alexgagnonuqam.com

The Alexandre Gagnon Research Group at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) is an academic team specializing in organic, organometallic and medicinal chemistry. Its research combines organic synthesis, reaction methodology, catalysis and epigenetics to advance chemical tools and potential therapeutic compounds. The group develops metal-catalyzed reactions using organobismuth reagents, including methods for forming carbon–carbon, carbon–oxygen, carbon–nitrogen and carbon–sulfur bonds.

Its work also explores copper- and palladium-catalyzed transformations, amino acid and peptide chemistry, and the synthesis of heterocycles. In medicinal chemistry, the team designs and develops inhibitors of biological targets involved in gene expression and disease, with a focus on DNA methyltransferases, epigenetic reader proteins and transcription factors such as YAP–TEAD. Its research activities include hit-to-lead development, lead optimization, rational design, molecular docking and structure–activity relationship studies.

Led by Professor Alexandre Gagnon, the group is based in UQAM’s Department of Chemistry in Montréal and brings together researchers working across synthesis, catalysis and drug discovery