In 1993, Dr. Michael Smith shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for discovering and developing a crucial technique, known as site-directed mutagenesis, used in genetic engineering. His discovery enabled researchers to gain enormous insights into the structure and function of genes and proteins.
To honour Dr. Smith, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has established the Michael Smith Prize in Health Research (formerly, the Michael Smith Award for Excellence).
The Prize is provided annually to an outstanding Canadian researcher who has demonstrated a high degree of innovation, creativity, leadership and dedication in health research.
To be eligible for consideration, individuals must have at least 10 years of experience as an independent investigator since completion of their formal training and hold a position within a Canadian academic, hospital, not-for-profit organization or governmental institution or affiliated research institution.
The Prize consists of a medal, and a research grant of $100,000 per year for five years. The Prize is intended to provide a significant boost in funding for an exceptional investigator, who will continue over the next five years to produce research of exceptional merit; it is also intended to offset the direct costs of the winner's research program, including support for trainees. The winner will be selected on the recommendation of an international peer review committee. Any one individual may only hold the award once.
Each candidate must be nominated by a member of the Canadian health research community and be endorsed by the executive head of the candidate's institution. Candidates may be nominated on more than one occasion provided that they still meet the eligibility requirements.
Nominations must include the following items:
Only the original application is required.
Nominations must be received by December 15. Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition in July.
For more information on the prize and nomination procedures, contact:
Dominique Lalonde
Head, Program Delivery
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 954-1961
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: dlalonde@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
