Dr. Mary Alice Hefford 

Dr. Mary Alice Hefford is a research scientist in the Centre for Biologics Research (CBR)  in the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD) at Health Canada.  She has an undergraduate degree in organic chemistry, and has worked as a formulations chemist and a synthetic organic chemist.  Dr. Hefford obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa where she studied protein chemistry and structure-function relationships in polypeptide hormones. She has post-doctoral training at the Clinical Research Institute in Montreal and the National Research Council of Canada in the areas of molecular biology and protein engineering.  Dr. Hefford has also worked Agriculture Canada where she led a research group that focused on the de novo protein design.  In 1996, Dr. Hefford joined Health Canada where she focuses on the development of physico-chemical methodology to assess the structure/folding of therapeutic protein in order to assure their safety and efficacy.  Dr. Hefford is a member of the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate Working Group on Subsequent Entry Biologics (follow-on biologics) Policy and Regulation.  She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa. 

Contact information: 

Mary Alice Hefford, PhD,
Research Scientist,
Centre for Biologics Research,
Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Canada
Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre,
251 promenade Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA, K1A 0K9