Parliamentarians Celebrate Invaluable Canadian Research with Gairdner Award Laureates

OTTAWA, October 24, 2023 – The Parliamentary Health Research Caucus, along with co-hosts The Gairdner Foundation and Research Canada, will host a Luncheon to celebrate two 2023 Canada Gairdner Awardees: Dr. José Belizán, winner of the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, and Dr. Gelareh Zadeh, winner of the Canada Gairdner Momentum Award.

This invitation-only event, sponsored by AstraZeneca Canada and Innovative Medicines Canada, will allow Parliamentarians and special guests to meet with two of the world’s best biomedical and global health researchers to better understand their groundbreaking health research and recognize and reward international excellence in fundamental research that impacts human health.

“For years, the Gairdner Foundation has partnered with Research Canada to elevate Canada on the world stage as a leader in research and inspire the next generation of researchers and innovators. It is a pleasure to do that today in celebration of 2023 Canada Gairdner Award recipients Drs. José Belizán and Gelareh Zadeh,” says Dr. Janet Rossant, President and Scientific Director of the Gairdner Foundation.

Dr. José Belizán’s pioneering health research has led to innovative, evidence-based and low-cost global interventions in maternal and child health during the perinatal period that improve well being and care during pregnancy, reduce morbidity and mortality, and promote equity in vulnerable populations.

Dr. Gelareh Zadeh’s game-changing work has advanced our understanding of brain tumours, leading to better ways of discriminating, classifying and managing brain tumour subtypes to transform diagnosis and clinical management of brain tumours and give hope to individuals affected by brain cancer.

“Dr. José Belizán and Dr. Gelareh Zadeh exemplify research excellence, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to learn more about their work at today’s celebratory event,” says Dr. Tarik Möröy, Chair of Research Canada and Director of the Hematopoiesis and Cancer Research Unit at the Montréal Clinical Research Institute. “The Gairdner Awards are an invaluable Canadian resource, and we are so fortunate to gather at this yearly luncheon with Parliamentarians to hear from Laureates about their discoveries and contributions to health research.”

Thank you to the all the generous Sponsors of this Parliamentary Health Research Caucus luncheon, including Lakehead University, the University Health Network, BD Canada and the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR).

Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Where: Metropolitain Brasserie, Ottawa, Ontario
Social media: #HealthResearchCaucus
Who:

2023 Canada Gairdner Laureates
Jose Belizan, MD, PhD, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS) Argentina, National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), University of Rosario
Gelareh Zadeh, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FAANS, University Health Network, University of Toronto

Gairdner Foundation
Janet Rossant, CC, PhD, FRS, FRSC

Parliamentary Health Research Caucus
Chair: Brendan Hanley, MP (Yukon)
Vice-Chairs: Stephen Ellis, MP (Cumberland—Colchester), Carol Hughes, MP (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing)
Senate Representative: The Honourable Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, Senator (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Research Canada
Tarik Möröy, PhD, FCAHS, Chair
Alison Evans, President and CEO

About 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 418 prizes to laureates from over 40 countries (98 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.

About 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.

About the 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.

For inquiries:
Jordana Rosen
Communications Advisor
Gairdner Foundation
647-554-9157
jordana@gairdner.org

Christie Tomkins
Manager of Policy and Public Affairs
Research Canada
613-234-5129
ctomkins@rc-rc.ca