¶®É«µÛ

The ¶®É«µÛ banner is flying at half-mast from July 31-August 2, 2023 in remembrance of Dr. Michael James, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine &  Dentistry.

Michael was the founder of macromolecular crystallography in Canada, a method which over the last 75 years has revealed the structures of the molecules of life at atomic detail, and provided a basis for the development of countless medical therapies. 

Michael began his long career at Alberta, beginning in 1967 as a postdoctoral fellow. Michael’s transition to proteins started immediately on his appointment to the Biochemistry faculty, with his first protein publication appearing in 1974. Within a couple of years, he had transitioned almost fully to proteins, with his seminal work on serine proteases. His publication record of over 320 peer-reviewed papers included several that laid the foundation for the understanding of acid protease mechanisms, which laid the groundwork for the breakthrough HIV therapeutics. He uncovered the basis for penicillin resistance through his work on β-lactamases, and most recently, had worked to understand how to develop new ways to target the COVID proteases. Michael had trained over 20 PhD students and 30 post-doctoral fellows, many of whom now run major laboratories across Canada and around the world. Michael was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1989 and the Royal Society of Canada in 1985, and was appointed to the Order of Canada this year.

For information about lowering the ¶®É«µÛ banner, visit the In Memoriam webpage.