Improving health and patient outcomes Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

The immune system fights infection (microbes) through special organs, cells and chemicals.  The immunology of infectious disease studies how the immune system responds to infectious agents and how infectious agents interact with, modify or elude the immune system. More recent developments have shown that immunology may play an important role in the treatment of some cancers. Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance — such as pollen, bee venom or pet dander — or a food that doesn't cause a reaction in most people.

Doctor and patient Researchers

Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

  1. 1832

    Grosse Ile Quarantine Station opened

  2. 1869

    At the age of 26, Dr. Montizambert became medical superintendent at Grosse Île

  3. 1883

    Robert Koch discovered the cholera bacillus

  4. 1892

    Dr. Montizambert built a laboratory at Grosse Isle

  5. 1894

    Dr. Montizambert’s public health success did not go unnoticed

  6. 1900

  7. 1910

  8. 1920

  9. 1930

  10. 1938

    Quebec’s First Medical Research Institute

  11. 1940

  12. 1943

    The Canadian Government re-established its Venereal Disease Control Division

  13. 1947

    A polio virus research program was launched

  14. 1950

  15. 1950

    During the poliomyelitis epidemic of the 1950s, Dr. Armand Frappier pioneered virology and introduced the Salk vaccine to Canada

  16. 1960

  17. 1970

  18. 1980

  19. 1980

    Dr. Allan Ronald travelled to Kenya to establish a research program for sexually transmitted infections in collaboration with the University of Nairobi

  20. 1981

    Dr. MacDonald became the country’s first paediatrician to be certified in paediatric infectious diseases by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

  21. 1984

    Along with Dr. Frank Plummer, Dr. Ronald established an AIDS clinic in Nairobi

  22. 1985

    Appointed to Canada’s National Advisory Committee on AIDS

  23. 1988

    Dr. Bergeron became the Director of the Clinical Research Unit for the treatment of AIDS in Quebec city and the eastern part of the province

  24. 1990

  25. 1991

    Dr. Simons’ research on asthma, the airways and anaphylaxis led to many other international appointments during the next 30 years

  26. 1995

    Dr. Bergeron facilitated the production of diagnostic inventions when he created Infectio Diagnostics Inc.

  27. 1996

    HAART became the new standard of care for HIV in North America and Europe

  28. 1998

    Lamivudine was licensed in Canada as Heptovir

  29. 2000

  30. 2001

    The Ugandan-based Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa was established

  31. 2004

    Co-founded the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology (CCfV)

  32. 2006

    In a landmark Lancet paper, Dr. Montaner postulated that wide availability of antiretroviral therapy immediately following HIV diagnosis would stop HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality and, at…

  33. 2007

    Dr. Bergeron established GenePOC

  34. 2010

  35. 2016

    Noni MacDonald launched MicroResearch Nova Scotia using skills learned from the earlier program developed in Africa

  36. 2020

About the CMHF

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world, fostering future generations of health professionals through the delivery of local and national youth education programs and awards.

This enduring tribute to our country’s rich medical history is showcased here and in our physical exhibit hall in London, ON.