Agency

The mission of the Gairdner Foundation is to celebrate, inform and inspire scientific excellence around the globe.

The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 with the main goal of recognizing and rewarding international excellence in fundamental research that impacts human health. Annually, eight awards are given: five Canada Gairdner International Awards for biomedical research, one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, specifically for impact on global health issues, and two Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Awards, recognizing mid-career Canadian investigators.

The Gairdner Foundation believes in coming together to openly discuss science to better engage the public, understand the problems we face, and work together to find solutions. Since its founding, a number of outreach events and programs have been developed with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientific innovators and fostering an informed society. By engaging in outreach programs across Canada, The Gairdner Foundation acts as a convener with the public, policymakers and other stakeholders on the impact of science on our everyday lives.