Dr. Terry Allen
Dr. Terry Allen joined the department of Pharmacology
at the University of Alberta in 1977. Since then her research has led to
the filing of multiple patents that encompass two main areas: marine
natural products with disease fighting properties, and drug delivery
technology.
At the age of 16, Allen took up scuba diving. Her hobby
took a professional turn when she obtained a degree in oceanography and
used her diving experience to search the waters surrounding Papua New
Guinea. She discovered a marine sponge whose components led to the
isolation of an anti-inflammatory drug Contignasteral, which can be used
in asthma therapy. The product was patented and licensed through the
University of Alberta and University of British Columbia (UBC) to
Inflanzyme Pharmaceuticals. Clinical trials of the drug began in 1997 and
are currently in the second phase.
Allens other field of activity, drug delivery systems,
has led to the development of the Stealth liposome. Liposomes are cells
capable of carrying drugs through the blood to reach disease tissues, such
as tumours. Allen and her co-inventors at UBC are continuing to develop
liposomal drug therapies for cancers and infectious diseases. They are
working on ways to control the rate in which liposomes release their
drugs, and are currently testing an anti-cancer drug, also derived from a
sea sponge.
Today Allen continues to work closely with her UBC
colleagues in the area of liposomes and cancer therapy.
Much of the information on this page is from "Patent
Portraits, A Celebration of Inventions and Patents from the University of
Alberta," published in 1996 by the Office of the Vice-President (Research
and External Affairs) in collaboration with the Industry Liaison Office,
now known as the Research Services Office.
Alberta Innovation
2001 Video:Dr. Terry Allen's Lipozome Stealth Technology
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