Chemistry career takes Lemont native abroad

LEMONT Brian Slafers career in organic chemistry has seen him go further and further away from his hometown of Lemont.

He currently works in Sao Paulo, Brazil, making drugs to treat tropical diseases.

He has a doctorate from the University of California at Irvine and did his post-doctorate research in London.

Slafer said he moved to Brazil to be with his wife, a Brazilian medical doctor specializing in pediatric infectious diseases.

Though his research in London was on cancer drugs, he joined the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, a nonprofit drug research and development organization focusing on diseases in impoverished areas.

The project seemed like a wonderful opportunity for me to help teach some of the people in the group who are less familiar with medicinal chemistry, he said.

Slafer said the socio-economic problems in Brazil make it easier for diseases to spread and less likely that pharmaceutical companies will take an interest in the area.

Pharmaceutical companies dont see any profits in making drugs for these diseases where people cant pay for it, he said.

Slafer said his adjustment to living in Brazil have gone beyond the language barrier.

The safety aspect is ever present, he said. During the day, its quite fine to walk around in many areas of Sao Paulo. Once it reaches sunset, you have to be very careful where you are.

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Chemistry career takes Lemont native abroad