Recipients

Janet Rossant
PhD, FRS, FRSC

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Dr. McInnes - "Janet is one of the few scientists who in the biological research community if you mention her in any country, any other country the listener immediately knows who you're talking about. And I think there wouldn't be more than at the most perhaps 10 such scientists in Canada. She's an internationally visible research star and the country is, we're very fortunate to have her."

Dr. Rossant - "Well I think there's a revolution in health research generally worldwide. I think that Canada and the CIHR are well placed to lead that revolution because it's a revolution that's going to require integration of knowledge across many different fields of research. And the CIHR's mandate is exactly that, to bring together researchers across all aspects of health research and use that integration to really have an impact on the health of Canadians."

Brian Cox - "Janet has brought together a, a large group of researchers from various disciplines, all related to biology I think, or at least with an interest in biology. And by doing this she's created a very dynamic environment where people with different expertise's can assist each other and it brings new ideas and new perspectives to her, to the research. And I'm very excited to be able to work with someone like Janet."

Dr. Rossant - "I think that the most important things that we have discovered recently has been to understand how cells become specialized in the early embryo. We've discovered some of the genes that switch cell fate from one cell type to another. And indeed some of those genes are genes that appear to be important in switching stem cell fate. So we have genes that make cells what we call pluripotent cells that can make many different cell types, but we also understand some of the genes that stop them doing that. And again, this is basic information that is going to be, we hope, applicable, not just to stem cell research but also to understanding some of human embryo problems, pregnancy problems because we can understand how the placenta develops and how the genes that control that arise."

Dr. McInnes - "I think Janet's tremendous strengths in science are exceptionally clear thinking and excellent judgment, both with respect to what kind of research to do and how to do it, but also judgment in the, the related areas of science, dec, committees making decisions and institutions deciding upon directions in various roles around the world and on editorial boards and leadership committees she's manifested these traits over and over again."

Dr. Rossant - "Well I like to think that our research is internationally competitive, that we're contributing to an international process of research that derives new information, new knowledge and that what we do will be of importance to everybody and not just Canadians."

Dr. Rossant - "I'm really delighted and honoured to receive the CIHR Distinguished Investigator Award this year. I'd like to express my gratitude to CIHR and the review panel for choosing me for this award. It really is an honour to receive the recognition of my peers for my research. Thank you very much."

Recipients - Janet Rossant - Video

Dial-up low-speed connection:
[ Windows Media (2.0 MB) ]

[ Help ]