UHN's 2010 Inventor of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Gang Zheng, Senior Scientist, OCI, at the AGM reception on June 15.

The award, sponsored through UHN's Technology Development and Commercialization Office, is presented to a UHN researcher who has made an outstanding and inventive contribution to patient-oriented biomedical research.

Dr. Zheng's research focus involves the creation of a unique organic nanoparticle delivery platform capable of transporting cancer therapeutics directly to tumours. This technology has the potential to reduce side effects in patients due to the biocompatible nature of the nanocarriers and the targeted delivery of the drugs. UHN, in collaboration with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), has recently formed a Toronto-based biotechnology company called DLVR Therapeutics Incorporated, to rapidly advance the commercialization of this technology for the benefit of patients in Ontario and around the world. Dr. Zheng recently developed a new class of nanoparticles, called porphysomes, which convert light to heat in an energy efficient manner. When accumulated in tumours, porphysomes converted light from a laser and successfully destroyed the tumours through photoablation.

Dr. Zheng holds the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum/Brazilian Ball Chair in prostate cancer research. His work is supported by national and international granting agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, OICR, the Ministry of Research and Innovation, and the National Institutes of Health. His work has appeared in over 100 publications, including prestigious journals like Nature Materials and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Congratulations Dr. Zheng

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