Welcome to the Gillies Research Group
Our group is part of the Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, and the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Western Ontario
Dr. Elizabeth. R Gillies
BSc, Queen’s University, 2000
PhD, University of California, Berkeley, 2004
Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Bordeaux, France (2004-2006)
Dr. Gillies leads a research program in smart materials and biomaterials spanning from
fundamental discoveries to applications with a focus on polymer chemistry and the
design and synthesis of materials with new properties and functions. She is
collaborating with other research groups to explore applications of her materials
in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and agriculture.
Awards
- NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, 2017
- Florence Bucke Prize in Science, 2017
- Fallona Interdisciplinary Science Award, 2016
- Faculty Scholar, Western University, 2016-2018
- Petro Canada Young Innovator Award, Western University, 2012
- Early Researcher Award, Government of Ontario, 2008-2013
- Tier 2 Canada Research Chair, Government of Canada, 2006-2016
- John Charles Polanyi Prize, Government of Ontario, 2006
Research Focus
I. Functional Biodegradable Polymers
Biodegradable polymers are of increasing interest for a wide range of applications including
tissue engineering, drug delivery, and medical devices. We have been developing biodegradable
polymers that degrade by novel mechanisms, potentially allowing for unprecedented control over
the degradation rate and for the triggering of polymer degradation under specified conditions.
For example, we are developing new "self-immolative" polymer backbones, which depolymerize by
an end-to-end mechanism upon the cleavage of a stimuli-responsive end-cap from the polymer
terminus. We are studying their depolymerization and exploring their potential for various
applications.
We are also developing poly(ester amide)s and using them to prepare drug delivery vehicles and tissue engineering scaffolds.
II. Macromolecular Assemblies as Biomaterials
Recent developments in controlled polymer synthesis, and the imaging of polymeric assemblies provide
access to a wide variety of systems ranging from hydrogels to micelles, worms, vesicles, and nanoparticles.
The properties of these systems can be controlled by the structures of the constituting polymers, and the
conditions under which they are assembled. The potential applications of polymeric assemblies in biology and
medicine are very diverse ranging from the delivery of small molecules, proteins, and DNA in vivo, to their
use as scaffolds for tissue engineering.
To realize the potential for polymeric assemblies in medical applications, significant progress is still
required to control their behaviour, particularly in vivo under biological conditions. Here we are focusing
on preparing new functional and biodegradable polymers, and using these to make polymer assemblies with controlled
biological behaviour. In addition, we are working on functionalizing polymer assemblies with specific chemical units,
either to control their localization in the body or to impart specific biological properties. Assemblies of self-immolative
and other stimuli-responsive assemblies allow us to trigger the assembly and disassembly of these materials in a controlled
manner.
III. Links To Works
Positions in the group
Positions:
Contact Beth to hear more info about the research in our group
Masters and PhD Positions:
Please feel free to contact Beth if you are interested in joining
the group. Admissions to the graduate program in Chemistry or Chemical
and Biochemical Engineering at Western are handled by the admission’s
committee. Detailed information on admissions requirements is available
on the departmental websites at
http://apply.chem.uwo.ca/
for chemistry or
http://www.eng.uwo.ca/chemical/prospect-grad.htm
for chemical engineering
Postdoctoral Positions:
Interested applicants should send a copy of their current CV via either e-mail or regular mail