OTTAWA, October 25, 2022 – Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, on behalf of the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus, will host a Luncheon along with co-hosts The Gairdner Foundation and Research Canada to celebrate two 2022 Canada Gairdner Awardees: Dr. Deborah J. Cook, winner of the Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, and Dr. Drew Weissman, winner of the Canada Gairdner International Award.
Dr. Cook’s research has transformed critical care medicine and health research methodology to help alleviate the enormous human and economic costs of critical illness for patients, families, healthcare systems and society. Dr. Weissman’s work enabled the rapid availability of highly effective and safe COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which have become an important tool to control the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest paths forward for similar vaccines for viral threats like influenza or HIV.
This Luncheon, sponsored by Innovative Medicines Canada and Pfizer Canada, will bring together laureates, Parliamentarians and other invited guests to promote Canada as a valuable contributor to international science and an exceptional place to conduct research.
Quotes:
“The Gairdner Foundation and Research Canada continue to work together towards our shared goal of strengthening the research community in Canada and inspiring the next generation of researchers and innovators. Through our partnership, we continue to elevate Canada on the world stage as a global leader in research.”
— Dr. Janet Rossant, President & Scientific Director,
The Gairdner Foundation
“The Gairdner Awards are an invaluable Canadian resource, and we are thrilled to partner with The Gairdner Foundation again this year to showcase incredible leadership in health research. We are proud to welcome Dr. Deborah J. Cook and Dr. Drew Weissman to meet Parliamentarians this year to share their incredible scientific breakthroughs. These laureates join a group of outstanding researchers that exemplify why research excellence matters.”
— Dr. Rose Goldstein, Chair, Research Canada
The Gairdner Foundation
The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 and is best known for its Canada Gairdner Awards. Since its founding, the Gairdner Foundation has awarded more than 400 prizes to laureates from over 40 countries (96 of whom have gone on to win receive Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine). Each year the Canada Gairdner Awards are presented to honour the world’s most significant biomedical and global health researchers. These 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, bringing current and past laureates to universities across Canada to speak with faculty, trainees and high school students to inspire the next generation of researchers.
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.
Parliamentary Health Research Caucus
The Parliamentary Health Research Caucus is a non-partisan educational forum that hosts events on Parliament Hill to educate politicians on the social and economic benefits of Canadian health research and innovation, as well as to introduce them to the multi-sector partnerships among academic, private sector and health charity stakeholders essential to a robust health research enterprise and innovation system. The PHRC is chaired by Dr. Brendan Hanley, MP (Yukon), with Vice-Chairs, Dr. Stephen Ellis, MP (Cumberland—Colchester) and Ms. Carol Hughes, MP (Algoma–Manitoulin–Kapuskasing), and Senate Representative, The Honourable Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia.
For further information:
Ms. Kelty Reid
Manager, Communications and Operations
Gairdner Foundation
416-596-9993 ext. 206
kelty@gairdner.org
Full listing of Gairdner Events
Ms. Christie Tomkins
Manager of Policy and Public Affairs
Research Canada
613-234-5129
ctomkins@rc-rc.ca