The Doctors of BC Terry Fox Medal is awarded to outstanding individuals with a track record of making a difference in cancer care. It is our pleasure to share that Dr. Martin Gleave is the recipient of this year's prestigious award. Dr. Gleave has made outstanding contributions to global cancer research as a uniquely gifted surgeon and scientist.
He is a distinguished professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and chair of the UBC Department of Urologic Sciences, B.C. leadership chair in prostate cancer and executive director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre. In 2018, he was appointed into the Order of Canada, recognizing his contributions to cancer research.
Dr. Gleave has successfully built the Vancouver Prostate Centre into a UBC and National Centre of Excellence, with collaborative links across Canada and the world. Under Dr. Gleave’s leadership, the Vancouver Prostate Centre has blossomed into a state-of-the-art clinical facility for the care of patients with prostate and other genitourinary cancers.
He is amongst the top cited and funded scientists in Canada and has attracted more than $120 million in research funding. He patented several anti-cancer drugs and founded OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals to develop OGX-011 and OGX-427, inhibitors of cytoprotective chaperones clusterin and Hsp27 which progressed to Phase III and Phase II trials world-wide. Dr. Gleave also recently co-founded Sitka and Sustained Therapeutics. His discoveries have and will continue to impact the care of prostate cancer patients everywhere.
“Terry Fox was a great Canadian whose vision, passion, perseverance and struggles galvanized decades of growth and excellence in cancer research across Canada. It is an honour for me to receive this medal on behalf of our team of scientists at the Vancouver Prostate Centre who share a vision and passion to help drive advances in cancer research to improve outcomes in cancer patients,” said Dr. Gleave.
Dr. Gleave is truly a unique and outstanding individual in Canadian and global medicine. He embodies the roles of clinician, surgeon, scholar, researcher, entrepreneur, and educator at the highest possible level.
The Terry Fox Medal recognizes individuals conducting clinical practice, research, or teaching/education who have achieved national or international recognition based on the following:
- a distinguished career of achievement in their area of focus;
- a seminal advance through the conduct of their endeavours;
- advancement in the conduct of cancer medicine and cancer control.
Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin, president-elect, Doctors of BC recognizing Dr. Gleave with the Terry Fox Medal at the BC Cancer Summit on November 17.
Congratulations Dr. Gleave on receiving this year's Doctors of BC Terry Fox Medal!
