- Graduate
- Undergraduate
- Research
- News & events
- About us
- Student Commons
- Contact us
- Somers Research Group
- Faculty and Staff Resources
- Next Steps
- Incoming Students
- Spring 2020 Convocation
- The Roundtable
- Conversion Therapy Survey
- Fall 2020 Convocation
- RESET Team
- Spring 2021 Convocation
- Planetary Health Research Group
Ian Tietjen
Research Assistant Professor

Ian Tietjen
Research Assistant Professor
Areas of interest
HIV, virology, drug discovery, molecular/cell biology, natural products, medicinal plants, traditional medicines
Education
- BA, Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania
- PhD, Biochemistry, Harvard University
Biography
Dr. Tietjen is a Research Assistant Professor at the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology in Philadelphia, USA. He was previously an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, and has also worked as a Group Leader in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Cardiome Pharma Corp. in Vancouver BC and a Senior Scientist at Xenon Pharmaceuticals in Burnaby, BC.
Dr. Tietjen’s research focuses on mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and drug discovery and development. He uses cell biology, genetics and high-throughput chemical screening techniques to investigate the molecular properties of HIV reservoirs and virus replication and spread. He also conducts screens of chemical compound libraries, natural products, and traditional medicines to identify and characterize new antivirals. Dr. Tietjen also engages with local communities, medicinal plant healers, and other knowledge keepers to collaboratively and sustainably document and determine the bioactivities of traditional medicines used in Southern Africa, Canada, and elsewhere.
Research interests
Dr. Tietjen’s research focuses on mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and antiviral discovery. His laboratory uses cell biology, genetics, and drug discovery techniques to investigate the molecular properties of HIV latency and replication of flaviviruses such as yellow fever and Zika. Dr. Tietjen’s laboratory also conducts screens of chemical compound libraries, natural products, and traditional medicines to identify and characterize new antivirals. Dr. Tietjen is also interested in documenting and investigating natural product and traditional medicine-based antivirals used in Southern Africa, Canada, and elsewhere.
Publications and activities
View Dr. Tietjen's publications here.
T I L