In a time of despair for U.S. scientists, Gairdner Award winners shine brighter than usual

Since they were established in 1957, the Canada Gairdner International Awards have celebrated achievements in biomedical research, from the discovery of stem cells to the development of mRNA vaccines.Founded by James A. Gairdner, a Toronto financier and philanthropist, with added supported from the Canadian government starting in 2008, the awards, which are now valued at $250,000 each, are among the most prestigious that can be won by any scientist in the world in the fields of medicine and human biology.Each year, five names are added to the growing roster of laureates. A separate $100,000 prize for those who have improved global health and two for mid-career researchers who have done exceptional work within Canada completes the slate of eight recipients.