Ratmir Derda, University of Alberta

Research

Cancer Stem Cells Genetically-Encoded Libraries Carbohydrates Genetically-Encoded Glycan Profiling Immunooncology Sialic Acid Siglecs Bicyclic Peptides

Latest papers

From Transient to Stable: Incorporating Electrophiles in Genetically-Encoded and DNA-Encoded Libraries of Peptide-Derived Macrocycles.
Biochemistry · 2026 · senior author
Exploration of mucin-protein interactions using liquid glycan array.
Methods in enzymology · 2026 · senior author
Universal Baseline for in vitro Selection of Genetically Encoded Libraries.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026 · senior author

All 70 publications

Latest funding

Bridging Genetically-Encoded Chemistry with Machine Learning to discover the properties of new Chemical matter
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$231,000
Probing the Role of Glycans in Immunooncology using Genetically Encoded "Liquid Glycan Arrays"
CIHR · 2021 · Nominated PI
$944,775
An Immuno-PET-PDGFRa Conjugate to Identify Metastases and Predict Outcomes for Papillary Thyroid Cancer
CIHR · 2019 · Co-investigator
$818,550

All 17 grants and awards

70 publications.

01

From Transient to Stable: Incorporating Electrophiles in Genetically-Encoded and DNA-Encoded Libraries of Peptide-Derived Macrocycles.

Walker JH, Yan K, Derda R

Biochemistry2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5c00646 PMID: 41504033

02

Exploration of mucin-protein interactions using liquid glycan array.

Gupta S, Lima GM, Peng C, Derda R

Methods in enzymology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2026.05.003 PMID: 42399057

03

Universal Baseline for in vitro Selection of Genetically Encoded Libraries.

Yan K, Lima GM, Bahadur T, Albert V, O'Gara Z, Bao G, Kossmann C, Kirby W, Mejia FB, Michnik ML, Maiorana K, Derda R

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.64898/2026.02.14.705946 PMID: 41727091

04

Evaluation of multiplexed liquid glycan Array (LiGA) for serological detection of glycan-binding antibodies.

Reddy R, Carpenter E, Halpin A, Sojitra M, Peng C, Lima GM, Xue X, Yan K, Pearcy J, Ellis M, Motyka B, Lowary TL, West L, Derda R

Glycobiology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaf042 PMID: 40796239

05

A Two-Step Synthesis of Covalent Genetically-Encoded Libraries of Peptide-Derived Macrocycles (cGELs) enables use of electrophiles with diverse reactivity.

Walker JH, Ekanayake AI, Pedowitz N, Qiu R, Girnt P, Babin BM, Atrazhev A, Vukovic L, Bogyo MM, Derda R

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1101/2025.08.25.672157 PMID: 40909660

06

Measuring carbohydrate recognition profile of lectins on live cells using liquid glycan array (LiGA).

Sojitra M, Schmidt EN, Lima GM, Carpenter EJ, McCord KA, Atrazhev A, Macauley MS, Derda R

Nature protocols2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01070-3 PMID: 39415074

07

Author Correction: Closing the loop with reactions at the N-terminus.

Yan K, Derda R

Nature reviews. Chemistry2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00701-x PMID: 39994428

08

Closing the loop with reactions at the N-terminus.

Yan K, Derda R

Nature reviews. Chemistry2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00697-4 PMID: 39953291

09

Late-Stage Reshaping of Phage-Displayed Libraries to Macrocyclic and Bicyclic Landscapes using a Multipurpose Linchpin.

Yan K, Miskolzie M, Banales Mejia F, Peng C, Ekanayake AI, Atrazhev A, Cao J, Maly DJ, Derda R

Journal of the American Chemical Society2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c13561 PMID: 39702930

10

An ultrasensitive and modular platform to detect Siglec ligands and control immune cell function.

Jame-Chenarboo Z, Schmidt EN, Crichton M, Takahashi-Yamashiro K, Lima GM, Luna-Dulcey L, Jung J, Ivison S, St Laurent CD, Enterina JR, Lin SY, Sarkar S, John R, Nanjappa SG, Malaker SA, Levings MK, Marth JD, Derda R, Macauley MS

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2025

DOI: 10.1101/2025.06.10.658684 PMID: 40661511

Bridging Genetically-Encoded Chemistry with Machine Learning to discover the properties of new Chemical matter

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

$231,000

Probing the Role of Glycans in Immunooncology using Genetically Encoded "Liquid Glycan Arrays"

Nominated PICIHR2021Project Grant

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

Keywords: Carbohydrates; Genetically-Encoded Glycan Profiling; Immunooncology; Sialic Acid; Siglecs

$944,775

An Immuno-PET-PDGFRa Conjugate to Identify Metastases and Predict Outcomes for Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: McMullen, Todd

Keywords: Cell Fate; Dedifferentiation; Papillary Thyroid Cancer; Positron Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceutical

$818,550

Development of Small Macrocyclic Antibody-Like Scaffolds (SMALS) for therapeutic inhibition of Nodal

Nominated PICIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

Keywords: Bicyclic Peptides; Cancer Stem Cells; Drug Discovery; Genetically-Encoded Libraries; Hit To Lead Optimization; Macrocyclic Peptides; Nodal; Therapeutic Inhibitors

$841,500

Development of robust industrial protocols for the synthesis of peptide derivatives

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

$25,000

Targeting PDGFRa using PET Imaging to Diagnose Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Improve Treatment

Co-investigatorCIHR2017Project Grant

Principal investigators: McMullen, Todd

Keywords: Cell Differentiation; Immuno-Pet-Pdgfra; Papillary Thyroid Cancer; Radiopharmaceutical

$100,000

Multimode Plate Reader with Fluorescent Polarization Capabilities

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

$126,672

Genetically-encoded libraries of peptide derivatives

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

$120,000

Genetically-encoded libraries of peptide derivatives

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

$450,000

Evaluation of a Brain Endothelium Transmembrane Protein as a Therapeutic Target for Drug Delivery across the Blood Brain Barrier

Principal investigatorNSERC2015Engage Plus Grants Program

Principal investigators: Derda, Ratmir

$12,500

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Chemistry
Oncology
Pediatrics
Pharmacology
Surgery and Cancer
Pathology & Molecular Medicine
Other

Co-authors at University of Alberta, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Frank Wuest

Oncology

2 shared papers, latest 2024

Lynne-Marie Postovit

Oncology

1 shared papers, latest 2021

Simonetta Sipione

Pharmacology

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Anne Halpin

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2025

William Sheffield

Pathology & Molecular Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2014

Robert Campbell

Chemistry

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Lori West

Pediatrics

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Todd McMullen

Surgery and Cancer

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Cancer Stem Cells Dear Professor Derda, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "From Transient to Stable: Incorporating Electrophiles in Genetically-Encoded and DNA-Encoded Libraries of Peptide-Derived Macrocycles." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Bridging Genetically-Encoded Chemistry with Machine Learning to discover the properties of new Chemical matter" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]