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2023 Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research: meet the winners

Now in its 30th year, the CCS Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research unveils the 2023 winners. 

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is proud to announce the 2023 recipients of its most prestigious annual awards. This year’s CCS Awards for Excellence in Cancer Research recognize the outstanding achievements of 8 leading cancer researchers in Canada. 

Since 1993, these annual awards have recognized some of the most talented research leaders and innovators who have helped advance cancer research and improve outcomes for people with cancer. We’ve introduced new award categories over the years to reflect the broad and evolving spectrum of cancer research, from transforming the current standard of care to championing health equity. 

"With great enthusiasm, we congratulate the winners on their remarkable achievements," says Dr Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Mission, Research & Advocacy at CCS. "Their unwavering commitment and leadership in cancer research have profoundly advanced our understanding and treatment of the disease to enhance and save lives.” 

Each winner receives a $20,000 prize to be put toward their research program.  

Here is an overview of the 2023 winners: 

  • Lifetime Contribution Prize – for an individual who, through vision and leadership, has enhanced the Canadian cancer research landscape to benefit people with cancer 
     
    Dr John Bell 
    Ottawa Hospital Research Institute 
    University of Ottawa 

  • Inclusive Excellence Prize – for an individual who has demonstrated leadership in the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility as it relates to the cancer research ecosystem in Canada 
     
    Dr Mandana Vahabi 
    ICES 
    Toronto Metropolitan University 

  • O. Harold Warwick Prize – for outstanding achievements in cancer control research 
     
    Dr Jacques Simard 
    Université Laval 

  • Robert L. Noble Prize – for outstanding achievements in basic biomedical cancer research

  • Dr Peter Dirks 
    The Hospital for Sick Children 
    University of Toronto 

    Dr Sheila Singh 
    McMaster Children’s Hospital 
    McMaster University 
  • Bernard and Francine Dorval Prize – for an early-career investigator whose outstanding contributions to basic biomedical research have the potential to lead, or have already led, to improved understanding of cancer treatments and/or cure 

    Dr Ryan Morin 
    BC Cancer 
    Simon Fraser University 

    Dr Adam Shlien 
    The Hospital for Sick Children 
    University of Toronto 

  • William E. Rawls Prize – for an early-career investigator whose outstanding contributions have the potential to lead, or have already led, to important advances in cancer control 
     
    Dr Fiona Schulte 
    Alberta Children’s Hospital 
    University of Calgary 

To learn more about the 2023 winners and to support life-saving cancer research, visit Awards for Excellence winners web page