Dr. Edwards’ research is focused on genome-scale studies of the structure and function of proteins and protein families, in humans as well as model organisms such as yeast, Drosophila, and E. coli. His laboratory’s projects are large-scale and highly collaborative, extending from structural proteomics, which involves studying the three-dimensional molecular structure and function of proteins and protein families, to DNA microarrays, to proteomics and genomics data mining.

Currently, the Edwards’ laboratory focuses on developing technologies and methodologies for high-throughput protein sample preparation and structure solving, as part of the Ontario Centre for Structural Proteomics. In collaboration with other University of Toronto biophysicists, his group has contributed hundreds of three-dimensional protein structures to the world wide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB). Dr. Edwards’ other current research includes the development of assays to test proteins for catalytic activity, a survey of the genes of the hepatitis B and C viruses that contribute to liver damage, and the study of nuclear receptor proteins important in normal development, metabolism, and oncogenesis. Dr. Edwards also leads the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), an international research effort that was established to determine the three-dimensional structures of proteins relevant to human disease, now currently in Phase II.

Dr. Edwards is Professor and Banbury Chair of Medical Research at the University of Toronto, and is cross-appointed to the Medical Biophysics Department and the Medical Genetics and Microbiology Department. He obtained his PhD in biochemistry in 1988 from McGill University and conducted post-doctoral research with Dr. Roger Kornberg, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, at Stanford University. In addition to his research and teaching duties, Dr. Edwards served as scientific consultant to ReGenesis, a Gemini Award-winning science drama television series. Dr. Edwards was also one of the founders of Affinium Pharmaceuticals, a Toronto-based structure-guided drug discovery company. In April 2002, he was selected as one of Canada''s "Top 40 under 40.” In April 2003, he was appointed Director and CEO of the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC).