We are here today to celebrate the announcement of the second leadership chair awarded by the Leading Edge Endowment Fund. The Chair in Prostate Cancer Research at UBC has been awarded to Dr. Martin Gleave.

In partnership with the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, this chair will further the goals of an internationally recognized research team led by Dr. Gleave at the Prostate Centre here at VGH. Dr. Gleave himself is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning surgeon and scientist.

I congratulate Dr. Gleave, and I am particularly pleased that one of our best researchers will be staying in British Columbia to continue his work creating new therapies for men with prostate cancer.

Consider that one in eight Canadian men will be affected by prostate cancer – and one in four of them will die from it. That shows how important Dr. Gleave's work is – and will continue to be.

The Leading Edge Endowment Fund will contribute over $56 million for 20 British Columbia leadership chairs and nine regional innovation chairs. These research chairs will support our post-secondary institutions' ability to recruit and retain world-class researchers and scientists.

By doing so, they will further innovations in health care, environmental stewardship and other public services that will enhance not only the lives of British Columbians, but people around the world.

We know our public post-secondary institutions are key players in helping British Columbia, and indeed Canada, take their place on the world stage for research and innovation. Government is committed to investing in research and development because we believe that it's essential for the growth of a knowledge based economy and society.

The 20 leadership research chairs will each receive a total of up to $4.5 million, which is cost-shared between the government and the private sector – each contributing approximately half. We are building the kind of world-class research community this province wants, needs and as today's announcement so aptly demonstrates.

Before I leave you I have the pleasure of introducing Dr. Martha Salcudean.

Dr. Salcudean has chaired the Leading Edge Endowment Fund since its inception in April 2002. Her passion for research and innovation and her dedication and expertise have been critical to establishing our Leading Edge Endowment Fund.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Salcudean for the contributions she has made to research and innovation in British Columbia.

Dr. Salcudean.