https://gairdner.org/winners/index-of-winners/#Mina_J._Bissell

Former Gairdner Foundation President.

https://gairdner.org/dr-john-dirks-retires-from-gairdner-foundation-after-23-years-as-president/

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#John_E._Dick

“Dick’s discovery of LSC changed the understanding of the underlying biology of cancer and stimulated exploration of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in other human cancers, including those affecting the breast, brain, colon, pancreas, skin and liver. His work highlighted the importance of investigating the properties of individual cells of the neoplastic clone, rather than bulk cancer cells and that special attention needs to be on the CSC that are the only cells capable of long term cancer propagation. The focus on CSC is revealing a number of properties that enable their survival in the face of therapy including dormancy, stress signaling as well as stemness programs that enable disease recurrence. Dick’s work points to the need to ensure that CSC are eradicated when therapy is delivered and the need for new therapies that target CSC vulnerabilities. The discovery that pre-leukemic stem cells are present many years prior to disease appearance and that relapse-fated LSC are already present at diagnosis both offer windows of opportunity to target pre-leukemia and relapse earlier to prevent disease and relapse from occurring, respectively. Dick’s findings offer clear direction for improving clinical outcomes in leukemia through LSC targeting and potentially in other cancers that adhere to the CSC model.” - Gairdner.org

Pakistan’s new ambassador to Canada.

John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Zulfiqar_Bhutta

Ambassador Zaheer Aslam Janjua, congratulates Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Zulfiqar_Bhutta

Canada Gairdner Wightman Award.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Deborah_J._Cook

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#John_E._Dick

Canada Gairdner International Award.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Stuart_H._Orkin

Canada Gairdner International Award.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Drew_Weissman

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Drew_Weissman

“The work of Drs. Karikó, Weissman and Cullis enabled the rapid availability of highly effective and safe COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which has become an important tool for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly their pivotal discoveries also have the potential to revolutionize the future delivery of effective and safe vaccines, therapeutics and gene therapies. The success of the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 suggests paths forward for similar vaccines for viral threats like influenza or HIV. Clinical trials are already underway to test mRNA vaccines to prevent diseases, caused by Zika virus, chikungunya and rabies infections.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are built on over 30 years of established scientific research and highlight the importance of basic and applied research, and international collaboration.” - Gairdner.org

Canada Gairdner International Award.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Pieter_Cullis

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Pieter_Cullis

“The work of Drs. Karikó, Weissman and Cullis enabled the rapid availability of highly effective and safe COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which has become an important tool for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly their pivotal discoveries also have the potential to revolutionize the future delivery of effective and safe vaccines, therapeutics and gene therapies. The success of the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 suggests paths forward for similar vaccines for viral threats like influenza or HIV. Clinical trials are already underway to test mRNA vaccines to prevent diseases, caused by Zika virus, chikungunya and rabies infections.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are built on over 30 years of established scientific research and highlight the importance of basic and applied research, and international collaboration.” - Gairdner.org

Canada Gairdner International Award.

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Katalin_Karikó

https://gairdner.org/winners/current-winners/#Katalin_Karikó

The Impact:

The work of Drs. Karikó, Weissman and Cullis enabled the rapid availability of highly effective and safe COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which has become an important tool for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly their pivotal discoveries also have the potential to revolutionize the future delivery of effective and safe vaccines, therapeutics and gene therapies. The success of the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 suggests paths forward for similar vaccines for viral threats like influenza or HIV. Clinical trials are already underway to test mRNA vaccines to prevent diseases, caused by Zika virus, chikungunya and rabies infections.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are built on over 30 years of established scientific research and highlight the importance of basic and applied research, and international collaboration.

Third from left: Dr. Weissman, Dr. Dick, Dr. Cullis.

John Dick and some of the scientists who are a part of his Lab.

From left: Catherine, Olga, Helena, Kirsten, Jean, Tsvee, John, Monica, Fayez, and Stephanie.

Speaking with students.