Thomas Chang

Thomas M.S. Chang, O.C. (born 1933, Shantou, China) is a Canadian physician and scientist.

In 1957, while an undergraduate at McGill University he invented the world's first artificial cell. Working with improvised materials like perfume atomizers inside his dorm room turned laboratory, Chang managed to create a permeable plastic sack that would effectively carry haemoglobin almost as effectively as a natural blood cell [http://www.mcgill.ca/about/history/pioneers/chang/ Thomas Chang, Professor of Physiology ] ] . He went on to complete his bachelor's ('57), master's ('61), and Ph.D ('65) degrees at McGill [ [http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/artcell/mcgillnews.pdf (From: McGill News Vol 76 Number 4 Winter 1996 pp22-25) ] ] . Chang's career continued as Director of the Artificial Cells and Organs Research Centre and Professor of Physiology, Medicine & Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University.

In the late sixties he discovered enzymes carried by artificial cells could correct some metabolic disorders and also developed charcoal-filled cells to treat drug poisoning. His work on finding a safe blood substitute brought him to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, earning him an Order of Canada.

References

* [http://utpress.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=chamberl&t=23494&d=4508 Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry]
* [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=1281 Order of Canada citation]