2024 Gairdner Science Week Laureate Lectures

On October 24, the annual Laureate Lectures drew a full crowd to the MaRS Discovery District Auditorium for Gairdner Science Week, where seven 2024 Canada Gairdner Award laureates and three Early Career Investigator (ECI) Award recipients presented their transformative research in biomedical science.

View the full event album here

Dr. Shankar Balasubramanian highlighted revolutionary DNA sequencing breakthroughs that promise to transform personalized medicine. Dr. David Klenerman explored how the physical sciences are driving new biomedical applications. Dr. Pascal Mayer detailed the journey behind next-generation sequencing technology and its rapid impact on genomics.

In the realm of cancer treatment innovations, Dr. Michel Sadelain illustrated the promise of CAR T cell therapies, while Dr. Laura Evgin shared her work on enhancing their effectiveness and accessibility.

Health in early development emerged as a key theme as Dr. Meghan Azad delved into the unique properties of human milk, while Dr. Sue Tsai revealed how maternal antibodies influence offspring immune health, offering insights for diabetes prevention.

Dr. Christian Landry brought an evolutionary perspective to biomedical research, and Dr. Raquel Cuella Martin showcased how precision genome engineering is unlocking new knowledge about protein functions. Closing the event, Dr. Gagandeep Kang recounted the journey of India's rotavirus vaccine and its role in saving young lives globally.

This year’s Laureate Lectures highlighted the remarkable power of scientific discovery to transform lives around the world.

Watch the full event recording below!