David Dolphin facts for kids

David H. Dolphin, OC FRS FRSC (born January 15, 1940) is a famous Canadian biochemist. A biochemist studies the chemistry of living things.

He is known around the world for his knowledge of porphyrin chemistry and biochemistry. Porphyrins are important molecules found in living things, like the ones that make your blood red.

Dr. Dolphin was also a main creator of a medicine called Visudyne. This medicine helps treat an eye condition called wet macular degeneration. It works with a special laser to fix abnormal blood vessels in the eye. This can help people keep their eyesight.

Early Life and Education

David Dolphin was born in London, England, on January 15, 1940. He loved science and studied hard.

He earned his first science degree in 1962 from the University of Nottingham. He then completed his Ph.D. (a very advanced degree) in 1965 at the same university.

After that, he went to Harvard University in the United States. He worked there as a postdoctoral fellow, which means he did research after getting his Ph.D. In 1966, he became an assistant professor at Harvard.

Career in Canada

In 1974, David Dolphin moved to Canada. He joined the science faculty at the University of British Columbia (UBC). There, he became a special professor called the Killam Research Professor.

He also took on important leadership roles at UBC. From 1988 to 1989, he was the acting Dean of Science. From 1999 to 2000, he was the acting Vice President of Research.

Beyond the university, he has been a leader in other organizations. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the BC Innovation Council. He also works as the Vice-President of Technology Development at Quadra Logic Technologies Incorporated (QLT Inc.). This is the company that helped develop the eye medicine Visudyne.

Awards and Honors

David Dolphin has received many important awards for his scientific work.

He is a Fellow of several respected scientific groups:

• The Royal Society of Canada
• The Royal Society (in the UK)
• The Canadian Institute of Chemistry
• The Royal Society of Chemistry

In 2006, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive. It recognizes people who have made a big difference to Canada.

In 2005, he received the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. This award came with a promise of $1 million in research funding. This money helped him continue his important scientific studies.

In 2012, he was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. This medal honored his contributions to Canada during Queen Elizabeth II's 60th year on the throne.