TORONTO — Ontario has awarded five leading early-career researchers with the 2024 John Charles Polanyi Prizes, recognizing their exceptional contributions to science, medicine, and innovation in the province. The $25,000 prizes, named in honour of Ontario’s Nobel laureate in chemistry, celebrate world-class research that is transforming lives, building the economy, and positioning Ontario as a global innovation hub.
The awards were presented at a Queen’s Park ceremony attended by Minister Nolan Quinn, Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont, and Dr. John Charles Polanyi himself.
“Our government is proud to honour and support our five Polanyi Prize winners for their groundbreaking research that plays a vital role in protecting our people, our economy and our province,” said Minister Quinn.
This year’s winners are tackling some of the province’s—and the world’s—most urgent challenges in climate resilience, personalized medicine, cancer treatment, chronic disease management, and reliable economic research.
Today, the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and I had the honour of recognizing five exceptional researchers with the prestigious Polanyi Prizes — awarded for their groundbreaking work in fields critical to Ontario’s economic success.
Now more than ever,… pic.twitter.com/fuFIcqcyrh
— Nolan Quinn (@nolanmquinn) June 10, 2025
Meet the 2024 Polanyi Prize Winners
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Dr. Rachel Baker (Queen’s University, Chemistry) is developing sustainable electrochemical methods to transform biomass and CO₂ into useful chemicals, helping to decarbonize the chemical industry.
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Dr. Caitlin Maikawa (University of Toronto, Chemistry) is engineering a dynamic polymer hydrogel to monitor IBD through biomarkers, aiming to improve detection and management of gastrointestinal diseases.
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Dr. Nikolai M Cook (Wilfrid Laurier University, Economic Science) is tackling bias in economic research and studying how climate change and pollution affect productivity and labour markets.
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Dr. Farshad Moradi Kashkooli (Toronto Metropolitan University, Physics) is advancing ultrasound-guided nanoparticle drug delivery to improve the precision and effectiveness of cancer therapies.
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Dr. Hossein Davarinejad (University of Ottawa, Physiology/Medicine) is using X-ray crystallography to understand how enzymes regulate genes—research that could lead to targeted treatments for cancer and genetic diseases.
“These five young Canadian scientists are doing distinguished research in the province,” said Dr. Polanyi, whose work earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1986. “Science is a shared gift that continues to improve lives across the globe.”
A Catalyst for Economic Growth and Global Leadership
The awards underscore the critical role of university research in advancing Ontario’s economic competitiveness. Since 2018, the province has invested $907 million in over 1,665 research projects, generating over 120,000 training opportunities, 406 patents, 76 start-ups, and 594 jobs.
“The need for innovation has never been greater,” said Steve Orsini, CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities. “University researchers are driving discoveries that improve lives and fuel Ontario’s economy.”
By supporting cutting-edge research and fostering partnerships with industry and academia, the Ontario government is positioning the province to lead in sectors such as clean tech, nuclear innovation, life sciences, and artificial intelligence.
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