The overall objective of my research program is the investigation of chemically-selective surfaces that are suitable for development of rapid and reversible biosensors. The progress of the Human Genome Project and the many smaller genome projects that are currently underway has generated substantial interest in the use of nucleic acid hybridization technologies to detect and identify organisms, mutations and drug interactions. The sequence information that is generated by these projects is being used to develop biochips and genetic arrays based on immobilized DNA probes, and such analytical systems are well suited for large scale genetic screening. However, there is also a clear need for reliable and reusable bioanalytical devices that are targeted to the rapid and quantitative detection of specific sequences, organisms and compounds of concern in areas such as disease, new therapies, forensics and the detection of pathogens. We are focusing our efforts in the area of such biosensor development, and the goal is ultimately to develop technology that requires minimal sample preparation, to generate a quantitative result within seconds to minutes without the need for PCR amplification.

Ulrich Krull completed his BSc, MSc and PhD (1983) degrees at the University of Toronto. He is appointed as a Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Toronto, and holds the endowed AstraZeneca Research Chair in Biotechnology. He presently handles the portfolios of Vice-Principal:Research and Vice-Dean:Graduate Affairs at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UofTM). He has over 200 refereed publications and more than a dozen patents. He is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada. He has received both the McBryde Medal, and the Maxxam Award of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (the top awards for analytical chemistry research in Canada). He has been a recipient of the University of Toronto Faculty Excellence Award. Krull has served as the Associate Dean-Sciences at UofTM, Vice-President of the Royal Canadian Institute, and presently is an editor of Analytica Chimica Acta, a major international journal for analytical chemistry. He serves on a number of Scientific Advisory Boards for industry. Krull serves as the Chair of the consortium of industry, government and institutions that form the Western Greater Toronto Area Convergence Centre (http://www.wgtacc.com), a Regional Innovation Network funded in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.