Academic Background
Welcome to the home page for the research group of Dr. Ed Krol. My lab and office are both situated on the third floor of the Health Sciences building at the University of Saskatchewan.
I accept graduate students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds in the basic sciences including chemistry, biochemistry, biology, toxicology, pharmacology, and physiology to name a few. For more information regarding graduate studies in my group, please visit the graduate studies portion of my website.
For more information contact us at ed.krol@usask.ca or (306) 966-2011.
Academic Positions
2024-2027: Group Lead, Pharmaceutical and Nutrition Sciences Research Group
2022-2023: Interim Graduate Chair (Nutrition)
2019-2020: Acting Associate Dean Academic, College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan
2018-present: Professor, College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan
2008-2018: Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan
2001-2008: Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan
2001-present: Associate Member, Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan
2001-present: Member, Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Saskatchewan
2008-present: Member, Drug Discovery and Development Research Group, University of Saskatchewan
2011-2015: Graduate Chair (Pharmacy)
2000-2001: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Brandon University
Education
BSc. 1985 (Chemistry) McMaster University
Ph.D. 1993 (Chemistry) Queen's University Supervisor: Gregory R.J. Thatcher
Postdoctoral
1994-1996: University of Illinois-Chicago, College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy Supervisor: Judy L. Bolton
1996-2000: University of Arizona, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Supervisor: Daniel C. Liebler, President Protypia LLC
Societies
Chemical Institute of Canada (1996)
Society of Toxicology of Canada (2000)
American Chemical Society (1995)
International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (2003)
Drug Metabolism Discussion Group (2020)
Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences (2005)
Association of the Chemical Profession of Saskatchewan (2018)
Association of the Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (2001)
Update 2023:
April 19
Congratulations to Omo for successfully defending his PhD " Design, synthesis and preclinical evaluation of alpha-synuclein binding 19/18Fluorine labelled bifunctional/ trifunctional agents as potential positron emission tomography imaging probes for Parkinson's Disease."
His defence was delayed a few days due to the birth of his son, so congratuations for that as well.
Update 2022:
December 14
Congratulations to Gabriel for successfully defending his PhD "Cyclization of polyphenols from natural products: Potential pharmacological and toxicological implications."
Summer 2022 Group Trip
2022 Conferences
Omo at the DMDG-SPS Joint Meeting, October 3-5, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Omo, Ed and Gabriel at CCCE in Calgary, June 2022.
Gabriel at the DMDG Early Career Meeting May 12, Nottingham, UK.
Update 2021:
Summer 2021 Group Trip
Prince Albert National Park, Height of Land Lookout (L to R): Omo, Ed, Omer, Gabriel.
Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship news
Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Omozojie Aigboun who has been awarded a Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship for 2021-2022 and will be teaching CHEM 250 in term 2.
Update 2019:
Summer 2019 Group Trip
Anglin Lake (L to R): Brigitte, Omo, Ed, Marissa, Maddy, Gabriel
Congratulations to Chukwunonso Nwabufo who defended his MSc. and convocated in June 2019 and has started a position with Gilead in Edmonton.
2018 Conferences
Omo & Ed at CSC-2018 in Edmonton
ISSX-2018 in Montreal (L to R: Frank, Ahmed, Ed & Chukwu)
Taylor-NSERC USRA Poster Day-2018
Summer 2018 Group Trip
Prince Albert National Park (L to R): Chukwu, Marissa, Taylor, Ed, Omo
Chukwu at DMDG-SPS in Sweden, October 2018
Chukwu at AAPS in Washington, DC, November 2018
Research
There are several projects ongoing in my research group.
1. We are investigating the stability, metabolism and reactivity of polyphenols. We have observed that di-catechol lignans and diphenylethanes can undergo intramolecular cyclizations under oxidizing conditions to form dibenzocyclooctadienes and dibenzocyclohexadienes. We are continuing to prepare analogues in an effort to better understand the effect that substituents play on stability, reactivity and metabolism.
2. We have prepared a number of novel bifunctional analogues designed to interact with alpha-synuclein, a protein involved in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease and are investigating their in vitro hepatic metabolism. We continue to design and prepare additional dimers to improve alpha-synuclein binding properties.
3. We are designing synthetic pathways to prepare 18F-labelled compounds as Positron Emission Tomography imaging probes for the bifunctional compounds. We are also designing photoaffinity labelling probes to investigate ligand interactions with alpha-synuclein.
Research Group
Current Group Members |
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Samira Poorsadeghi |
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Melissa Andrea Mejia Gutierrez Ph.D. Candidate (Chemistry, Co-supervisor: Dr. David Palmer) 2022- MSc. (Biomedical Sciences) Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia (2019) BSc. (Chemistry) Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia (2015) |
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Kavya Sudarasanam-NSERC-USRA (2023, 2024) BSc. Candidate (Cellular, Physiological, Pharmacological Sciences), University of Saskatchewan |
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Emjay Koller-NSERC-USRA (2024) BSc. Candidate (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan |
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Juliette Lavainne-Mitacs Globalink (2024) BSc. Candidate (Chemistry with specialization in Biochemistry), University Grenoble Alpes |
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Past Group Members |
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Omozojie Paul Aigbogun Ph.D. Candidate (Chemistry, Co-supervisor: Dr. Chris Phenix) 2017-2023 BSc. (Chemistry) Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria (2014) Current Position: PDF Vasdev Lab (Toronto) |
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Gabriel Dalio Bernardes da Silva |
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Brigitte Moser |
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Chukwunonso Kingsley Nwabufo MSc. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) 2017-2019 BSc. (Biochemistry) University of Benin, Nigeria (2015) Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate (Toronto) |
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Kevin Allen 2014-2017 |
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Ahmed Almousa |
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Kholud Algabbass MSc.(Pharmaceutical Sciences) 2012-2017 BSP (Pharmacy) |
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Yunyun Di Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) 2011-2016 |
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Leah McGurn MSc. (Toxicology) 2013-2016 BSc. (Biochemistry) University of Guelph (2013) Current Position: JD-Intellectual Property, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP |
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Isaac Asiamah Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) 2010-2014 BSc. (Chemistry) University of Cape Coast, Ghana (2000) MSc. (Pharm. Analysis and Quality Control) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana (2003) Current Position: Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Ghana |
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| Jatinder Mukker Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) University of Saskatchewan 2010-2014 BPharm, Guru Nanak Dev University-Amritsar, India (2009) |
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Sabia Maini |
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Chaojie (Jessie) Lin MSc. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) University of Saskatchewan 2010-2012 BPharm. Eng., Bejing Institute of Technology (2010) |
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Brian M. Fahlman Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) University of Saskatchewan 2003-2010 MSc. (Toxicology) University of Saskatchewan (2003) BSc. (Biochemistry) University of Regina (1999) Current Position: Cambrex, Charles City, IA |
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Katie Maloney |
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Jennifer L. Billinsky |
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Erin Boyd MSc. (Toxicology) University of Saskatchewan 2004-2007 BSc. (Biomedical Toxicology) University of Guelph (2004) |
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Farah Hosseinian Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) University of Saskatchewan 2001-2006 MSc. (Microbiology and Food Science) University of Saskatchewan (2000) BSc. (Food Science) Tehran University (1986) Current Position: Associate Professor, Carleton University |
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Melanie A. Felmlee Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences), University of Buffalo (2010) MSc. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) University of Saskatchewan 2002-2005 BSc. (Biomedical Toxicology) University of Guelph (2001) Current Position: Associate Professor, University of the Pacific |
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Undergrads |
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Kavya Sudarasanam-NSERC-USRA (2023) BSc. Candidate (Cellular, Physiological, Pharmacological Sciences), University of Saskatchewan |
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Archer Nelson-Interdisciplinary Summer Student Researcher (2023) PharmD Candidate, University of Saskatchewan |
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Vivian Truong-Summer Research Assistant (2023) PharmD Candidate, University of Saskatchewan |
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Priscila Ruiz Acosta-Mitacs Globalink (2022) BSc. (Chemist/ Pharmacist/ Biologist) Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico |
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Omer Munir-NSERC-USRA (2021) |
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Marissa Pirlot |
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Maddy Owens-NSERC-USRA (May-August 2019) |
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Taylor Kostyshyn-NSERC-USRA (2018) BSc. (Chemistry) Brandon University (2020) Current Position: DMD Candidate, University of Manitoba |
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Michael Theaker-Pharmacy & Nutrition Summer Student Researcher (May-August 2018) Co-supervisor: Roy Dobson |
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Kimberly Williams-NSERC USRA (2017) |
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Miranda Lavier-Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant (2017) |
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Chi Zhang-Chem 483 (2015-2016), Research Assistant (2017) |
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Sarah Petriew-Summer Research Assistant (2015) |
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Heather Hodgson-NSERC USRA (2011, 2012) BSP (Pharmacy) University of Saskatchewan (2017) BSc. (Biochemistry) University of Saskatchewan (2013) |
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Krista Dmytryshyn-Chem 483 (2011-2012) BSc. (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2012) BEd. University of Saskatchewan (2013) |
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Manon Hirth-Summer Intern (2010) BSc. (Toxicology), Universite de Nice-Antipolis (2011) Current Position: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Strasbourg, FR |
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Margot Klemmer-NSERC USRA (2009) MD, University of Saskatchewan (2015) BSc. (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2011) |
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Andrea Scheler-Chem 483 (2007-2008) BSc. (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2008) |
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Katie Maloney-Chem 483 (2005-2006) BSc. (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2006) |
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Courtney Wheatley-Summer Intern (2007) Ph.D., University of Arizona (2013) BS, Iowa Wesleyan College (2008) Current Position: Senior Research Fellow, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale |
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Mary Fraser-CIHR/ Rx&D Summer Studentship (2006) BSP (Pharmacy), University of Saskatchewan (2009) Current Position: CPDP/ medSask |
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Brian Wong-NSERC USRA (2006) PharmD., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy BSc. (Biochemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2009) |
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Michelle Marcoux-NSERC USRA (2004, 2005) ND, The Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine BSc. (Anatomy & Cell Biology), University of Saskatchewan (2006) Current Position: Naturopathic Doctor, True Potential Health Services, Saskatoon, SK |
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Travis Ancelet-USTEP Research Student (2005) Ph.D. (Atmospheric Chemistry), Victoria University of Wellington (NZ) (2012) MSc. (Chemistry), University of Toronto (2009) BSc. (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2007) Current Position: Senior Researcher, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, NZ |
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Curtis Rieder-Chem 483 (2004-2005) Ph.D. (Chemistry), University of Alberta (2010) BSc. (Chemistry), University of Saskatchewan (2005) Current Position: Gilead Sciences, Edmonton, AB |
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Ken Chalcraft (2004) Ph.D. (Chemistry), McMaster University (2013) MSc. (Chemistry), McMaster University (2008) BSc. (Chemistry), Brandon University (2006) |
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Melissa Dowd (2002) BSc. (Chemistry), Brandon University (2003), BSc. (Pharmacy) University of Manitoba (2007) Current Position: Pharmacist, Winnipeg, MB |
Publications
Ed S. Krol, Carlos Velazquez-Martinez, Tannis M. Jurgens and Simon P. Albon, 20204. Medicinal chemistry curriculum and pedagogical practices at Canadian pharmacy schools: Towards standardization of practice. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 16, 102095. doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2024.04.011
Omozojie P. Aigbogun, Ed S. Krol, Christopher P. Phenix, Eric Price, 2023. The Chemistry of Creating Chemically Programmed Antibodies (cPAbs): Site-Specific Bioconjugation of Small Molecules. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 20 (2), 853-874. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00821
Gabriel Bernardes, Ed S. Krol, 2023. In vitro Hepatic Metabolism of the Natural Product Quebecol. Xenobiotica, 53 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/00498254.2023.2180691
Gabriel Bernardes, Omer Munir, Ed S. Krol, 2022. The effect of diphenylethane side-chain substituents on dibenzocyclohexadiene formation and their inhibition of alpha-synuclein in vitro. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 78, 116147. doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2002.117147
Omozojie P. Aigbogun, Chukwunonso K. Nwabufo, Madeline N. Owens, Kevin J.H. Allen, Jeremy S. Lee, Christopher P. Phenix and Ed S. Krol, 2022. An HPLC-UV validated bioanalytical method for measurement of in vitro Phase 1 kinetics of α-synuclein binding bifunctional compounds. Xenobiotica, 52 (8), 916-927. doi: 10.1080/00498254.2022.2140315 Xenobiotica top ten most read in 2022 with 738 downloads.
Raj Rai, Saniya Alwani, Behlol Khan, Raja Vishwas, Stephanie Vuong, Ed S. Krol, Humphrey Fonge, Ildiko Badea, 2023. Biodistribution of nanodiamonds is determined by surface functionalization. Diamonds and Related Materials, 137, 110071. doi:10.1016/j.diamond.2023.110071
Chukwunonso K. Nwabufo, Omozojie P. Aigbogun, Kevin J.H. Allen, Madeline N. Owens, Jeremy S. Lee, Christopher P. Phenix and Ed S. Krol, 2021. Employing in vitro Metabolism to Guide Design of F-Labelled PET Probes of Novel alpha-Synuclein Binding Bifunctional Compounds. Xenobiotica, 50 (8), 885-900. doi.org/10.1080/00498254.2021.1943566
Wei Jin, Randy Purves, Ed Krol, Ildiko Badea, Anas El-Aneed, 2020. Mass Spectrometric Detection and Characterization of Metabolites of Gemini Surfactants Used as Gene Delivery Vectors. Journal of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry, 31 (2), 366-378. doi: 10.1021/jasms.9b00004
Ellen K. Wasan, Jinying Rita Zhao, Munawar Ali Mohammed, Jaweria Syeda, Jacqueline Cawthray, Joshua Poteet, Tatiana Orlowski, Chi Zhang, Brian M. Fahlman, Amanda Bunyamin, Kevin Soulsbury, Ed S. Krol, 2019. Development of a UV-Stabilized Topical Formulation of NIfedipine for the Treatment of Raynaud Phenomenom and Chilblains. Pharmaceutics, 11 (11), doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11110594
Chukwunonso K. Nwabufo, Anas El-Aneed, Ed S. Krol, 2019. Tandem Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Novel Caffeine Scaffold-Based Bifunctional Compounds for Parkinson’s disease, Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 33 (23), 1792-1803. doi: 10.1002/rcm.8540
Malcolm J. Daniels, J. Brucker Nourse, Hanna Kim, Valerio Sainati, Marco Schiavina, Maria Grazia Murrali, Buyan Pan, John J. Ferrie, Conor M. Haney, Rani Moons, Neal S. Gould, Antonio Natalello, Rita Grandori, Frank Sobbot, E. James Petersson, Elizabeth Rhoades, Roberta Pierattelli, Isabella Felli, Vladimir N. Uversky, Kim A. Caldwell, Guy A. Caldwell, Ed S. Krol, Harry Ischiropoulos, 2019, Cyclized NDGA modifies dynamic alpha-synuclein monomers preventing aggregation and toxicity, Scientific Reports, doi: 10.1038/s41598-39480-z
Ed S. Krol, Roy Thomas Dobson and Kunmi Adesina, 2019, The Association between Academic Success in a Professional Pharmacy Program and Performance in BSP and Pharm D Prerequisites at the University of Saskatchewan. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 83 (1) Article 6491.
Isaac Asiamah, Ed S. Krol, 2018, Quadrupole Linear ion-trap Mass Spectrometry Studies on Glutathione Conjugates of Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) Analogues Reveals Phenol-type Analogues are Without Reactive Metabolite-mediated Toxic Liability, Cogent Chem., doi: 10.1080/23312009.2018.1562858.
Ahmed A. Almousa, Francois Meurens, Ed S. Krol, Jane Alcorn, 2018, Linoorbitides and Enterolactone Mitigate Inflammation-induced Oxidative Stress and Loss of Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Integrity, Int. Immunopharmacol., 64, 42-51.
Lifeng Chen, Ed Krol, Meena Sakharkar, Haseeb Khan, Abdullah Alhomic and Jian Yang, 2017, Residues His172 and Lys238 are Essential for the Catalytic Activity of the Maleylacetate Reductase from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum Strain L-1, Scientific Reports, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18475-8
Yunyun Di, Shanal DeSilva, Ed S. Krol and Jane Alcorn, 2017, Flaxseed Lignans Enhance the Cytotoxicity of Chemotherapeutic Agents against Breast Cancer Cell Lines MDA-MB-231 and SKBR3, Nutrition and Cancer, 70 (2) 306-315.
David F. Blackburn, Munpreet Gill, Ed S. Krol, Jeff Taylor, 2017, Natural Health Products and Community Pharmacy – Remove the mysticism not the product. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, doi: 10.1177/0897190017708074
Yunyun Di, Shaoping Ji, Philipp Wolf, Ed S. Krol, Jane Alcorn, 2017, Enterolactone Glucuronide and beta-Glucuronidase in Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy for Targeted Prostate Cancer Cell Treatment. AAPS PharmSciTech, doi: 10.1208/s12249-017-0721-5
Joe Kakish, Kevin J.H. Allen, Troy A. Harkness, Ed S. Krol, Jeremy S. Lee, 2016, Novel Dimer Compounds That Bind alpha-synuclein Can Rescue Cell Growth in a Yeast Model Overexpressing alpha-Synuclein. A Possible Prevention Strategy fo Parkinson's Disease. ACS Chem. NeuroSci, 7 (12) 1671-1680.
Sabia Maini, Brian M. Fahlman and Ed S. Krol, 2015, Flavonols Protect Against UV Radiation-Induced Thymine Dimer Formation in an Artificial Skin Mimic, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18 (4) 600-615.
Isaac Asiamah, Heather L. Hodgson, Katherine Maloney, Ed S. Krol, 2015, Ring Substitution Influences Oxidative Cyclisation and Reactive Metabolite Formation of Nordihydroguaiaretic acid Analogues, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, 23 (21) 7007-7014.
Jatinder Kaur Mukker, Ravi S. Singh, Alister D. Muir, Ed S. Krol and Jane Alcorn, 2015, Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Purified Flaxseed and Associated Mammalian Lignans in Male Wistar Rats, British Journal of Nutrition, 113 (5) 749-757.
Jatinder Kaur Mukker, Deborah Michel, Alister D. Muir, Ed S. Krol and Jane Alcorn, 2014. Permeability and Conjugative Metabolism of Flaxseed Lignans by Caco-2 Human Intestinal Cells. Journal of Natural Products, 77(1) 29-34.
Chaojie Lin, Ed S Krol and Jane Alcorn, 2013. The Comparison of Rat and Human Intestinal and Hepatic Glucuronidation of Enterolactone Derived from Flaxseed Lignans. The Natural Products Journal, 3 (3) 159-171.
Natasha Vetter, David Langill, Shazia Anjum, Julie Boisvert, Rajendra Jagdhane, Egiroh Omene, Hongyan Zheng, Karin van Straaten, , Isaac Asiamah, Ed S. Krol, David Sanders, David Palmer, 2013. A Previously-Unrecognized Kanosamine Biosynthesis Pathway in Bacillus subtilis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135(16), 5970-5973.
Sabia Maini, Heather L. Hodgson and Ed S. Krol, 2012. The UVA and aqueous stability of flavonoids is dependent on B-ring substitution. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 60(28), 6966-6976.
Ed S. Krol and Lisa M. Krol, 2012. Referencing and Citation for Graduate Students: Gain Without Pain. Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching. 5, 65-68.
Graduate Studies
Graduate students can join my group from a wide variety of academic backgrounds in the basic sciences including chemistry, biochemistry, biology, toxicology, pharmacology and physiology to name a few. Students with nationally competitive scholarships such as NSERC or CIHR can apply to receive tuition waivers from the College.
As a graduate student in my lab you would receive training in several of the following areas:
- drug metabolism
- analytical method development
- product purification and identification
- animal studies
- organic synthesis
- physical-organic chemistry
We also utilize the NMR and MS facilities in the Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre (SSSC).
My research group holds group meetings and literature review meetings on alternate weeks throughout the year.
I am an Associate member of the Department of Chemistry and a member of the Toxicology Graduate Program. Therefore, students may also join my research group through these programs.
For information regarding application for graduate studies in the College of Pharmacy & Nutrition please click here.