Molecular innovation: A conversation with Dr. Alison Thompson

Picture a Swiss Army knife—a compact, precise, and versatile tool. Now, imagine a molecule that embodies that same adaptability, a molecular multitasker that, with a few tweaks, can carry out a huge range of functions. Among many such molecular heroes of biology and chemistry are pyrroles, and they’ve been quietly shaping life for billions of years.

At their simplest, pyrroles are small molecules made of four carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom arranged to form a ring. Naturally occurring pyrroles are essential to life; they’re found in the structures that make up hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in our blood, and chlorophyll, which helps plants absorb sunlight for photosynthesis. Some pyrrole-based compounds, like prodigiosenes, have antimicrobial and anticancer effects.

Pyrrole rings can also be chemically linked together, forming a chain called a polypyrrole. The bonds between the pyrrole units allow electrons to move freely, which gives polypyrroles interesting electrical and optical properties. Remarkably chemically stable and often brightly coloured, polypyrroles can be tuned to respond to stimuli, making them versatile tools for advanced materials and chemical or optical sensors. Vibrant and powerful, polypyrroles are molecular multitaskers.

What if we could design our own custom molecular tools, perfectly suited to tackle the problems we care about most?

Despite their vast potential, synthetic pyrroles and polypyrroles remain underexplored. Nature has refined their use over billions of years of evolution, and replicating that precision in the lab is no small feat. Dr. Alison Thompson, a synthetic chemist, is tackling this challenge head-on. A professor of chemistry at Dalhousie University and the Canada Research Chair in Pyrrole Chemistry for Chemical Biology and Energy, Dr. Thompson has built an internationally recognized research program around these molecules. Her work spans the development of new medicinally relevant chemical frameworks, the creation of glowing fluorescent probes for imaging, and the invention of more efficient chemical reactions that could lead to new pyrrole-containing molecular frameworks useful to drug development and materials science. As she puts it, “Nature harnesses these molecules with aplomb, yet human chemists still have much to learn.”

Some of her team’s most exciting achievements have been advancements to BODIPYs, fluorescent pyrrole-containing molecules that bind to a target and glow under certain wavelengths. These compounds are more than just visually striking—they’re powerful tools for visualizing biological processes and designing next-generation technologies. Dr. Thompson’s team has developed new synthetic methods to create novel BODIPY structures and designed Cl-BODIPYs, a new type of BODIPY that allows easier modifications. It’s advancements like these that underscore the impact of her work.

The Canadian Journal of Chemistry is proud to welcome Dr. Thompson as co-Editor-in-Chief. In this interview, we asked Dr. Thompson about her journey, her research, and her vision for the future of synthetic chemistry.

How did you first become interested in pyrroles and polypyrroles?

The electronic properties of pyrrole building blocks are key to the extraordinary capabilities of heme and chlorophyll in supporting life on our planet. How can anyone not be impressed by a heterocycle with such capability? I first worked with polypyrroles when I was a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. David Dolphin’s group at the University of British Columbia—it was a life-changing experience, and I learned a lot from David. During my graduate studies, I had worked with white or colourless compounds, so I found the allure of the colourful chemistry of polypyrroles impossible to ignore. The opportunities in polypyrrole chemistry are boundless, but the challenges lie in understanding their electronic properties. Nature harnesses them with aplomb, but human chemists still have much to learn.

The Thompson Group is also pioneering synthetic methods for new fluorescent probes called BODIPYs. What inspired you to work with these compounds, and how might they transform fields like molecular biology and nanotechnology?

BODIPYs are beautiful with their impressive colours and luminescence. They contain two pyrroles, so there’s lots of challenging chemistry to work with. Plus, most BODIPYs allow us to study a wide range of NMR nuclei– H, C, N, B, F… and recently we’ve even started using Te NMR!

Collaboration seems to be a cornerstone of your work. Are there any cross-disciplinary projects that you’re particularly excited about right now?

I really enjoy building ideas collectively, and I take pride in being a small part of something remarkable that the team creates. Some of our newer, unpublished projects, involve detecting contaminants in air and using dyes to quantify microplastics in water samples. All our projects stem from our fundamental synthetic methodology investigations, which are what we spend most of our time doing.

With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, how do you approach your own writing process, and what advice do you have for early-career researchers looking to publish impactful work?

My writing process has evolved over the years. When I’m writing grant applications, I spend a lot of time musing over the options, considering various approaches, and rereading the criteria so that I stand the best chance of meeting all the requirements! I swim regularly, and my pool sessions give my brain a chance to decouple from the rigidity of thoughts I’ve already had and wander to new thoughts and new ways of doing things—or writing things, as in this case. I typically spend a few weeks in this stage of grant writing. When I do buckle down and start typing, I find I’m more productive.

For publications, I’m very fortunate to support a fantastic team of trainees who are keen to document and translate research discoveries into written form. To be honest, it’s rare that I write a first draft myself these days; rather, I try to provide open and flexible support to help the team craft their drafts. Once a first draft is in place, I think we all find things become much easier. We work iteratively and collaboratively bringing the document, the data, and the figures to a point where we feel comfortable sharing with editors and reviewers.

You’ve done incredible work sharing science with diverse communities through SuperNOVA. Why is outreach and mentorship so important to you?

Outreach and mentorship are critical to broad and balanced participation in STEM. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to become that first-generation student who, as it turned out, followed a path to now be Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Chemistry. Although my childhood was idyllic in many ways, it wasn’t one with an evident conduit to my current profession! As a child I lived rurally and, as a family, we experienced what it means to live with disabilities and without a reliable income. I’m forever grateful to those who took the time and care to support and guide me. Now, I try to help others achieve their goals, whether directly, through research and teaching, or indirectly through involvement in quality STEM organizations.

SuperNOVA is a not-for-profit initiative at Dalhousie University that annually reaches over 25,000 youth aged 4-18 with hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational opportunities. These programs are accessible to everyone, regardless of geographic location, socio-economic situation, ability, gender, or lived experience. I’m Chair of the Board, and the principal investigator on many of the grants that fund this programming. I work closely with the Executive Director, who does a tremendous job managing a highly skilled and enthusiastic team. SuperNOVA offers high-quality camps, clubs, workshops and community events with over 70% of programming delivered in rural, remote, First Nation, Black, and low-income communities, in all cases working collaboratively with communities and their leaders. Operating primarily in Atlantic Canada, including the northern reaches of Labrador and Newfoundland, SuperNOVA delivers over 90% of all programming free of charge, thanks to a self-raised budget of approximately $2 million CAD from national and international funding agencies, community partners and industry partners.

On a more personal note, you lead a support group for individuals who stutter. How has your experience with speech shaped your approach to leadership and science communication?

The Halifax Support Group for People Who Stutter is just one of many such groups across Canada and the world. After running for more than a decade, the group was unable to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m pleased to now be working alongside clinicians to relaunch the group; In fact, we had our first “new look” meeting last month. As a person who stutters, I consider the act of speaking to be special—a sort of gift, but one that I can’t always locate. I’ve been fortunate to access speech-language pathology (speech therapy) services as an adult, and some of it has really helped me work better as a team with my voice. Before I found an approach that resonated with me, I struggled over almost every word. Even now, I sometimes can’t say my name in a timely manner—and please don’t ask me to repeat it! But nowadays, at least under most scenarios, I can usually keep my speech mechanisms afloat. However, all but my closest friends perhaps don’t realize that just because they don’t hear a repetition, or see my body fighting its way through a silent block, it doesn’t mean that my brain isn’t working overtime trying to pre-empt, plan and modulate for every sound and syllable. It can be exhausting.

As for leadership and communication, I don’t know if my experiences as a person who stutters have shaped my approach, but I do bring those experiences to everything I do. Being a person who stutters has taught me to maximize my abilities. This includes trying to be as aware as possible and trying to find connections. A few years ago, I took a course that touched on emotional engagement and Cialdini’s universal motivators – I try to incorporate these concepts in everything I do.

What excites you the most about stepping into the role of Editor-in-Chief at the Canadian Journal of Chemistry?

Working with Stacey and the other members of the editorial board! I’ve already heard from proud Canadians with their eye on seeing the Canadian Journal of Chemistry grow and evolve into something that chemists are really keen to be part of. I hope I can help move towards that goal!

You have extensive experience working internationally; your career has taken you across the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. Are there any key lessons or memorable moments from your international experiences that have stayed with you?

Well… a few things:

• Catching a bus in a place you don’t know is easier now than it used to be!
• I stutter in English and in French.
• People want to help and do the right thing.
• Try to be patient, and watch what is happening around you.
• Effective communication needs more than words.

Outside of the lab and classroom, what activities help you unwind or inspire new ideas for your work? Do you find that any of your hobbies or interests influence your approach to chemistry?

I play pretty hard! Without going into detail, being able to maintain an active lifestyle is a gift that I treasure as much as my voice. I swim, ride horses, ski, bike to work, and thrift shop. I like a good song and a fancy dinner, too. Fortunately, my family enjoys these things too!

Header image used with permission courtesy of the Thompson Research Group. Image credit: Dr. Sarah Greening, “Using BODIPYs to connect our science with our community.”

Photo of Dr. Alison Thompson used with permission. Image credit: Thompson Research Group.