs Chief Executive Officer, in a release from the organization.  ÒWeÕre fortune to have someone of his calibre working in our community.”