Gairdner Science Week 2026
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October 22:2026 Gairdner International Symposium: After the Gairdner Award—Where Next?

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This symposium brings together 2026 Gairdner Laureates and leading researchers to explore how breakthrough discoveries evolve into transformative therapies and shape the future of medicine.

Featured Speakers Include:

  • Jeffery Kelly, 2026 Canada Gairdner International Award laureate
  • Matthias Mann, 2026 Canada Gairdner International Award laureate
  • Aaron Phillips, 2026 Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award laureate
  • Megan Levings, Professor, Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
  • Felicia Pagliuca, Senior Vice President, Cell and Genetic Therapy Research at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

 

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Unable to attend in person? Join us via livestream: https://bit.ly/GSW-2026-Livestream

Schedule

9:00 AM 

Chair Remarks 

9:05 AM 

Tafamidis Led to 10 Drugs for Treating Amyloid Diseases: What Remains to Do? 

 Dr. Jeffery W. Kelly, H. Lutcher Brown Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, United States

9:35 AM 

Moderated Q/A 

9:45 AM 

Leveraging heart-brain connections for novel treatments 

 Dr. Aaron Phillips, Associate Professor, Departments of Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiac Sciences, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary; Associate Dean, Innovation and Commercialization, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada

10:15 AM 

Moderated Q/A 

10:25 AM 

Regulating Human Immunity 

 Dr. Megan Levings, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia; Scientist, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

10:55 AM 

Moderated Q/A 

11:00 AM 

Bio Break 

11:25 AM 

Stem Cell Derived Islets for Type 1 Diabetes 

 Dr. Felicia Pagliuca, PhD, Senior Vice President, Cell and Genetic Therapy Research & Site Head, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, USA

11:55 PM 

Moderated Q/A 

12:05 PM 

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics: from precision instrumentation to saving patients' lives 

 Dr. Matthias Mann, Director of Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
12:35 PM Moderated Q/A 

12:40 PM 

Chair Closing Remarks 

Location

MaRS Auditorium, Concourse Level, 101 College Street, Toronto 

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