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The Ontario Helix Awards recognize exceptional achievements in genomics across diverse industries, celebrating individuals and organizations that are leading the way in innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact. These awards spotlight those advancing genomic science and its application to enhance health, sustainability, and economic development in Ontario and beyond. Discover this year’s winners:
Dr. Lawrence Goodridge is the Canada Research Chair in Foodborne Pathogen Dynamics at the University of Guelph. With over $ 50 million in research funding, his work has profoundly impacted food safety and public health genomics.
Dr. Goodridge is also deeply committed to mentoring marginalized students from elementary grades to postdoctoral levels, guiding them through groundbreaking projects that have included an award-winning rapid water testing method.
His dedication has earned him numerous honours, including presidency of the Canadian Black Scientists Network, and a recent award from the International Association for Food Protection.
Terry Pirovolakis is a patient advocate who has raised over $4.5 million for the development of new gene therapies while raising public awareness and influencing policy development.
Driven by his son’s diagnosis of Spastic Paraplegia Type 50, Terry’s advocacy has led to a single-patient gene therapy trial for his son, marking a milestone for rare disease treatment.
His work illustrates the power of patient-led advocacy in driving medical innovation and has lasting implications for genomic healthcare in Ontario and beyond.
Material Futures is a Toronto-based start-up taking all-natural dyes to a new level by upcycling food waste to engineer sustainable pigments for the food & drug, fabrics, cosmetics and paint industries.
They have successfully scaled production to pilot levels, filed multiple patents and established partnerships with multi-national corporations.
As global regulations tighten around synthetic colourants, Founder and CEO Iris Redinger is poised to have Material Futures set new industry standards that support food security, climate goals and economic development.
Dr. Stephen Scherer is a distinguished researcher whose work has been profoundly shaping the present and future of genomic medicine.
His groundbreaking work has revolutionized our understanding of human genetic variation and his contributions have been instrumental in explaining the genetic basis of autism, leading to improved diagnostics and therapeutic options for patients.
Dr. Scherer remains a highly cited academic and his leadership in developing key genomic resources and fostering collaborative research has significantly advanced the field of genomics, both in Canada and internationally.
