Dr. John Lawrence Wallace is a world-renowned medical scientist and distinguished leader in pharmacological research with significant contributions to inflammation science and drug development. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Physiology & Pharmacology at the University of Calgary, maintaining additional academic appointments at the University of Toronto and University Camilo Castelo Branco in São Paulo, Brazil. Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1956, Wallace completed his education at Queen's University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Birmingham, establishing a robust foundation for his interdisciplinary career spanning both academic and commercial domains. His professional journey has been marked by visionary leadership, including founding the Inflammation Research Network at the University of Calgary and serving as inaugural director of the Farncombe Institute at McMaster University, where he cultivated collaborative research environments that continue to advance gastrointestinal science.
Dr. Wallace's pioneering research has revolutionized our understanding of gastrointestinal inflammation and the mechanisms of injury induced by anti-inflammatory medications, with particular focus on mediators of inflammation and their contribution to mucosal injury and dysfunction. His groundbreaking work developing GI-sparing anti-inflammatory drugs has led to innovative therapeutic approaches that maintain efficacy while significantly reducing gastrointestinal side effects, addressing a critical unmet need in pharmacological treatment. As the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Antibe Therapeutics Inc., established in 2004, he has spearheaded the development of ATB-346, a promising drug candidate currently in phase 2 clinical trials for osteoarthritis treatment. With over 450 peer-reviewed publications, 100 book chapters, and more than 51,000 citations, his research places him among the top 0.5% of biomedical scientists globally, demonstrating extraordinary scholarly impact and scientific influence.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Wallace has profoundly shaped the landscape of inflammation science through his leadership in major professional organizations and research networks that have accelerated discovery across multiple institutions. His recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society attests to his international standing and scholarly excellence. The prestigious Heymans Foundation Memorial Medal awarded in 2013, previously given to six Nobel Laureates, underscores the transformative nature of his contributions to medical science, while his 2009 receipt of Canada's Premier's Summit Award in Innovation (C$5 million) highlighted the exceptional value of his research. Currently directing Antibe Therapeutics' scientific vision, he continues to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application, driving the development of novel anti-inflammatory therapies that promise to revolutionize treatment paradigms for millions of patients worldwide.
