Celebrating Excellence: Research Canada Presents the 2023 Leadership in Advocacy Awards

November 23, 2023 Releases

OTTAWA, November 23, 2023 – On Tuesday, November 21, Research Canada was delighted to award the 2023 Research Canada Leadership in Advocacy Awards (LIAA) at a special reception hosted by Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia. The LIAA honours champions in health research advocacy each year by recognizing at least one individual and/or organization that has made outstanding efforts in advocating for Canadian health research at the local, provincial and/or national level.

Dr. Marsha Campbell-Yeo was awarded the 2023 Individual Leadership in Advocacy Award for her incredible advocacy work that has been instrumental in improving the outcomes of medically at-risk newborns and their families, and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) was awarded the 2023 Organization Leadership in Advocacy Award for its transformative advocacy that is supporting Canada’s oldest citizens.

“This recognition is not just a celebration of an individual but the collective efforts and commitment of many to the well-being of the smallest members of our society.” – Dr. Marsha Campbell-Yeo, 2023 Research Canada Individual Leadership in Advocacy Awardee

“We are honoured to recognize the incredible advocacy work of this year’s Awardees,” said Alison Evans, Research Canada President and CEO. “The RIA and Dr. Campbell-Yeo exemplify excellence in health research and innovation, and they have changed the lives of countless Canadians through their work.”

Chair of Research Canada and Director of the Hematopoiesis and Cancer Research Unit at the Montréal Clinical Research Institute, Dr. Tarik Möröy, added, “I am delighted that we are gathering here at the Senate of Canada to recognize the inspiring and important health research advocacy efforts our Awardees have undertaken on behalf of all Canadians.”

Dr. Tina Mah, Executive Director of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), 2023 Research Canada Organization Leadership in Advocacy Awardee shared, “From incubator to wheelchair, we are all aging. We all place a value on life, and it is important to change the culture of aging in Canada and eliminate the play of young against old. How do we do things together?”

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this celebration, including all of our generous event Sponsors, Innovative Medicines Canada, Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo, BD Canada and Dalhousie University.

Learn more about this year’s awardees here.

Learn more about the Research Canada Leadership in Advocacy Awards here.

About Research Canada
Research Canada is a national alliance dedicated to increasing investments in health research and support for its related innovation through collaborative advocacy and engaging government, academia, industry and the non-profit sector to build support for long-term health research funding. For more information, visit rc-rc.ca.

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For inquiries:
Christie Tomkins
Manager of Policy and Public Affairs
Research Canada
613-234-5129
ctomkins@rc-rc.ca