Dr. Gary D. Lopaschuk is a distinguished university professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. His research focuses on the regulation of fatty acid oxidation in the heart, and the mechanism by which high rates of fatty acid oxidation contribute to heart disease and heart failure. Dr. Lopaschuk is developing a number of therapeutic strategies that involve optimizing energy metabolism in the heart to prevent the development of heart disease and treat heart failure. His research has resulted in the publication of over 450 original research articles, and he has been recognized with awards such as the Canadian Cardiovascular Research Achievement Award, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences Research Achievement Award, and a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my research accomplishments in the area of cardiac energy metabolism in health and disease, and the development of therapeutic strategies to treat heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes that target cardiac energy metabolism. However, probably the accomplishment I am most proud of is my role in training over 80 postdoctoral fellows and students in this research area.
What are some interesting initiatives you are currently working on?
Recently, it has become clear that increasing ketone oxidation can improve cardiac function in the failing heart. We are presently examining how stimulating ketone oxidation benefits the failing heart and how therapeutic strategies that increase ketone oxidation can be used to treat the failing heart. We have also identified that an impaired oxidation of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) results in the development of cardiac insulin resistance. We are very interested in trying to understand how BCAAs are mediating this insulin resistance.
How do you think the biotechnology landscape will evolve in the near future?
I believe that that biotechnology landscape will switch to biotechnology advances being made by smaller companies and laboratories. Large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will increasingly partner with these smaller entities to hasten these biotechnology advances to market. The area of biological or cell-based therapies will also become much more prevalent, as opposed to the classical drug discovery approaches.
Who or what has been the biggest influence in your career?
The major influence in my career has been my PhD mentor, Dr. John McNeill. He first turned me on to the area of cardiac energy metabolism, and has been an important mentor and supporter throughout my career.
What UBC moment are you still talking about?
I still talk fondly about my undergraduate years in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. We had a wonderful Class of ’78, and I made many life-long friends during my four years in the BSc(Pharm) program.
Any additional details you would like to share?
My nine years in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences as a bachelors, master, and PhD student were the most formative years of my life, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of this Faculty.