Thomas D. Madden, PhD / bio*
Acuitas lipid structures protect therapeutic molecules on their journey to human cells https://t.co/vAXbVQ7MA6
— George Atherton (@notrehta) November 19, 2020
likened to “a delivery system that wraps up a fragile ornament, shields it on a bumpy journey and then finds your house, opens the front door and unwraps the package“ pic.twitter.com/TtuCxh7ApX
Madden’s path to this moment began in the working-class neighbourhood of Clapham in London, where he lived above a pub run by his Irish immigrant parents.
He completed a BSc and a PhD in biochemistry at the University of London in 1980 and began searching for a fellowship opportunity to continue his training.
“I had always wanted to come to North America, so I applied to work with Pieter Cullis* at UBC,” he said. “I had no idea what Vancouver was like, I barely knew where it was.”
Once Madden arrived it was soon apparent he would not be going back to England anytime soon, “not once I realized what a paradise it is.”
Madden met the woman who would become his wife — family physician Dr. Linda Tai — at UBC while she was a graduate student in the same research group. They have raised twins — a boy and a girl.
Over the years, Madden has founded a number of companies based on his research successes.
At Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, he led the development of anticancer drugs, including Marqibo, Alocrest and Brakiva.
Earlier this year, Madden was made a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering for his work in the field of nucleic acid delivery.*