My passion for research as a Health Innovation and Translational Researcher at UNB is fueled by the opportunity to bridge the gap between fundamental discoveries and real-world clinical applications that can directly benefit patients. The complexity of blood cancers demands an interdisciplinary approach integrating molecular biology, drug discovery, and translational science to develop personalized medicines. Collaborating with experts across universities/disciplines, from chemists, bioinformaticians, and patient partners to clinicians, allows me to design and refine nature-inspired therapies, such as bee-glue-derived compounds, with the potential to provide more targeted and effective treatments for cancer patients. This dedication has led me to be the first-named inventor of seven successfully granted patents, underscoring my commitment to transforming novel discoveries into tangible solutions that could one day improve cancer care globally.

Beyond the science itself, I find immense fulfillment in training and mentoring curious and enthusiastic undergraduate and medical students. Their curiosity and fresh perspectives bring new energy to my research cluster, driving creativity and scientific exploration. Watching them grow into independent researchers and critical thinkers reinforces my dedication to advancing cancer research and shaping the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals. This commitment earned me recognition as the New Brunswick Health Research Champion Mentor Award (2024) recipient, reflecting my passion for fostering young talents and next-generation researchers building a collaborative research culture to improve patient outcomes.

Is there a defining moment or discovery that solidified your commitment to this field?

A key defining moment in my research journey was discovering the potent anti-cancer effects of CAPE derivatives/bee glue molecules in preclinical blood cancer models. Seeing a potent, nature-inspired compound with no adverse effects on normal cells effectively inhibit the growth of aggressive, chemo-resistant blood cancer cells reinforced my belief in translational research and personalized medicine approach for developing therapies tailored to individual patient profiles rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This discovery led to multiple patents, expanded collaborations, and a renewed commitment to bringing these findings closer to clinical applications, where they could one day offer new hope for patients with limited treatment options.

Entwined with this moment is the valuable opportunity of being a mentor witnessing my first cohort of undergraduate and graduate research students apply their knowledge to real-world research questions that have the potential to impact patient care. Their excitement when making a new finding/discovery in my translational research cluster and their commitment to contribute and co-author publications such as the American Chemical Society Editors’ Choice Article, strongly reminds me why I chose this path.

Dr. Alli Murugesan’s Research Links:

• NHS Faculty Member, Dr. Alli Murugesan, a Health Innovation and Translational Cancer Researcher, has won the 2024 Health Research Champion Mentor Award from Recherche NB Research NB.

• Global’s Eilish Bonang speaks to Dr. Alli Murugesan about being granted a Canadian patent for a novel, potentially life-saving myeloma cancer drug candidate modeled after a naturally occurring component found in “bee glue”.