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Prix Grands Sages honours ƬƵ professor emeritus Dr. Phil Gold and two PhD candidates

Professor Remi Quirion, Mohan Du, Professor Ashok Vijh, Professor Phil Gold, Jennifer Maxwell. Courtesy: FRQ.
Published: 14 November 2024

Researchers’ outstanding contributions to science and society celebrated by the Fonds de recherche du Québec

Three ƬƵians were honoured by the Fonds de recherche du ϳé’s .

Dr. Phil Gold was named a Grand Sage for 2024 while PhD candidates Jennifer Maxwell and Mohan Du each received a Prix Grands Sages scholarship.

Gold, a trailblazing cancer researcher, is known for his dedication as a physician, researcher and teacher, he served as the founding Director of the ƬƵ (now Goodman) Cancer Centre, Physician-in-Chief at the Montreal General Hospital, and Executive Director of the Clinical Research Centre of the ƬƵ University Health Centre at the Montreal General Hospital.Last spring, the Research Institute building at the Montreal General was renamed in his honour.

ҴDZ’s numerous accolades include Companion of the Order of Canada, Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Québec, and Commander of the Order of Montreal. In 2010, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Maxwell and Du’s scholarships are valued at $10,000 annually for four years.

Maxwell, a third-year PhD candidate in experimental medicine at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, received the scholarship named in honour of Dr. Gold in the field of cancer research.

Du, a fourth-year PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering, received the Ashok Vijh Grand Sage Award in the field of electrochemistry. 

Prix Grands Sages was established in 2023 by Quebec's chief scientist, Rémi Quirion.


Advancing Cancer Treatment and Sustainable Energy Solutions

Maxwell’s research focuses on understanding mechanisms of therapeutic resistance to precision therapies in BRAF mutant cancers. She said she hopes to discover new treatment strategies.

Receiving the Grand Sage Phil Gold award is an incredible honour, and I am deeply grateful to the FRQ for this recognition,” said Maxwell. “This recognition validates the importance of this research and encourages me to pursue impactful research in the field. My sincere thanks go to the FRQ for their trust and support in advancing these efforts. ’s an honour to receive an award named after Phil Gold, a fellow ƬƵ alumnus, who is known for his pioneering work in cancer research.”

Du's research specializes in power systems, with a focus on microgrids that integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar PV panels and wind turbines, into traditional diesel-generator-based grids to create more sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions.

“I am deeply grateful to my supervisor, Professor Xiaozhe Wang, and my colleagues for their support. This award, bearing Dr. Ashok վ’s name, reinforces my dedication to advancing safe, stable and sustainable power systems. It is a profound encouragement to continue contributing to a low-carbon energy future, Du said.

“The Prix Grands Sages is an innovative initiative and a fitting tribute to Dr. Gold's profound legacy and lasting contributions to cancer research,” said Dominique Bérubé, Vice-President, Research and Innovation. "Together, these three researchers exemplify ƬƵ's enduring commitment to the pursuit of excellence, spanning generations: Dr. Gold with a lifetime of impactful contributions, and Mohan Du and Jennifer Maxwell, whose early achievements signal a promising future for continued innovation and discovery."

Award recipients were recognized at a ceremony on Nov. 13.  

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