The nominations for the Canada Gairdner International Awards go through a two-stage adjudication process. The first assessment is done by The Medical Review Panel (MRP), a group of over 30 leading scientists from across Canada. They select a short list of approximately 20 candidates, which is then given to The Medical Advisory Board (MAB), composed of 24 Canadian and international scientists. Each January, the MAB meets in Toronto to review the nominations submitted by the Medical Review Panel. After an in-depth study and lengthy discussion of each nominee, comparing their work with others in their respective field, secret ballots are cast and the five annual winners chosen.