Farncombe director receives Premier’s Summit Award

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/john-wallace.jpg” caption=”John Wallace has won the prestigious Premier’s Summit Award, the first scientist from outside of Toronto to do so. “]John Wallace, director of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, has won the prestigious Premier's Summit Award in Medical Research.

The McMaster University medical professor was one of two Premier's Summit Award winners at a gala event last night in Toronto, marking the first time a scientist from outside of Toronto has received the important prize.

Wallace, a pharmacologist who has been called an international superstar in the field of gastrointestinal research, was recruited to McMaster from the University of Calgary in January this year.

An MBA graduate, he is co-founder of two pharmaceutical companies, NicOx and Antibe Therapeutics, demonstrating his ability to move scientific discoveries from the lab to the marketplace.

“These award winners are turning great ideas into products and services for global markets. Their work will help keep Ontario competitive and create jobs,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Wallace's focus is on gaining a better understanding of the causes of some of the most common digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and colon cancer, as well as the ulcers that can arise from using painkillers and arthritis medication.

In particular, he is interested in learning what role the bacteria that live inside the human digestive system play in the development of these diseases. His ultimate aim is to design and produce better therapies for these conditions, which affect millions of Canadians each year.

The award is worth $5 million, with $2.5 million from the Government of Ontario and $2.5 million from the sponsoring institution. The McMaster funds are a donation of the Farncombe family which has supported the growth of McMaster's renowned digestive health research program.

The Premier's Summit Award is designed to build Ontario's research prowess by recognizing exceptional medical researchers and helping them expand their programs. The winners are internationally recognized leaders whose work is transformative in their fields.