Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal

Dr Sultan Darvesh

Congratulations to one of our long-time BRC members, Dr. Sultan Darvesh on receiving the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to Science.

Dr Darvesh was one of five Dalhousie faculty members to be recently awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of significant service to the province, particularly during the pandemic.

“Her Majesty’s reign embodies the importance of commitment to one’s community, and the Platinum Jubilee Medal honours those who have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to their professions and the well-being of the province,” said Nova Scotia Lt-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc in a statement.

Dr. Darvesh is a behavioural neurologist and trained organic chemist with an interest in medicinal chemistry. He leads a team of researchers at Dalhousie in groundbreaking work that could be a gamechanger for millions of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. His research has been instrumental in determining the importance and expression of butyrylcholinesterase — an enzyme that plays a key role in the progression of the disease — in the human brain. He has developed a radioactive molecule that enables PET and SPECT scanning of butyrylcholinesterase. This molecule could enable diagnosis in living patients— something previously impossible — and potentially result in new research and therapeutic approaches to reverse or make the disease more manageable.

See dal.ca/news for a full list of all Dalhousie recipients.