The summer Olympics are now history and what an event. I was proud of Canadians and Canada many times as I’m sure all of us were. A week ago I was on vacation out in Whistler….a little mountain biking and some hiking. Whistler is already abuzz for the 2010 games (I zip - lined past the finished luge/bobsled facility which is amazing). I am struck by how much effort and emotion we put into sport, and rightfully so. Everyone feels some national pride at a gold medal performance. I am also struck by how many “gold medalist performers” we have at the Princess Margaret. Tak Mak, Ben Neel, Mary G., David Jaffray, Jon Irish, Norman Boyd, and literally dozens of other researchers and clinican scientists. We don’t really celebrate our “scientific and medical” gold medalists like we should. The discipline and years of training for a gold medal worthy athelete and a top research doctor or clinician are similar. The passion, work ethic, and even competitve nature are similar. Yet our cancer warriors are changing the world for cancer patients, right here in Canada. I am taking nothing away from our superb atheletes but am just raising the proposition that our medical and research “superstars” deserve the recognition and support that our world class atheletes receive. The federal government innovation grants announced last week are a step in the right direction. Biomedical and biotech are areas where Canada has the potential to win many “gold medals”. We need the philanthropic world, all levels of government, and especially the average Canadian to commit to achieving our medical and scientific potential over the next decade. Like the Chinese who prepared and invested so heavily in their atheletes, we need to do the same with our "superstars” who are fighting to ‘conquer cancer in our lifetime”.