Morag Park Named President and Scientific Director of Gairdner Foundation

Dr. Park arrives at the foundation following a decorated career at McGill University, where she served as the James McGill Professor and held the Diane and Sal Guerrera Chair in Cancer Genetics. Her scientific reputation is built on her pioneering work regarding the MET receptor, a critical driver of tumor growth that provided the framework for current targeted cancer therapies. Beyond the laboratory, she has influenced the national research ecosystem, having served as Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research and co-chair of the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance.

In her new capacity, Dr. Park will oversee the foundation’s global awards program and educational outreach. The organization, established in 1957, has gained international prominence for identifying transformative biomedical discoveries, often preceding Nobel recognition for its laureates. Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, Chair of the Gairdner Foundation Board of Directors, noted that Park’s appointment was driven by her ability to build the systems necessary for high-impact science to flourish. Park stated that the mission to identify research vital to human health feels increasingly urgent as she takes the helm of the organization.