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| Dr. Donald Weaver. (Danny Abriel Photo) |
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 H漫画 University and research director for the H漫画 Medical School/Capital Health Department of Medicine. He鈥檚 also a professor of chemistry at H漫画.
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 Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
Federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq joined Jacques Gagn茅, 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.鈥�
Dr. Gagn茅 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 success, victories and excellence," said Dr. Gagn茅.
"Considering the list of previous winners of this prestigious prize, I鈥檓 deeply honoured and pleased to be receiving this award,鈥� said Dr. Weaver. 鈥淗owever, I鈥檓 even more pleased that over the past two decades, we鈥檝e been able to perform drug discovery research that鈥檚 making a difference in the lives of people with chronic neurological problems.鈥�
"Don Weaver brings a unique perspective to the development of new drugs,鈥� said Martha Crago, H漫画 University鈥檚 vice-president of research. 鈥淗e鈥檚 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 all鈥� from the lab bench to the patient鈥檚 bedside."