FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, Ontario- October 23, 2017 – Research Canada and the Gairdner Foundation have established a partnership that will bring Dr. Cesar Victora and Dr. Antoine Hakim, two of the seven 2017 Canada Gairdner Award Laureates to Ottawa to participate in a series of events designed to share their research and promote global health and biomedical science.
In partnership with Research Canada, Gairdner will host a luncheon on Parliament Hill (Ottawa) on October 24th in honour of the 2017 Canada Gairdner Awardees. It will highlight the importance of their research and its impact on human health and well-being. Brazil’s own Dr. Victora’s work on the importance of breast-feeding in early life has led to increased infant survival in his home country and around the world. Canada’s own Dr. Hakim’s world-class research in stroke has revolutionized the way patients are diagnosed and treated in Canada and internationally. The luncheon will feature laureates, parliamentarians and representatives from Research Canada in conversations that promote Canada as a valuable contributor to international science and an exceptional place to do research.
The Gairdner Foundation has a strong partnership with the Government of Canada that supports its awards program and coast-to-coast outreach programming. The Gairdner Foundation will also be hosting lectures at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa with support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. The events are expected to draw more than 800 high school students, faculty and trainees from across the city to hear about the laureates’ research and their career journeys.
Quote: Dr. Janet Rossant, President & Scientific Director, The Gairdner Foundation
“The Gairdner Foundation and Research Canada are strong partners with very similar goals. Together, we can promote Canada on the world-stage of science and continue to grow our profile as a global leader in research.”
Quote: Dr. Robert McMaster, Chair, Research Canada
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Gairdner Foundation to bring such meaningful science to Ottawa and Canada. This year, we are proud that two of them are Canadian, Dr. Antoine Hakim and Dr Lewis Kay. Along with Dr. Victora and the other laureates, they are outstanding examples of why research excellence matters. The Gairdner Foundation and its awards help demonstrate Canada’s leadership in health research to the world.”
— 30 —
For further information:
Mrs. Sommer Wedlock
Vice President & Director of Communications
Gairdner Foundation
Telephone: 647-293-6785
Email: sommer@gairdner.org
Full listing of Gairdner Events
Mr. Sean Dillon-Fordyce
Manager of Communications
Research Canada
Telephone: 613-277-4757
E-mail: sfordyce@rc-rc.ca
FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS IN OTTAWA – October 24, 2017
| 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Carleton University
|
Student Outreach Program Lecture (by invitation only) |
Think locally, act globally – how research carried out in Pelotas contributed to global policies Dr. Cesar Victora, Emeritus Professor, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil |
| 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. | Parliamentary Restaurant, Parliament Hill | Luncheon in Honour of 2017 Gairdner Awardees (by invitation only) |
Dr. Cesar Victora and Dr. Antoine Hakim |
|
1:30 p.m. |
University of Ottawa |
National Outreach Program Lecture |
Think locally, act globally – how research carried out in Pelotas contributed to global policies |
| 2:30 p.m. | University of Ottawa
|
National Outreach Program Lecture |
Dementia and Stroke: Renewed emphasis on prevention
|
The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 and it best know for its Canada Gairdner Awards. In the sixty years since its founding, the Gairdner Foundation has awarded more than 380 prizes to laureates from 30 countries (87 of whom have gone on to win receive Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). Each year seven Canada Gairdner Awards are presented to honour the world’s most significant biomedical
and global health researchers. The Canada Gairdner International Award is given to five individuals for outstanding international biomedical research, while the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award is given to an individual leader in Canadian medicine. The John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award recognizes a contribution to health in the developing world. These seven awards both distinguish Canada as a leader in science and elevate the profile of science in Canada. They are Canada’s only globally known and respected international science awards. All laureates are chosen by international adjudication committees.
The Gairdner Foundation promotes a stronger culture of research and innovation across the country through outreach programming including lectures and research symposia. The programs bring current and past laureates to a minimum of 15 universities across Canada to speak with faculty, trainees and high school students to inspire the next generation of researchers. Annual research symposia are organized across Canada to provide Canadians access to leading science through Gairdner’s convening power.
Research Canada is a multi-stakeholder alliance of private, academic and voluntary sector organizations dedicated to advancing health research and translating research into innovative products and services that deliver social and economic benefits to all Canadians. Visit rc-rc.ca.
The Parliamentary Health Research Caucus is a non-partisan educational forum chaired by Mr. John Oliver, MP, Oakville, with Past Chair, Senator Kelvin K. Ogilvie, NDP Representative, Ms. Carol Hughes, MP, Algoma-Kapuskasing-Manitoulin, Ms. Marilyn Gladu – MP Sarnia-Lambton and the Honourable Senator Judith Seidman, Science Advisor.