Dr. Voula Kanelis

Associate Professor

Biography

Voula Kanelis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Her research focuses on Biological Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry, particularly in the study of ABC transporters and phage proteins. The lab aims to uncover the structural and functional dynamics of proteins through a blend of NMR spectroscopy and biophysical tools. ABC transporters are essential multi-domain, integral membrane proteins that play a pivotal role in the transport of solutes across biological membranes, which has significant implications in areas such as multidrug resistance in bacterial and tumor cells, as well as genetic diseases linked to mutations in specific ABC proteins. Kanelis's research includes detailed examination of the yeast Cd transporter Ycf1p and sulfonylurea receptors which have a crucial role in K+ channels. Moreover, her investigations into phage proteins, specifically the HNH endonuclease, aspire to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of phage replication and morphogenesis, contributing to the development of designer phages to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Research Interests