Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Prize in Cancer Research

Deadline: February 27, 2026

Dr. Poul Sorensen
Dr. Poul Sorensen,
2025 Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Prize Recipient

Purpose of the Prize

The Dr. Chew Wei MBBS [HK] FRCOG [ENG] Memorial Prize in Cancer Research will be awarded annually to a Canadian physician or scientist who makes outstanding contributions to the treatment, amelioration, or development of therapies for cancer. Among the criteria that will be considered is:

  • Impact on policy and practice
  • Forging partnerships with scientists and others to foster cancer research and/or to implement discoveries
  • Cultivating future leaders in the field
  • Contributions to the treatment, amelioration, or development of therapies for cancer.
  • Approach to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion is embedded in all aspects of research, leadership and mentorship

Monetary Award for Each Prize

One prize of $50,000.00 CAD will be awarded annually to a Canadian physician or scientist.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a prize, a nominee must be a Canadian citizen holding an academic appointment in good standing, be active and productive in their career, and makes outstanding contributions to the pathogenesis, treatment, amelioration or cure for cancer. Nominees must be nominated by an expert in their field. Self-nominations will not be accepted. A letter of invitation to submit is not required. The Selection Review Committee reserves the right to rule on the eligibility of nominees. The University may decline to award a prize in any given year if the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine is of the opinion that awarding a prize is impractical or undesirable.

Contact

Meredith Ladner
Research Administration Coordinator
Faculty of Medicine, Office of Research
meredith.ladner@ubc.ca

New for 2026:

A lay summary of the nominee’s research and impact in their field. (250 words maximum); The lay summary should be a simple, jargon-free explanation of the nominee’s research program, designed for non-experts to understand the impact of their research.

A Lay Summary will be required for all new nominations and re-nominations.

Nomination Package

Nominations require:

  1. A nomination letter (maximum three pages) must describe the nominee’s contributions to the treatment, prevention or cure or development of therapies for cancer; their role in developing future leaders; and their impact on their field. The letter should provide examples of how the nominee incorporates equity, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of their research, leadership, and mentorship. It must also include the nominee’s five most significant publications, a statement of impact, and a clear explanation of why the nominee should receive the award.
  2. The nominee’s institutional CV, including a complete list of publications;
  3. A lay summary of the nomination. (250 words maximum); The lay summary should be a simple, jargon-free explanation of the nomination, designed for non-experts to understand the impact of the research clearly.
  4. Two letters of support from experts in the nominee’s field of work. At least one letter must be from an expert outside Canada and at least one letter must be from outside the nominee’s home institute (Please Note: Letter from outside Canada can be the same as the one from outside home institute); and
  5. Confirmation of the nominee’s Canadian citizenship.

Please address all letters to:

Wyeth W. Wasserman, Ph.D.
Vice Dean, Research
317-2194 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3
Canada

The nominations of eligible candidates may be considered for up to three years. Please refer to the Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Prize in Cancer Research Guidelines for more information and complete nomination instructions.

Submission

Please see the Online Submission Portal for all submissions. This includes all re-submission nominations.

Past Winners

YearRecipient
2025Dr. Poul Sorensen, The University of British Columbia
2024Dr. Cheryl Arrowsmith, University Health Network, University of Toronto
2023Dr. David Huntsman, The University of British Columbia
2022Dr. William Foulkes, McGill University
2021Dr. John Bell, University of Ottawa
2020Dr. Nada Jabado, McGill University
2019Dr. John Dick, University of Toronto
2018Dr. Martin Gleave, The University of British Columbia
2017Dr. Eduardo Franco, McGill University
2016Dr. Connie Eaves, The University of British Columbia
2015Dr. Marco Marra, The University of British Columbia
2014Dr. Tak Wah Mak, University of Toronto