David Dolphin

David H. Dolphin, born on January 15, 1940, in London, England, is a distinguished Canadian biochemist renowned for his expertise in porphyrin chemistry and biochemistry. His groundbreaking work led to the development of Visudyne, a medication that plays a crucial role in laser treatments for eye conditions, particularly the wet form of macular degeneration.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 and a Ph.D. in 1965 from the University of Nottingham, Dolphin furthered his studies as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University under the guidance of the esteemed organic chemist Robert B. Woodward. In 1966, he began his academic career as an assistant professor at Harvard, later joining the University of British Columbia in 1974, where he became the Killam Research Professor.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dolphin has held several prominent positions, including acting Dean of Science from 1988 to 1989 and acting Vice President of Research from 1999 to 2000. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the BC Innovation Council and Vice-President of Technology Development at Quadra Logic Technologies Incorporated.

His contributions to science have been recognized through numerous accolades, including being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Royal Society, the Canadian Institute of Chemistry, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. In 2006, he was honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2005, he received the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, which included a commitment of one million dollars in research funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Additionally, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.