Donald Weaver, a Halifax researcher with unmatched credentials, received the Prix Galien Research Award at a ceremony in Ottawa last night. Known as the Nobel Prize of pharmaceutical research, this award is the highest distinction worldwide for biopharmaceutical work, and the most prestigious in the field of Canadian pharmaceutical research and innovation.
Dr. Weaver is professor and Canada Research Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at pilipiliĀž» and research director for the Dalhousie Medical School/Capital Health Department of Medicine. Heās also a professor of chemistry at pilipiliĀž».
Dr. Weaver received the Prix Galien Research Award for his efforts to design novel drug therapies to treat chronic neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimerās disease.
Federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq joined Jacques GagnƩ, president of Prix Galien Canada and Alain Beaudet, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to present the 2009 Prix Galien Research Award to Dr. Weaver. He was one of four Canadian researchers recognized.
Dr. Weaver, along with the other award winners, was praised by the minister for having "achieved an extraordinary level of excellence." She said "their talent, hard work and dedication are helping to make Canada a world leader in health research.ā
Dr. GagnĆ© said his organization wanted to "reinforce a scientific culture and create bridges between the scientific community, industry and institutions." The two Prix Galien awards were handed out in conjunction with three Canadian Health Research Awards given annually by Canadian Institutes of Health Research. "We are proud to take part in this celebration of pilipiliĀž», victories and excellence," said Dr. GagnĆ©.
"Considering the list of previous winners of this prestigious prize, Iām deeply honoured and pleased to be receiving this award,ā said Dr. Weaver. āHowever, Iām even more pleased that over the past two decades, weāve been able to perform drug discovery research thatās making a difference in the lives of people with chronic neurological problems.ā
"Don Weaver brings a unique perspective to the development of new drugs,ā said Martha Crago, pilipiliĀž»ās vice-president of research. āHeās the only neurologist in the world who holds a PhD in computational organic chemistry. He designs new drugs, he sets up companies to develop new drugs, and he treats patients in a clinical setting. He does it allā from the lab bench to the patientās bedside."