Joint Statement from the Minister of Health and the Chief Public Health Officer Congratulating 2017 Ernest C. Manning Foundation Principal Award Recipients

OTTAWA, Nov. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, and Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer, today issued the following joint statement to congratulate the recipients of the 2017 Ernest C. Manning Foundation Principal Award:

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and Dr. Gary Kobinger who received the prestigious 2017 Ernest C. Manning Foundation Principal Award yesterday evening for their valuable contributions to the global effort to fight Ebola virus disease. The discoveries in Ebola research made by these scientists and their colleagues at the National Microbiology Laboratory have been recognized internationally as changing the course of research in this field. Today, Drs. Qiu and Kobinger are being awarded for the development of a promising experimental Ebola treatment and vaccine that saved lives during the West African outbreak.

"The Principal Award is the highest honour of several awards that the Ernest C. Manning Foundation grants annually to talented Canadian innovators who are improving the lives of Canadians and others worldwide through their commercialized innovations. It is another example of the outstanding work that is done by our Government of Canada scientists.

"The team from the National Microbiology Laboratory have earned international status as leaders in scientific research for the deadliest of infectious diseases. Canadians should be proud of their innovative work and discoveries, which have had an immense impact on global health."

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

Thierry Bélair, Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, [phone]