Six of the world's top scientists win Gairdner Awards for achievements in medical research.

Obesity, human memory, and gene splicing the subjects of breakthrough research by 2005 Gairdner winners. Two Canadians among winners. Toronto lecture by 2005 Gairdner winner Jeffrey Friedman on the genetic roots of obesity on Tuesday, April 5th.

[TORONTO - April 2, 2005] - Dr. John Dirks, President of the Gairdner Foundation, today announced the 2005 winners of the Gairdner international Awards, which includes two Canadians.

"The Gairdners" are one of the most prestigious awards in all of science. Of the 274 Gairdner winners, 64 have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Founded by the late Toronto businessman, James Gairdner and now in their 46th year, the Gairdners recognize outstanding contributions by medical scientists worldwide whose work will significantly improve the quality of life.

Said Dr. Dirks: "The 2005 awards honour outstanding achievements in three very different but important areas of inquiry and discovery: obesity, human memory and gene splicing. Each of the awardees has done ground-breaking work that is transforming our understanding of how the body functions and how its malfunctions can be overcome."

On Tuesday, April 5th, at the Hotel Intercontinental in Toronto, one of the six new Gairdner winners, Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, will speak at a luncheon on the genetic roots of obesity.

The 2005 Gairdner winners are:

Dr. Jeffrey M. Friedman - Marilyn M. Simpson Professor, The Rockefeller University, New York City; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Director, The Starr Center for Human Genetics.

"….for contributions to our understanding of obesity and particularly for the discovery of the adipose tissue hormone, leptin."

and

Dr. Douglas L. Coleman - Senior Staff Scientist, Emeritus, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine

"….for contributions to our understanding of obesity and particularly for the discovery of the adipose tissue hormone, leptin."

Dr. Craig C. Mello - Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass.

" . . . for the discovery of RNA interference which initiated a revolution in the study and use of RNA in gene silencing."

and

Dr. Andrew Z. Fire - Professor of Pathology and Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California

" . . . for the discovery of RNA interference which initiated a revolution in the study and use of RNA in gene silencing."

Dr. Brenda Milner - Dorothy J. Killam Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal.

". . . for pioneering research in the understanding of human memory, and providing the necessary framework within which findings in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropharmacology can be integrated."

and

Dr. Endel Tulving - Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto.

". . . for pioneering research in the understanding of human memory, and providing the necessary framework within which findings in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropharmacology can be integrated."