Tolulope Gbadebo

Chemistry doctoral student in the Faculty of Science

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I am deeply passionate about solving problems, especially those that seem nearly impossible. My motivation lies in delivering solutions and creating alternatives that help people live healthier lives, and chemistry has been a powerful means of pursuing these goals. My career began in FMCG R&D, where I developed and maintained personal and household care products for consumers in emerging markets across sub-Saharan Africa. I later had the opportunity to contribute to research and development projects in the Middle East and North Africa, serving a much larger and more diverse market.

Driven by a long-standing aspiration that began during my master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry, I decided to pursue a PhD in Chemistry, focusing on the development of clinically potent anticancer compounds. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to ending the global burden of cancer. Through a partnership with a local biopharma company in Vancouver, I am currently interning under an alliance project where I contribute to the synthesis of over 100 highly potent compounds. I also lead the cellular uptake studies of these compounds using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP MS).

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I chose to study here after thoroughly reviewing numerous academic papers in my field of interest and recognizing the high quality of research conducted in the chemistry department at Simon Fraser University. I aspire to become a subject matter expert in medicinal chemistry and to build on my foundational experience in developing synthetic compounds, as well as characterizing and evaluating them in vivo and in vitro as potential treatments for life-threatening diseases.

I was particularly drawn to the research techniques used in Professor Charles Walsby’s laboratory, which involve inorganic synthesis, chemical biology, and spectroscopy to relate the structures of metal–ligand compounds to their reactivity. The range of scholarship opportunities available at SFU for graduate studies, including the Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship, also played a significant role in my decision to study here.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

At SFU, I am working in a research laboratory developing potential drug candidates that could stop cancer. Although there are clinically approved drugs for cancer treatment, many of them suffer from toxicity, drug resistance, and poor selectivity toward cancer cells. My focus is to use diverse chemical reactions to modify any potent compounds we identify, improving their selectivity so they target and kill cancer cells only, without harming healthy cells. We begin by determining which parts of our compounds are essential for potency or responsible for toxicity, and then we design improved compounds based on these findings.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Metal complexes, Inorganic cancer therapeutics, Cellular uptake

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

The RA-ship I have benefited from, based on the internship opportunity, has immensely broadened my knowledge and sharpened my skills in the drug development field. Exposure to high-throughput screening techniques and discussions with industry experts about the results and findings have been an intriguing and rewarding experience.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I have been a recipient of the Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship (SGES), Dean’s Graduate Fellowship, and the Barbara and James Bennet Graduate Award in Chemistry. Benefitting from these scholarships has been a monumental achievement. It has fueled my ability to make continuous, tangible progress in my academic journey at SFU.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I am an enthusiastic piano learner.

Contact Tolulope:tolulope_gbadebo@sfu.ca

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