Our Story
We are proud of the wide diversity represented in our group. Although we come from different cultural backgrounds, we share a passion for research and the joy of discovery. Our group provides a healthy and nurturing environment that allows everyone to develop to their fullest potential – and have a lot of fun along the way!
Our Approach
We enjoy our multidisciplinary approach to science. Rather than comprising sub-groups of specialists, our group gives everyone the opportunity to learn organic synthesis, protein biochemistry, tissue culture and analytical methods. We believe this broad training at the interface of chemistry and biology is ideally suited for both academia and the modern biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries.
Meet the Keillors
The Keillor group brings together skilled, passionate researchers from the fields of molecular biology to synthetic chemistry, and everywhere between!
Abdullah Akbar, PhD
BSc (Hons), Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Design, synthesis, and evaluation of transglutaminase irreversible inhibitors.
Ann Lee, NSERC summer research student
BSc (Hons) student, Biomedical sciences, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Nicole McNeil, NSERC PDF
PhD (NSERC-CGSD), Chemistry, University of Calgary
BSc (Hons), Saint FX University
Hometown: Pasadena, NL
Design, synthesis, and evaluation of transglutaminase irreversible inhibitors.
Amber Sun, Summer Research Student
BSc (Hons), Pharmocology, McGill University
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Karine Bourgeois, MSc
BSc (Hons), Chemistry, Université de Moncton
Hometown: Moncton, NB
Phamacokinetic assessment of novel targeted covalent inhibitors for human tissue transglutaminase
Kelvin Tsao, NSERC PhD
BSc (Hons), Chemical Biology, McMaster University
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Cellular protein labelling using fluorogenic dimaleimide probes following their design and synthesis.
Scott Foster, Summer Research Student
BSc (Hons), Bio-pharmaceutical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Hamilton, ON
Sydney Acton, NSERC MSc
BSc (Hons), Chemistry, University of British Columbia
Hometown: Vernon, BC
Design and synthesis of fluorogenic reagents for in-vivo protein labeling.
Het Vaishnav, Summer research student
BSc (Hons) student, Translational and molecular medicine, University of Ottawa.
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Past Keillors
Elise Pierson, MSc
BSc (Hons), Chemistry, Université de Namur
Hometown: Namur, Belgium
Kim YP Apperly, PhD
Current: PDF UOttawa
BSc (Hons), Chemistry with Bio-organic option, McGillUniversity
Hometown: Montreal, QC
Development of reversible and photolabile inhibitors for tissue transgluatminase.
Yingche Chen, PDF
Current: Chemist 1 at Apotex Pharmachem Inc.
Design of coumarin- and BODIPY-based fluorogens for intracellular labelling applications.
Nicolas Brunet-Fillion, BSc (Hons)
Current: UOttawa Med Student
BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Design and synthesis of irreversible inhibitors of extracellular hTG2
Christopher Clouthier, PhD
Current: Field Application Specialist at Hamilton Company
Sam K. Oteng-Pabi, PhD
Current: Hyasynth Bio, Montreal
Protein labelling and conjugation using bacterial transglutaminase
Sarah Eisinga
Current: Intern at Institute of Research for Immunology and Cancer Research (University of Montreal)
BSc Student, Biochemistry (Chemical Biology), University of Ottawa
Hometown: Bowmanville, ON
Synthesis of therapeutic agents that selectively inactivate human tissue transglutaminases (hTG2).
Josh Reed, BSc (Hons)
Current: Queens Med Student
BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Synthesis of clickable irreversible inhibitors for hTG2.
Mirka Strmiskova, PhD
Current: PDF UOttawa
Engineering of peptide tags for protein labelling applications.
David Hoang, Bsc (Hons)
BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Design and synthesis of a fluorogenic coumarin probe for protein labeling.
Jessica Leccese, BSc (Hons)
Current: Health Canada
BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Design and synthesis of irreversible inhibitors of intracellular hTG2
Amina Mulani, PhD
Mark Raycroft, PhD
Current: PDF UOttawa
Mechanism of maleimide addition reactions.
Karl Raccine, BSc (Hons)
Current: UOttawa Law Student
BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Studying mechanism of thiol addition to maleimides
Marie Albert, BSc (Hons)
Current: UOttawa Med Student
BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Design and synthesis of irreversible inhibitors of intracellular hTG2
Christophe Pardin, PhD
Current: Teacher at Cegep de l’ Outaouais