Meet Our Research Team – Declan DeJordy

Declan DeJordy is a researcher at Loyalist College, leading applied research projects and mentoring students within the Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis

Declan DeJordy joined the Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis in 2020. As a Centre Researcher, Declan is responsible for leading individual applied research projects from research planning to project completion and reporting, communicating with clients and team members about the results and project next steps.

Declan also takes a lead role in mentoring technologists, students and research assistants within the Centre.

Declan is also a part-time faculty member in the Biosciences program and Cannabis Applied Science post-graduate certificate program at Loyalist College.

To learn more about Declan’s time in the Centre, keep reading.

How long have you worked for Loyalist College?

I’ll have been here for 2 years in September.

You are a professor and a researcher. What is the most challenging thing about your dual role?

Sometimes the most challenging thing can be to refrain from sharing confidential information about ongoing projects. There are so many innovative applied research projects that would make for interesting discussion, but you have to respect the non-disclosure agreements between clients. Luckily some have been kind enough to come and talk about their company as guest speakers.

What do you teach?

General chemistry and cannabis chemistry.

If you were forced to do something else for a living and could do anything, what would you like to do?

I think I’d be a chef. I love to cook, and I find there are many similarities between cooking and chemistry. Fast pace, knowing when to add certain ingredients, both can be seen as science and art respectively. The biggest difference is being able to taste what you’ve made!

What do you like most about doing research?

The fact that every day brings new challenges and new creative approaches to problem solving. I also really enjoy hearing all the unique product/process ideas from clients and working to bring those ideas to fruition.

What inspired you to become involved in research?

Tough question. I’d say that I’ve always been a huge fan of puzzles of all kinds – and was always the kid who asked “Why? Why? Why?”. Research gives me the opportunity to scratch those itches daily.

What did you study in college/university and what inspired you to choose that subject(s)?

I studied chemistry, organic in undergraduate and organometallic in graduate school. I’ve always liked working with my hands and science. I found chemistry to be the sweet spot for that, work wise. Theory wise, chemistry interests me because it explains a lot of material behaviour we experience daily. AND Breaking Bad (mostly joking, but I did love that show – even though the chemistry wasn’t always right!).

Did you have a teacher at school, college or university that inspired you and if so, how?

I was lucky enough to have Dr. William Tam teach me organic chemistry in undergrad at Guelph, a notoriously difficult subject. He was always willing to help outside of class, and more than anything – to show us how to bounce back after a particularly bad test, which we almost all experienced. I learned a lot about persistence that semester.

How would you encourage your students to become involved in research?

I would say the first thing to do is start reading literature in areas which you may be interested in, that’s where you’ll find the newest trends and hot areas of work. If you find an area that you align with strongly – you can look at where (industry or academia) you can get involved with that type of work.

What would you tell your students is the most important skills of a researcher?

Problem solving, attention to detail, organization, communication and while not a skill – curiosity.

Can you describe your area(s) of research interest?

Natural products, molecule discovery, green chemistry, green materials, total organic synthesis.

How did you first become interested in this area of research? What was your “ah ha” moment?

I remember learning in Organic Chemistry 1 that a common anticancer drug (taxol) is sourced from the bark of the Pacific yew tree. I thought it was interesting to hear that such a powerful treatment tool came from a natural source. Then, hearing that once it had been discovered, chemists were able to successfully synthesize the molecule in the lab, felt like somewhat of a revelation.

What was your favourite project you’ve ever worked on? Why?

My favourite project was the synthesis of a minor cannabinoid with organic chemistry techniques. Since the cannabinoid in question is present in such low amounts in the plant, it is not feasible to extract. Using synthetic chemistry, I was able to produce the cannabinoid from easily obtainable starting materials.

Why is this area of research important (or relevant) for the ordinary citizen? What are the possible real-world applications?

Disease is something that affects everyone, whether directly or indirectly. If the molecules that can treat so many known diseases are out there – let’s go find them. Once we find them, if they are too rare to be extractable at scale, lets make them ourselves.

What research projects are you working on now?

• Synthesis of minor cannabinoids
• Formulation of cannabis oil in water emulsions based on nanomaterials
• Extraction and characterization of minor phytochemicals from plants

Do you have another area of research that you’re currently not working on that you would like to?

Renewable energy, fuels & batteries, novel molecule discovery in functional and psychedelic mushrooms.

How do you keep up-to-date in your research area?

Subscription to various newsletters, research articles, and webinars (many of which are free!). Conferences are always a great way to know where the research is currently trending also.

What would you like to be the ultimate outcome of your research?

Newly discovered molecules with therapeutic effects – and ultimately new drugs — based on natural products.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Does being a better golfer count? If not, I think woodworking would be a fun hobby to pick up.

What is something you learned in the last week?

Cannabidiol will oxidize in a high pH environment to form cannabidiolquinone, a potential anticancer agent.