In 2018, Professor Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington was awarded the prestigious 2018 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for his pioneering work in establishing and developing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study over three decades earlier. Subsequently, the GBD has greatly influenced debates about global health priorities and the development of health services and systems worldwide, and enabled the tracking of progress towards global and national health and development goals. Professor Murray has donated the proceeds of this award to the University of Washington to establish the GBD Emerging Researcher Award. The primary aim of the award is to support emerging global health researchers to carry out innovative research to improve the measurement and knowledge about burden of disease in populations.
Beginning in 2021, the University of Washington will make one award annually with the winner receiving $5,000 USD.