Who We Are

Dr. Amanda Hargrove 
Professor Amanda Hargrove is the Director of the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry and a Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair at UTM. Prof. Hargrove's research focuses on the novel drug target RNA, which is opening therapeutic avenues into myriad incurable diseases and leading to a paradigm shift in drug discovery. Using a combination of organic, biological, and computational chemistry, the interdisciplinary Hargrove lab is establishing AI-driven experimental platforms from which new RNA-targeting drugs can be rapidly developed for a range of human and infectious diseases. Hargrove has filed multiple patents based on this work and is in the process of commercialization. She is on the Scientific Advisory Board of Arrakis Therapeutics. 

Dr. Elvin de Araujo 
Dr. Elvin de Araujo is the Research Manager for the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry. His research focuses on exploring and targeting oncogenic proteins in the context of medicinal chemistry and structural biophysics. He also oversees CMC staff and trainees and facilitates their entrepreneurial growth in building spin-off companies to their value inflection point.

Dr. Patrick Gunning 
Professor Patrick Gunning is the Founder and Advisor of the CMC. His work has generated more than $40 million in investments over the past five years. He is the co-founder and CSO of Dalriada Drug Discovery and has founded three other biotech companies with over $34M in funding, including Janpix Inc, now a Centessa Pharmaceuticals’ company, Dunad Therapeutics, and Dalriada Therapeutics.

Chantal James, Administrative Assistant
With over 18 years of admin experience — and a past life in event planning, weddings, and even pastry school — Chantal’s the one who keeps things organized so the science can shine. From juggling schedules to handling the little details, she makes sure the lab runs like clockwork.

Outside of work, life is full with her three kids, who keep her on her toes more than any meeting schedule ever could. She’s traveled to 21 countries (and counting), loves baking when she can sneak it in, and proudly keeps up with all things Bravo when it’s time to relax.

Dr Quoc "Thien" Nguyen, Lab Technician
Dr. Quoc Thien Nguyen serves as the Lab Manager at Gunning Group, CMC, where he oversees day-to-day operations to ensure the smooth execution of experiments and research activities. With a background in Plant Biochemistry, Thien brings years of expertise in equipment maintenance and innovative workflow automation solutions. His meticulous attention to detail, resourcefulness, and unconventional problem-solving skills are pivotal in fostering a productive and efficient work environment for the team. Beyond the lab, Thien finds solace in the great outdoors, often hiking scenic trails, capturing moments through his lens, and embarking on adventures with his family.