By Carolyn Farrell

Professor Warren Chan (IBBME) has been awarded the 2009 International Dennis Gabor Award by the NOVOFER Foundation for Technical and Intellectual Creation. This prestigious international award recognizes young researchers who have made a significant contribution to scientific fields inspired by the achievements of Dennis Gabor, such as optics, laser technology and medical imaging.

A Canada Research Chair in Bionanotechnology, Professor Chan has been conducting foundational research in the field of nanomedicine since he was a graduate student. Published in Science in 1998 as part of his PhD research, his paper entitled “Quantum dot bioconjugates for ultrasensitive nonisotopic detection” has been cited over 1,700 times and has served as a springboard for research in this field. He was recognized for this seminal work with the Lord Rank Prize in Optoelectronics in 2006. The focus of Professor Chan’s current research is the use of quantum dots to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“I am delighted that Warren Chan’s leadership in the field of bionanotechnology has been recognized by the NOVOFER foundation,” said Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. “While still early in his career, he is a pioneer in the use of quantum dots as diagnostic agents, and I have no doubt that many more great discoveries lie ahead of him.”

Professor Chan was presented with his award at a ceremony in the Parliament of the Hungarian Republic on December 17, 2009.