Our Group

Prof. Sherri A. McFarland earned a BA in Chemistry from Hendrix College in 1996 (mentor: Prof. Tom Goodwin) and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California San Diego in 2003 (mentor: Prof. Nat Finney). Her PhD thesis involved the preparation and photophysical characterization of organic and inorganic compounds as luminescent chemosensors for ion and molecule recognition. Prof. McFarland then moved to Canada and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dalhousie University (2003-2005) with Profs. Norm Schepp and Fran Cozens where she used femtosecond laser spectroscopy to study the ultrafast photophysical dynamics of transition metal complexes. Prof. McFarland started her independent career at Acadia University, a primarily undergraduate university in Canada. While at Acadia, she established a multidisciplinary cancer research program in the area of photomedicine, working closely with undergraduates, MSc students, and research staff. In 2011, she partnered with Theralase Technologies, Inc. to develop photodynamic compounds for treating cancer with PDT (learn more about TLD1433) and in 2012, she co-founded (with Dr. Colin Cameron) a biotech start-up PhotoDynamic, Inc. to commercialize a photoactive antimicrobial natural product extract for dentistry (learn more about PhytoLight). In 2016, Prof. McFarland and her research group relocated to the US, where they continue to be heavily involved in translational research that has resulted in 4 human clinical trials to date (3 completed, 1 underway).

Dr. Colin G. Cameron earned his B.Sc. from the University of Ottawa. He was awarded his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2000, having researched the interactions of Ru and Os atoms as part of the π-expansive environment of conducting polymers as a way to increase rates of charge transport in electrocatalysts and other energy conversion systems. In 2002, Colin completed a post-doc appointment at Caltech’s Molecular Materials Research Center, having worked on artificial muscles and other forms of materials-based actuation.

Colin continued working in materials-based actuation as a government scientist working from the Naval Dockyard in Halifax, NS, contributing to a project to create warship engine mounts with active vibration cancellation. Over the years his research expanded to include electrochemical supercapacitors, lead-acid batteries, electrochromic coatings, and corrosion-resistant paints for aircraft. He invented and patented a buoyancy engine, managed the fuels and lubricants testing laboratory, and became a self-taught expert in the performance of polymeric materials and failure investigations.

In 2012 Colin and Sherri founded PhotoDynamic, Inc. to commercialize a plant extract that becomes a potent antibiotic when activated by light. Targeting the oral health sector, the company is currently running its second human clinical trial, and will release its first commercial product PhytoLight in early 2021. Colin continues in his role with the company as VP Engineering, shepherding the device development aspect of the technology to commercialization.

Having worked with the McFarland group on a casual basis for nearly a decade, Colin decided to pivot his career and devote himself fully to the group’s fight against cancer. His knowledge of Ru and Os complexes of π-expansive molecules, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry are being put to work to advance the field of photodynamic therapy.

Dr. Abbas Vali obtained his B.Sc. in chemical engineering from the Isfahan University of Technology (IUT) and then he started to work as a process engineer in sodium chloride and carbon black industries. Then, he obtained his M.Sc. in chemical engineering (nanotechnology) from the Sahand University of Tabriz (SUT) and he spent several years to work as a process engineer in the carbon black industry.

He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Texas at Arlington under the supervision of Prof. Krishnan Rajeshwar. His research project focused on silver and copper-based oxide semiconductors for solar energy conversion processes. In the course of his Ph.D. work he developed two synthetic techniques, electrodeposition and electrothermodeposition for synthesizing silver and copper vanadate thin films on a conducting substrate.

Abbas joined the McFarland Group to apply his knowledge of electrochemistry and photo-electrochemistry to improve our understanding of the fundamental photophysics and energetics involved in optimizing photosensitizer development for PDT.

Alisher earned his Specialist Degree in Chemical Technology of Modern Energetic Materials from Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University) in 2021. He is currently studying synthesis, design and characterization of new Ru(II)-based coordination complexes as a prospective photosensitizers

Gurleen earned her B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Panjab University in 2017 and M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Guru Nanak Dev University in 2019. She is currently studying the effects of novel Ru(II) and Os(II)-based photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT).

Ge Shi obtained her B.S. in Biology from Acadia University in 2010 and worked as a Research Assistant in Dr. McFarland’s Laboratory until 2016. Her work focused on drug discovery, synthesizing and developing mononuclear and dinuclear Ru(II) and Os(II) complexes as PDT agents. She came back home to the McFarland group in 2021 as a Research Assistant in our microbiology facility, and is now pursuing her Ph.D. in the biological evaluation of metallodrug photosensitizers.

Dalton graduated with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2023. His current role is the design, synthesis, and characterization of Ru(II)-based photosensitizers. Prospective work includes focus on ligand design and expanding a new library of Ru(II) coordination complexes to improve selectivity and photocytotoxicity in cancer cells.