David J Vocadlo

David J. Vocadlo is a Canadian chemical biologist. He is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Chemical Glycobiology and Professor of Chemistry at Simon Fraser University.

Early life and education Vocadlo was born in Brantford, Ontario, to a Czech father and a Finnish mother who met in Canada. Due to his father's job, Vocadlo lived overseas and in Montreal and Vancouver. He originally enrolled at the University of British Columbia with the intent on becoming an architect but switched to majoring in chemistry and biology. Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, Vocadlo worked as a research assistant in the Biotechnology Laboratory at UBC which prompted him to continue his research. His thesis The catalytic mechanism of retaining [beta]-glycosidases earned him the 2003 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Doctoral Prize. As a Canada Research Chair in chemical glycobiology, Vocadlo synthesized a sugar-like molecule that helps inhibit the progression of Alzheimer's-like symptoms in mice. His work then expanded to focus on understanding and manipulating the enzymes that assemble and break down these glycoconjugates.

By 2010, Vocadlo became the co-founder of Alectos Therapeutics Inc., a molecule drug company and was recognized with a Top 40 Under 40 Award. The following year, he also a recipient of a 2011 E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship for his investigative research. He was also re-appointed to his role as a Canada Research Chair in Chemical Glycobiology and named to the inaugural cohort of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

Personal life Vocadlo and his wife Krystyna have two children together.