Olivier Barré PhD Biochemistry, TCM

Dr. Olivier Barré earned a PhD in Biochemistry/Biomedicine with honors from the University of Bern (Switzerland) where he worked on copper homeostasis in bacteria and humans. Olivier continued in a postdoctoral position at UBC, doing research on breast and prostate cancer. At a young age, he developed an intrigue and passion for Chinese Medicine. Olivier decided to change his career path and obtained his Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (RTCMP) Diploma from the International College of TCM of Vancouver. Olivier fulfilled his dream of opening his own integrated practice Downtown, Vancouver 2016 and works as a TCM Practitioner. His vision has always been to combine his western science background with the natural holistic approach of Traditional Chinese medicine. Olivier teaches Biological Chemistry at Institute of Holistic Nutrition’s Online program and Nutrition According to Traditional Chinese Medicine at Institute of Holistic Nutrition’s Online Continuing Education department.

BC001 Biological Chemistry

This introduction to chemistry will aid understanding towards the nature of atomic structure, qualitative chemical reactions and how they originate in our environment and other living organisms. This course will also cover nomenclature, isomerism, main functional groups, properties and characteristics of organic compounds including an introduction to the physical, structural and biological properties of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.

BM 002 Body Metabolism

Body Metabolism is intimately linked to the nutritional sciences. The goal of this course is to give students an understanding of what the body does with the food we consume. This course begins with a detailed study of enzymes including the centrality of vitamins and minerals. This course examines the metabolic reactions used to obtain energy from carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids and reactions used to excrete wastes such as urea and uric acid. Cellular respiration including the citric acid cycle is thoroughly taught. This course provides detailed knowledge of factors regulating blood sugar including the key metabolic hormones insulin and glucagon and the metabolic pathway of gluconeogenesis. Other topics include digestive hormones, production of lactic acid, lipid carriers, and the effects of low carbohydrate diets on ketosis, and more. Students are taught and evaluated on biological and metabolic pathways.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the significance of vitamins and minerals for enzyme function and the factors inhibiting enzyme activity
• Discuss the stages of cellular respiration and explain how the electron transport chain works
• Explain digestion, absorption and metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids
• Detail the structure of the liver and its significance in Phase I and Phase II of detoxification

Body Metabolism equips students with a key insight into the biological mechanics of metabolism with special attention to describing how the liver is the detoxification centre of the body. This course provides key insight into the biological processes of digesting and metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.