About Us

Dr. Tuan Trang

PhD 
Dr. Trang is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and scientist at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute. He obtained a PhD in pharmacology at Queen’s University and completed a fellowship at SickKids Hospital. He and his team are unlocking the causes of chronic pain at the level of genes, cells, and circuits. They are working to advance discoveries into new, effective pain therapies. An area of focus is on understanding how opioids impact the nervous system and improving the safety of these medications. This research has been recognized by several national and international awards. Dr. Trang leads the Alberta Pain Research Network, and the Brain and Mental Health Spinal Cord, Nerve Injury, and Pain team at the University of Calgary. 

Dr. Roger Thompson

PhD 
Dr. Thompson is a Professor at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary.  He is an internationally recognized leader in pannexin biology as it relates to stroke, cognitive decline and physiological brain functions. He has Bachelors (Queen’s University), PhD (McMaster University) and postdoctoral (University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of British Columbia) experience and has been actively research brain pathologies for over 20 years. His active research program focusses on identifying new molecular pathways and designing custom molecules to protect brain cells during disease.  Dr. Thompson and his team have published in the world’s leading research journals. In addition to his thriving research program, he is co-lead of the Brain and Mental Health Cognitive Disorders and Vascular Dementia team at the University of Calgary. 

Dr. Darren Derksen

PhD 
Dr. Derksen obtained his undergraduate Honours Chemistry degree at the University of Alberta. He then completed his PhD in the lab of Professor John C. Vederas at the same institution working on the synthesis and evaluation of bioactive peptides and new synthetic methods. Dr. Derksen then completed an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge in the lab of Professor Ian Paterson working on the total synthesis of peloruside A. The Derksen research group is focused on the development of protein modulators using small molecules, particularly in the areas of pain and cancer. 

Dr. Lawrence Korngut

Lawrence is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of AazeinTx, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel oral therapeutic for acute asthma. Lawrence is also the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Lumiio Inc, a successful digital health company focusing on the end-to-end development and operation of data platforms (registries).  

Lawrence is a Neuromuscular Neurologist with extensive experience in the design of clinical development programs and the design and conduct of clinical trials for new therapies for different muscle and nerve diseases. He has published over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has advised a multitude of pharmaceutical companies in the clinical development process from pre-clinical through to regulatory and health technology assessment. Lawrence is the Director of the Calgary Neuromuscular Program and the Calgary ALS and Motor Neuron Disease Clinic. He also serves as Director, Innovation and Commercialization, at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary and as Scientist at Creative Destruction Labs – Rockies. 

Mark Starratt

After 25 years in the financial services industry, Mark retired from the wealth management industry in December 2018.  Prior to that he had worked as a Partner, Director Wealth Management and Portfolio Manager with Richardson GMP Ltd. and was First Vice President with a major bank-owned brokerage firm for more than a decade.  He and his brother Scott were business partners for more than 21 years. 

Outside of his vocation, Mark served on the Board of Governors at the University of Calgary and was Vice Chair of the Investment Committee and member of the Executive Committee.  Mark is a passionate Rotarian and became one of the youngest District Governors in 2008/09 in the Rotary world when he served District 5360, representing Southern Alberta and Western Saskatchewan.   

Mark recently completed a 4-year term as a Director of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada and currently sits on both the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation and the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Cumming School of Medicine. In April 2013, Mark and his wife Jennifer formed The Starratt Family Foundation to advance neuromuscular disease education and research and to help improve accessibility for those with disabilities. Mark serves on several private company boards and led a Single Family Office based in Alberta. 

Gord Anderson

Gord has over 30 years financial services experience with his last role as President of Cidel Trust Company, a national trust company and asset management firm. Other senior positions with CIBC and RBC included senior leadership, corporate strategy, corporate services, governance, sales management, investment management, fiduciary services, philanthropic planning, cross border structuring, risk management, and training and development. 

As President of Cidel Trust, Gord led the creation of a national trust company, was responsible for institutional asset management for Western Canada and also created a national indigenous strategy as well as building out strategic relationships with ATB and Richardson GMP. At RBC, Gord’s last role was Joint Head of the Caribbean (Barbados, Cayman and the Bahamas) for RBC International Wealth Management responsible for discretionary asset management, RBC Dominion Securities, global custody, captive insurance, and fund administration, as well as trust and corporate services based out of Barbados. 

Gord serves on several for profit and not for profit boards and is currently Chapter Chair for YPO Gold Alberta. Gord is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA),  Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP),  Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), and Corporate Director (ICD.D). 

Gord is the Founder and CEO of Anchor Wealth Advisory, a consulting firm that focuses on governance and strategy for successful families. Gord also has a deep passion for Indigenous Economic Development.