Dr. Chris Brandl appointed as Acting Chair, Department of Biochemistry

Dr. Chris Brandl has been appointed as Acting Chair, Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Dr. Brandl graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 1981 from Western University. He received his PhD in Biochemistry in 1987, from The University of Toronto. Following post-doctoral training in the Department of Biological Chemistry at Harvard Medical School in Boston he was recruited as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Western University in 1990. Dr. Brandl's previous administrative experience includes Acting Chair, Department of Biochemistry (2005-2006); Director, Western University MD/PhD program (1995-2004); Undergraduate Chair, Department of Biochemistry (2001-2004, 2007-2008); and Graduate Chair, Department of Biochemistry (1997-1999).

Dr. Brandl has supervised more than 20 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and has published more than 50 scientific manuscripts. His research involves mechanisms of transcriptional regulation using yeast as a model system to facilitate the combination of biochemical, molecular genetic and genetic techniques. His principal focus is determining the structure-function relationships and regulation of the SAGA complex that regulates transcription through the modification of chromatin structure. Currently his work centres on Tra1, a 430 kDa component of the complex that is related to a group of key cellular protein kinases.

Dr. Brandl was the recipient of the Partners In Research Biomedical Science Ambassador Award (2013), Dean's Award of Excellence, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (2010) and the Department of Biochemistry Nominee for The Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching (1997).