CMMT’s 15th Anniversary from CMMT on Vimeo.
Members of the medical research community gathered together on June 5 to celebrate the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics’ 15th anniversary. More than 260 supporters from government, education, health care, and life sciences communities came out for an evening of celebration.
Charles Sabine, a UK journalist served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. He spoke about his personal connection to the CMMT after testing gene-positive for Huntington Disease. Over the years, Sabine has collaborated with CMMT’s Director, Michael Hayden to bring public awareness to the innovative research at CMMT.
Speakers for the night brought welcoming greetings including Vancouver’s City Manager Penny Ballem who spoke on behalf of the Mayor and City Council “We’re very proud of the CMMT and all its partners – the whole place is a shining light on our life sciences industry.”
With greetings from UBC, CMMT’s academic home, Dr. Feldman, Executive Associate Dean, Research – Faculty of Medicine, detailed many of the important discoveries and accomplishments achieved by the CMMT over the last 15 years since its inception in 1996.
“There was a time before genes became fashionable, and Michael Hayden’s vision has clearly been rewarded,” said Feldman. “The Centre has attracted an outstanding group of investigators, who in turn have attracted ambitious, talented students and fellows. And we wish you another 15 years – and more – of discoveries and breakthroughs, enabling us to exercise greater control over the mysterious workings of our genes.”
Michael Hayden, Director of CMMT
The evening culminated in special presentations to Haig Farris, Dawn Graham, Michael Tarnow and Laurie Rix Macrae. Dr. Michael Hayden, CMMT’s Director noted that these individuals were instrumental in the development of the innovative genetic research centre. “What would life be like without these four people and their early insight and personal sacrifices,” Hayden said.
Haig Farris, the founding Chair of the CMMT Advisory Board, and a leading venture capital investor for high tech start-ups as president of Fractal Capital Corporation, was the first honouree for the evening.
In his speech he said that CMMT was recognized around the world for science and its multidisciplinary approach to research. “What sets CMMT apart is that they treat every obstacle as an opportunity, and we are better for it.”
Michael Tarnow, along with fellow honoree Dawn Graham, helped secure an initial investment of $15 million from Merck Frost Canada to help finance the building of the CMMT. Reflecting back on the earliest discussions about CMMT in 1992, Tarnow said “The idea that government, the pharmaceutical industry and academia could come together was a novel idea at the time. Here we are 20 years later having established a world class research institute.”
Dawn Graham, who is the former president of Merck & Co. Inc. for Europe and Canada, has 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Graham reflected on the tenacity it took to gain the cooperation of provincial and federal government, ultimately leading to the establishment of a thriving and innovative life sciences industry in BC.
“CMMT has been an anchor in this province for the biotech sector,” said Graham. “I think of CMMT and the promise it holds for patients. We know genes play a role in many diseases. The faster we can develop drugs to mitigate them, the better. I don’t think there is another institute that is better positioned to deliver that promise than the CMMT.”
Laurie Rix Macrae, as chair of the Rix Family Foundation, has continued the legacy started by her father Don Rix, a noted Vancouver entrepreneur, philanthropist and leader. “The growth and success of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and the CMMT were close to my father’s heart,” said Rix Macrae.
To learn more about the CMMT and its history, please see the anniversary video.