[TORONTO - October 5, 2007] - The Gairdner Foundation (www.gairdner.org) is bringing eight of the world's most respected scientists in cancer prevention to Toronto to discuss their work, including the opportunities and the limitations for preventing cancer. The Gairdner Foundation is partnering in this initiative with Cancer Care Ontario, the Ontario Division of the Canadian Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of Canada.

All of these scientists will speak at a day-long Cancer Prevention Forum that is free and open to the public on Wednesday, October 24th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Main Auditorium, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, 155 College Street.

Said Gairdner President, Dr. John Dirks: "Part of our mandate is to demonstrate the importance of medical research in all our lives and I can't think of a subject more relevant and compelling than how research can prevent cancer."

Among the speakers are Sir Richard Peto from Oxford University, who first proved the link between smoking and cancer and who will discuss "Cancer mortality trends attributed to and not attributed to tobacco," and Dr. Douglas Lowy from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, whose work led to the creation of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

For a full list of speakers and subjects click here to view the Toronto Program page

The Cancer Forum takes place the day before the Gairdner Gala Banquet, on October 25th, when the 2007 Gairdner Awards ("The Gairdners") will be presented to five international scientists for their fundamental discoveries that will have an impact on genetic development, cancer and many other diseases.

The Cancer Forum is made possible through a contribution to the Gairdner Foundation by Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.

The Gairdners (www.gairdner.org) are Canada's top biomedical prize. Now in their 48th year, they have grown to be one of the most prestigious awards in all of science, recognizing outstanding contributions by medical scientists world wide, whose work will significantly improve the quality of life. Of the 283 Gairdner awardees, 68 have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Since 2003, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) has been the national sponsor of the Gairdner Awards. CIHR is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada, supporting the work of 10,000 researchers in universities, teaching hospitals and research institutes across Canada. The results are improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

-30-

Contact: Bob Ramsay 416-598-3970 bob@ramsayinc.com