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On May 16, 2001, the Montreal Neurological Institute and McGill University inaugurated
the William Feindel Chair in Neuro-Oncology. The Chair was created thanks to a donation of $2.7 million
from Cynthia Molson-Baxter and her family to the Clive Baxter Memorial Endowment Research Fund.
Establishing this first Chair in brain tumour research at McGill University allows the Brain Tumour
Research Centre (BTRC) at the MNI to attract internationally recognized brain tumour researchers and clinicians
to work in Montreal and puts Montreal at the forefront of the field. The first recipient of the Chair is
the Scientific Director of the new BTRC, Dr. David Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan co-discovered the gene that controls
the survival, development and repair of many cells in the nervous system.
This new Chair is the 4th at the MNI and the 44th Chair in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University.
It honours the dedication of Dr. William Feindel, Neurosurgeon, Professor and former Director of the
MNI (1972-1984), in treating brain tumour patients. Dr. Feindel treated Mr. Baxter and was inspired by his
courage. "I am deeply touched to have this Chair in Neuro-Oncology named after me, and I think that
Clive (Baxter) would be proud of what we have accomplished".
The commitment of the Baxter family and friends toward advancing brain tumour research also honours
the memory of Mr. Clive Baxter. Mr. Baxter was an award-winning journalist for
The Financial Post, who in 1973 at the age of 42 was diagnosed with a malignant brain
tumour. Mr. Baxter became dedicated to
informing others about the treatments available for brain tumours and to heightening awareness of the need
for research into brain diseases. Although operations, radiation, and chemotherapy temporarily stopped
the progression of the brain tumour, Mr. Baxter died in 1980.
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