Professor Dusica Maysinger’s research focuses on the biochemical and structural aspects of the brain, particularly how nanostructures—like gold nanoparticles and nanoclusters—interact with brain cells. Her lab explores their potential to mimic enzymes (“nanozymes”) and track cellular processes in real time.
Known for her warmth and mentorship, Prof. Maysinger has built a “nano family” of students and collaborators. She believes future biomedical breakthroughs will come from interdisciplinary collaboration, merging pharmacology, chemistry, physics, and neuroscience.
Prof. Maysinger has trained many students over the years, including a large number of undergraduate students who sought inspiration and enthusiasm for science. She has been a coordinator of the course Research Projects in Pharmacology and more than 20 students who have taken this course have pursued research careers. Prof. Maysinger created an exciting research team environment that is both multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary. Her many students are now working at Universities in the US and Europe and at major pharmaceutical companies.
The contributions of Prof. Maysinger have been acknowledged by different national and international agencies including the US Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), and the Canadian National Science Research Council (NSERC), FRQ and PTP programs.
Prof. Maysinger has received many North American and European career awards and fellowships, including the Fullbright Fellowship, Alexander von Humoldt Fellowship, FRSQ Bourse de Perfectionement, the British Council Award, and the European Training Program Fellowship.
Prof. Maysinger has collaborated with Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg (McGill University, Department of Surgery) for many years, forming the JDF Center for Beta-Cell Replacement in Montreal, together with Dr. Mark Prentki (Université de Montréal, Department of Nutrition). Other collaborations include scientists in the Departments of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering and polymer scientists at the University of Montreal, University of Lyon, University of Zagreb and Split, University of British Columbia and Free University in Berlin.