Dr. Vladimir Titorenko

Concordia University Research Chair in Genomics, Cell Biology, and Aging (Tier 2)
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science

Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics
vtitor@alcor.concordia.ca

Born and raised in the former Soviet Union, Vladimir Titorenko received both a BSc and MSc in biochemistry from Lvov University in the Ukraine. He then moved to Moscow to undertake a PhD in genetics at the Institute of Genetics. He subsequently completed two post-doctoral fellowships, the first at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, and the second at the University of Alberta. Dr. Titorenko joined the faculty in Concordia’s Department of Biology in 2002.

Dr. Titorenko is a cell biologist who uses cell biological, genomic, proteomic, lipidomic, bioinformatic and systems biological approaches for studying the aging process, elucidating the subcellular organization and protein transport in disease processes, and developing pharmaceutical therapies for human diseases and disorders. His latest work focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of the peroxisome, a cell organelle that is required for the degradation and biosynthesis of lipids. Other research examines the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating longevity, large-scale procedures for identifying novel anti-aging drugs, and mechanisms by which these drugs extend lifespan.

Dr. Titorenko’s work has garnered wide interest and attention. His recognitions and achievements include:

• First researcher to challenge the common "textbook" view of the peroxisome as a singular, autonomous and static organellar compartment and to propose a concept of a dynamic peroxisomal endomembrane system.
• First researcher to demonstrate that the chronological aging of yeast is a developmental program that is governed by a regulatory system called "a modular longevity network."
• Publishing 60 papers and 3 books.
• Participating as a keynote or guest speaker at more than 40 international meetings.
• Being awarded the Article of the Year by the American Society for Microbiology.
• Having two articles selected as Editors' Choice articles in Science magazine.
• Having his abstract selected by the American Society for Cell Biology for inclusion in the press book Cell Biology 2008 for science journalists.
• Being awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award as well as a CIHR R&D-Health Research Foundation Special Research Award.