Drug research and development centre appoints VP for new biologics division

Vancouver, BC – The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) has announced that John Babcook will head up a new biologics division at the centre. The creation of a biologics division will provide a resource for academic investigators to pursue therapeutic innovation in a growing area of research and clinical importance.

Mr Babcook has over 20 years experience in biomedical research and biologics, as well as first-hand experience in commercializing the technologies. While working in the laboratory of Dr John Schrader at the Biomedical Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, Mr Babcook led the development of a novel strategy to generate monoclonal antibodies from single, isolated lymphocytes of defined specificities: the Selected Lymphocyte Antibody Method (SLAM^TM).

“With the addition of John Babcook to the team at CDRD, we will be able to immediately apply his vast knowledge in the rapidly growing area of biologics as we add these capabilities to our robust small molecule drug development platform. By generating panels of monoclonal antibodies to validate novel targets and develop therapeutic candidates, we will be even better positioned to create medicines that address critical unmet medical needs” said Natalie Dakers, CEO at CDRD.

Most recently, prior to joining CDRD, John Babcook was principal scientist at Amgen where he led its Burnaby lab, which specializes in creating therapeutic antibodies. In addition, he is an author of internationally recognized scientific publications, an inventor on ten patents, and has presented his work at international symposia. In 2009, Mr Babcook won the Lifesciences British Columbia “Innovation and Achievement” Award.