Karen Maxwell (photo by Erin Howe)
Karen Maxwell receives Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award
Published: March 31, 2026
Karen Maxwell, a professor in the department of biochemistry in the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has received the Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Award for 2026.
Presented by the Gairdner Foundation, the award recognizes mid-career investigators for exceptional scientific research contributions with continued potential for impact on human health.
Maxwell was recognized for uncovering the molecular strategies that bacteria use to defend against viruses and how bacteriophages evade these defences. Her research integrates genetics, biochemistry and structural biology to reveal bacterial immune systems and their mechanisms, helping lay the foundation for next-generation phage-based therapies to address antibiotic-resistant infections.
“I did my PhD in molecular genetics and a master’s degree before that at U of T, and have been attending Gairdner week since my student days,” Maxwell said. “It’s always exciting to see the science and the researchers these awards recognize, and to be part of that group is amazing.
“I share this honour with my trainees and lab staff, because I absolutely wouldn’t be here without their hard work.”
Sylvain Moineau, a professor of microbiology at Université Laval who previously held the Canada Research Chair in Bacteriophages, described Maxwell as a "leading figure" in phage and phage-bacteria interaction.
“Her findings significantly expand the landscape of microbial immunity and spark new lines of exploration in biotechnology, medicine, and phage-based therapy,” he said.
