Kingston doctor wins prestigious award for leadership in cancer research

A Kingston Doctor and Queen’s researcher has been recognized for her international leadership in cancer research. Dr. Elizabeth Eisenhauer has received the 2021 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award for outstanding leadership in medical science.

“The prestigious award recognizes a Canadian health researcher who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership paired with exceptional science,” Kingston Health Sciences Centre stated in a news release on Wednesday, Apr. 7, 2021.

Dr. Eisenhauer joins a long list of ‘medical pioneers’ such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Janet Rossant who have previously won a Canada Gairdner award.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive this recognition,” Dr. Eisenhauer said. “Most importantly, I want to acknowledge that the work I did was only made possible by the truly incredible team of colleagues in the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) at Queen’s, collaborators and scientists across Canada, and, especially, the countless patients who volunteered to participate in clinical trials, often with the altruistic hope of helping future cancer sufferers.

“The Canadian Cancer Society’s support of CCTG since 1980 also permitted us to evaluate the ideas we developed and turn them into trials,” Eisenhauer added. “Moving forward, this type of support for ‘academic’ clinical trials such as that done by the CCTG is critical to continue to improve cancer outcomes.”

Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, offered her commendations to Dr. Eisenhauer on this achievement.

“On behalf of the entire Queen’s community, my sincere congratulations to Dr. Eisenhauer on this well-deserved recognition of her national and international contributions to cancer clinical trials and cancer treatment,” she said. “Not only has her research had an impact on cancer patients in Canada and around the world; she is a role model and mentor for women in health research.”