President and past Professor of Chemistry, Acadia University, since 1987
Kelvin Ogilvie was born in Summerville, Nova Scotia. He is currently a professor of chemistry at Acadia University and is famous for synthesizing RNA, important to many areas of medical research. He worked for 20 years before he achieved this goal at McGill University in 1987. Synthesizing RNA could lead to breakthroughs in diseases caused by viruses. In medical research, the availability of synthetic RNA is making possible the development of new drugs that were previously beyond the reach of science. These drugs will consist of RNA sequences tailor-made to attach to certain types of viruses and interfere with their ability to replicate themselves. In 1980, he also invented the automated gene synthesizer, or "gene machine," which made it possible to build DNA sequences in a matter of hours rather than months, and which he used in the synthesis of RNA. The gene machine was manufactured by Bio Logicals, Canada's first publicly traded biotechnology company, for which Ogilvie was a scientific consultant. He is the author of 12 patents and a drug called Glanciclovir, which fights the cytomegalovirus or CMV.
BSc, Acadia U., 1963; BSc (Honours), 1964; PhD, Northwestern U., 1968; DSc (Hon.), U. of New Brunswick, 1991. Prof. Dept. of Chemistry, McGill U., 1978-88; Dir., Off. of Biotechnol. 1984-87; Bd. of Dir., Bio Logicals Inc. 1980-84 (Sci. Adv. Bd. 1979-84; Cons. 1979-89); Nova Biotechnol. Inc. 1986-87. Fellowships: E.W.R. Steacie Mem. 1982-84; Chem. Inst. of Can. 1977; Candn. Pacific Prof. Biotechnol. 1984-87; Buck-Whitney Medal, E.N.Y. Section, Am. Chem. Soc. 1983; Maclean's Honour Roll 1988; Mem., Order of Canada 1991; Fisher Scientific Biotechnology Council 1989-; Nova Scotia Counc. on Appld. Sci. & Tech (CAST) 1989-; Bd. of Dir., N.S. Rsch. Found. Corp. 1990-91; Bd. of Gov. Plant Biotechnol. Inst., Sask. 1987-90; Mem., NSERC Targeted Rsch. Ctte. 1988-91; Chair, Adv. Bd., NRC Inst. for Marine Sci. 1990-;Scientific Adv. Bd., Allelix Biopharmaceuticals 1991-; Am. Assn. for Adv. of Sci., 1982-; Chem. Inst. of Can. 1961-; mem., Nat. Adv. Cmtte. on Biotech. 1989-; author 12 patents, numerous sci. pubs. 1991 Manning Principal Award.
Sources: Canadian Who's Who, 1993; Maclean's, Oct 24, 1988; NSERC
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