Gairdner Foundation

For the past decade, Dr. Janet Rossant has led the Gairdner Foundation with extraordinary vision, integrity, and impact, strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading biomedical research prize organizations.

Under her leadership, the Foundation expanded its global reach, deepened its engagement in inspiring future generations of scientists, and reinforced its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in science.

Among her many contributions, Dr. Rossant helped establish the Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award, recognizing outstanding mid-career researchers and broadening the range of scientific excellence celebrated by the Foundation.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Rossant for her exceptional leadership and lasting contributions to Gairdner and the global scientific community.

Read more on Dr. Janet Rossant’s Decade of Leadership at the Gairdner Foundation: https://www.gairdner.org/resource-hub/celebrating-dr.-janet-rossant-s-decade-of-leadership-at-the-gairdner-foundation

Tony Hunter was awarded the 1994 Canada Gairdner International Award for his groundbreaking discoveries on tyrosine kinases and their role in signal transduction pathways that control cell growth — work that fundamentally reshaped modern cell biology and cancer research.

In the first photo from October 1994, Dr. Hunter stands at the Gairdner Awards Gala alongside the late Anthony J. Pawson, both recognized for landmark contributions to our understanding of cell signalling.

More than 30 years later, in 2026, Dr. Hunter is pictured in his office at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, still holding his Gairdner award — a lasting reminder of discoveries that continue to influence science today.

A career defined not only by discovery, but by enduring impact across decades of biomedical research.

The 2027 Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award is now accepting nominations!

Presented annually to two mid-career investigators based in Canada, the award recognizes outstanding research achievements over the past six active years and the continued promise to advance human health through scientific discovery.

Applications are encouraged from across the full spectrum of health research, including basic science, clinical investigation, translational research, population health, and global health.

📅 Application deadline: July 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT

Researchers may apply directly or be nominated by a colleague.

Learn more and submit a nomination: https://www.gairdner.org/award/canada-gairdner-momentum-award

Event: Neurogenesis and Repair Conference 2026

This international meeting will bring together leading scientists and emerging researchers to explore the latest advances in developmental and regenerative neuroscience.

Through scientific sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference aims to foster collaboration, highlight shared mechanisms in neuroregeneration, and inspire the next generation of therapeutic innovation.

🗓️ July 13-16, 2026
📍 Crowne Plaza Toronto

More information & registration details: https://event.fourwaves.com/neurogenesis-and-repair-2026/pages

Just 2 days left to apply for the 2026 Gairdner Early Career Investigator competition.

Assistant professors and equivalent-level investigators across Canada are invited to apply for the opportunity to present their research during Gairdner Science Week alongside this year’s Laureates.

Selected ECIs will connect with leading researchers from around the world, attend the 2026 Awards Gala in Toronto, and become part of the Gairdner scientific community.

Apply now: bit.ly/ECI2026
Deadline: May 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT

Last week, we celebrated 2026 Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award Laureate Karen Maxwell at a reception hosted by her home institution, the University of Toronto.

The evening brought together Dr. Maxwell’s family, friends, colleagues, and lab members to recognize her outstanding contributions and impact.

We heard remarks from Gairdner President & Scientific Director Janet Rossant, Karen Maxwell, and Lisa Robinson, Dean of Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Their reflections highlighted the importance of discovery, mentorship, and the collaborative spirit that drives Canadian research forward.

Thank you to the University of Toronto and Temerty Medicine for hosting such a meaningful celebration in honour of Dr. Maxwell and her achievements.

We look forward to welcoming you tomorrow to the Gairdner/PROTEO 2026 International Symposium, which runs until Friday at the Théâtre de la Cité Universitaire (TCU), located in the Palasis-Prince Pavilion at Université Laval in Quebec City.

The program brings together international leaders in protein science, including:
🔬 Paul Negulescu (2025 Canada Gairdner International Award)
🔬 Ruedi Aebersold (2026 Canada Gairdner International Award)
🔬 Jeffery Kelly (2026 Canada Gairdner International Award)

👉 Discover all our speakers: https://event.fourwaves.com/proteo2026/pages/a611c2c6-7094-4ce4-9c30-14bc5b346da0

Nous avons hâte de vous accueillir dès demain au Symposium international Gairdner/PROTEO 2026, qui se déroulera jusqu’à vendredi au Théâtre de la Cité Universitaire (TCU), situé au pavillon Palasis-Prince de l’Université Laval, à Québec.

Au programme : 14 conférences d’envergure réunissant des leaders internationaux en sciences des protéines, dont :

🔬 Paul Negulescu (Prix Canada Gairdner 2025)
🔬 Ruedi Aebersold (Prix Canada Gairdner 2026)
🔬 Jeffery Kelly (Prix Canada Gairdner 2026)

👉 Découvrez l’ensemble de nos conférenciers et conférencières : https://event.fourwaves.com/proteo2026/pages/a611c2c6-7094-4ce4-9c30-14bc5b346da0

Two weeks left to apply!

The 2026 Gairdner Early Career Investigator competition offers assistant professors and equivalent-level investigators across Canada the opportunity to present their research during Gairdner Science Week alongside this year’s Laureates.

Join leading researchers from around the world and become part of the Gairdner scientific community.

Apply now: bit.ly/ECI2026
Deadline: May 29, 2026

From the treatment of severe acute malnutrition to the science of human milk and the microbiome, this Gairdner panel at the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) explored how nutrition shapes health across the lifespan.

Thank you to Gairdner laureates André Briend (2025) and Meghan Azad, PhD (2024), moderated by Christine Chambers, for an insightful discussion on the intersections of global health, early-life nutrition, prevention, and health equity.