THE GLOBE AND MAIL | Gairdner Awards honour eight explorers of how cells, genes and viruses work
A diverse group of eight scientists whose work has offered insight into how cells interact with each other and their environment, the genetic underpinnings of neurological disease and the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, have been named this year’s winners of the Gairdner Awards — the country’s most prestigious biomedical research prizes. Among the winners is Guy Rouleau, director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, who is this year’s recipient of the Gairdner Wightman Award, which recognizes scientific leadership in Canada.
In addition to his work linking various rare genes that occur in the French Canadian population to disorders such as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Dr. Rouleau is known for his efforts to make scientific research more accessible. Starting in 2016, he placed his institute at the forefront of the open science movement by allowing the free flow of data, tools and research results without restrictions related to who will profit from the knowledge.
