Annual Report 2008 Table of Contents
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Annual Report 2008 Table of Contents Page 1 THE HISTORY OF THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION Page 2 MISSION AND VISION Page 3 GOALS Page 4 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Page 5 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR Page 6 2008 YEAR IN REVIEW Page 7-9 REPORT ON 2008 OBJECTIVES Page 10-11 THE YEAR AHEAD: OBJECTIVES FOR 2009 Page 12 2008 SPONSORS Page 13 GOVERNANCE Page 14 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2008 Page 15 MEDICAL REVIEW PANEL 2008 Page 16 MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD 2008 Page 17 GLOBAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD 2008 Page 18 GAIRDNER STAFF 2008 Page 19-30 2008 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION Canada Gairdner 2008 Awardees. From L to R: Henry Friesen, M.D., Alan Bernstein, PhD. Harald zur Hausen, DSc., M.D., Samuel Weiss PhD., Nahum Sonenbrg, PhD., Victor Ambros, PhD., Gary Ruvkun, PhD. and John Dirks M.D. “The Gairdner Award is one of the world’s greatest biomedical research prizes. Where it leads, others follow, including the Nobel committees in Stockholm.” Paul Nurse, President of the Rockefeller University, Gairdner and Nobel Laureate The Gairdner Foundation was created in 1957 by Our track record of consistently high quality James Arthur Gairdner to recognize and reward the adjudication and selection by the independent achievements of medical researchers whose work adjudication committees, have resulted in global contributes significantly to improving the quality of recognition and esteem of the Gairdner Awards. human life. Since the first awards were made in 1959, the Gairdner Awards have become Canada’s In addition to encouraging and rewarding foremost international award. The Canada Gairdner individuals who have made contributions in International Awards are one of the three most the conquest of disease and the relief of human prestigious awards in medical science, along with suffering, the Foundation presents the Canada the Swedish Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Gairdner Awards in order to focus public, American Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards. professional and scientific attention on significant They hold up the pinnacle of achievement as a achievements in the field of health sciences. The mirror to Canadians, and in so doing, play a role in Awards also foster improved communication of helping Canada achieve its goals of excellence. ideas among scientists, students and the public. The Gairdner Foundation was incorporated in In 2009, the Gairdner Foundation will celebrate its December 1957 as a charitable corporation under the 50th anniversary, and will inaugurate the Canada laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Its funds Gairdner International Awards. originally derived from the personal gifts of the Founder and members of his family. This inspired and farsighted decision and the faithful stewardship by those who carried on the activities of the Foundation have ensured that the Awards continue to inspire the very best health research and have contributed to strengthening Canada’s scientific research capacity and international reputation. 1 THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2008 MISSION The mission of the Gairdner Foundation is to recognize and celebrate the work of the world’s best health researchers through the Canada Gairdner International Awards, the Gairdner Wightman Award and the Canada Gairdner Global Health Award. Inherent in our mission statement is the intent to bring to the attention of Canadian scientists and the public, the most important scientific developments globally in the field of health sciences. Our aim is not only to enhance Canada’s stature in the international scientific The Gairdner Foundation Vancouver Symposium © Don Erhardt From L to R: Charles Sabine, Harold Varmus M.D., Cynthia community, but to facilitate linkages Kenyon PhD. and Muin Khoury, M.D., PhD. between leading international scientists and Canadian research institutions and to inspire young Canadians to aspire to the highest levels of scientific excellence. VISION • To be Canada’s pre-eminent awards for the most significant international scientific achievements in health research • To be identified internationally with the highest standard of research excellence in the field of health sciences • To provide inspiration to Canadian researchers, including the next generation, to achieve world–class levels of scientific excellence • To promote a science culture in Canada by increasing public awareness of its importance to our modern society 2 THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2008 GOALS © Don Erhardt John H. Dirks M.D., President and Scientific Director, The Gairdner Foundation The goal of the Foundation is to maintain and expand the profile of the Canada Gairdner Awards program, guided by the Board, with a commitment to encouraging excellence and recognizing and rewarding those who achieve such excellence in the field of health sciences. A unique aspect of the Gairdner Foundation is our National Program, where award recipients contribute a week of their time visiting Universities across Canada. The National Program brings the world’s top scientists to Canada and helps raise the profile of science in our country. This program provides a unique opportunity for Canadian scientists and graduate students to interact with international leaders who represent the best of scientific excellence. “The Canada Gairdner Foundation Award is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious awards in biomedical science.” Government of Canada (Science, Technology and Innovation Council). Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation System: State of the Nation 2008. 3 THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2008 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR It has been my The Canada Gairdner Awards are Canada’s only privilege to serve as globally known and respected international Chair of the Gairdner prizes, and Gairdner is the only national Foundation Board of organization that consistently brings the world’s Directors for the past best biomedical researchers to Canada to share four years. During their ideas and work with scientists across the that time there have country. In so doing, it enlarges networks and been many changes enhances Canada’s international reputation to the Foundation: the while providing a realistic and unbiased shift from a private benchmark for Canada’s leading scientists. The to a public and truly Canada Gairdner Awards is a program that national Board; a $20 inspires Canadians to perform at world-class million allocation from levels of research and innovation. the Federal Government to raise the value of Biomedical research is international. Canada’s its prizes to $100,000; a significant endowment position in this critical global enterprise will from the Province of Alberta; the introduction be further strengthened during the 50th of a new Canada Gairdner Global Health Anniversary celebrations in 2009 through the Award; and significant growth in its outreach largest international celebration of science ever programs to universities and high schools held in Canada. It will take place throughout across Canada. the year and across the country in 18 different One thing has not changed – our commitment cities. to recognizing and celebrating excellence in Gairdner has accomplished much in its first science research. Over the past 50 years, the half century, but much more remains to be Canada Gairdner Awards have established done. Increasing the scope and the profile of themselves as one of the three most important the awards and the programs will enhance biomedical awards in the world. With a the culture of science in Canada. Because reputation for being a precursor to the Nobel Gairdner is a partnership organization, it Prize, they are widely respected by the will continue to leverage its national and biomedical research communities in Europe, international relationships to reach across Japan and North America. Over the past five provinces, universities, and health institutions years the Foundation has worked hard to use to encourage and contribute to the quest for its stature to raise awareness of the importance scientific discovery and innovation. of scientific research in Canada at the public, corporate and government levels. Henry Friesen, C.C., M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.R.S.C. Chair, The Gairdner Foundation 4 THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2008 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT and SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR The past year has been a transformative one I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and for the Gairdner Foundation, and we are appreciation to the staff of the Gairdner Foundation, particularly grateful to the Government of Canada who work diligently to make the programs for recognizing the value of the awards and successful every year. guaranteeing their existence for future generations. In its’ February 2008 budget, the Government Canada’s position in the critical enterprise of of Canada made a $20 million allocation to the biomedical research will be further strengthened Foundation to enable us to raise the value of the during the 50th Anniversary celebrations of 2009. prize to $100,000, a level befitting its’ international Symposia will take place across the country stature, and to make the prize more competitive throughout the year, bringing 50 Gairdner with other major prizes. Laureates, including 20 who have subsequently won the Nobel Prize, to participate in a series In 2009, the name of the awards will be changed to of international symposia featuring the best the Canada Gairdner International Awards. We will international and also inaugurate a new prize – the Canada Gairdner Canadian scientists. Global Health Award. We believe that this award, The 50th Anniversary the first major prize of its’ kind, will help bring will culminate with international recognition to the important role that a one-day event in Canada plays in the global health field and be a Ottawa and three catalyst for creating a world platform for Canada. days of events and programs in Toronto. Over the past year, we have focused on fostering Canada’s most partnerships among government, industry, prestigious scientific universities, research facilities and the general awards dinner will public, as we seek ongoing support for the take place in Toronto Foundation.