The Gairdner Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 Canada Gairdner Award laureates, recognizing some of the world’s most significant biomedical and global health research and discoveries.
2025 Canada Gairdner International Award
The five 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award laureates are recognized for seminal discoveries or contributions to biomedical science:
Michael J. Welsh, M.D.
Roy J. Carver Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Director, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute; Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Paul Negulescu, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Awarded “For pioneering research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the genetic disease cystic fibrosis, leading to the development of transformative drug therapies based on these mechanisms, thereby improving and saving countless lives.”
The Work:
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder affecting more than 125,000 people worldwide. It arises from mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a protein responsible for regulating chloride and bicarbonate transport across cell membranes. This process is crucial for maintaining the fluidity of mucus and other protective substances in organs like the lungs and pancreas. When the CFTR protein malfunctions, it results in clogged passageways, severe infections, and organ damage.
Beginning in the early 1990s, Dr. Michael Welsh and colleagues revolutionized the understanding of cystic fibrosis by demonstrating that the CFTR protein is a chloride ion channel and is regulated by phosphorylation and ATP. They also showed how mutations disrupt CFTR function, preventing its proper activity in the cell membrane, and that misfolding and impaired function caused by the common DF508 mutation can be repaired in the laboratory.
This deeper understanding enabled the classification of cystic fibrosis mutations and paved the way for targeted therapies to correct CFTR protein defects. Dr. Paul Negulescu led the research team at Vertex Pharmaceuticals that developed the first-ever protein folding correctors, a novel class of medicines. Specifically, these medicines act by restoring the function of the CFTR protein. Two of these, Trikafta and more recently Alyftrek, are triple-combination therapies with the potential to treat approximately 90% of cystic fibrosis patients, including those with the DF508 mutation.
The Impact:
The work of Drs. Welsh and Negulescu and their teams have transformed cystic fibrosis from a fatal disease into a manageable condition for patients receiving treatment, showcasing how fundamental science can lead to life-saving innovations. Their efforts span the entire biomedical journey, from basic discovery to therapeutic intervention.
Previously, cystic fibrosis treatments focused only on managing symptoms, with patients facing significantly reduced life expectancy. Today, treatments built on Dr. Welsh’s discoveries and innovations by Dr. Negulescu’s team at Vertex address the disease’s root causes and can provide greater quality of life and life expectancy to those who receive it.
Beyond cystic fibrosis, their achievements have reshaped genetic medicine by proving the viability of mutation-specific treatments and offering a framework for addressing other protein folding disorders.
Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School; Professor Emeritus, Collège de France
Iva Greenwald, Ph.D.
Da Costa Professor of Biology, Dept of Biological Sciences, Columbia University; Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Gary Struhl, Ph.D.
Herbert and Florence Irving Professor at the Zuckerman Institute; Professor of Genetics and Development, Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Awarded “For pioneering work on the Notch signalling pathway, which has significantly contributed to our understanding of how cells communicate with each other during development, how these signals regulate cell fate determination and how disruption can lead to developmental defects and cancer.”
