Award-winning actor and London-native Victor Garber knows all too well the devastating effects that neurodegenerative diseases can have. Having supported both of his parents’ struggles with Alzheimer’s disease, Garber has turned his attention in recent years toward raising awareness about the disease and encouraging ongoing efforts to find a cure.
Garber will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2014 Leaders in Innovation Dinner celebrating research excellence at Western’s Robarts Research Institute. This year’s dinner shines a spotlight on research into the molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s. Garber will share his personal connection to the disease and his dedication to advocacy.
The Nov. 20 event will be emceed by Peter Mansbridge, chief correspondent for CBC News and anchor of The National, CBC Television’s flagship nightly newscast. The evening celebrates recent breakthroughs in solving the mysteries of these complex diseases and will include the presentation of the 2014 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine to renowned Alzheimer’s researchers Drs. Virginia M.-Y. Lee and John Q. Trojanowski followed by a keynote address and armchair discussion with Garber.
With a rich career in film, television and on stage, Garber is one of the most respected and talented actors of his generation.
With six Emmy and four Tony nominations to his credit, he has been seen in some of the most memorable works of film, television and stage. Best known for playing Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, and most recently, for his role in Ben Affleck’s, Argo, he also portrayed San Francisco mayor George Moscone in Milk. Additional film credits include The First Wives Club, Sleepless in Seattle, Legally Blonde and the Academy Award-winning film Titanic.
“The Leaders in Innovation Dinner provides the perfect venue to celebrate the pioneering work that our researchers at Robarts are doing to help solve the Alzheimer’s puzzle,” said Dr. Michael J. Strong, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry dean and interim scientific director at Robarts. “As a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s research and one who seen firsthand its devastating effects, I know Victor will inspire us to continue to push this research forward.”