2001 INDUCTEE Henry Friesen, MD Hormones, Leadership in Organizational Development, Female Reproduction, Hormones

Friends of the CIHR established the Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research

The prize is awarded annually to “an individual of international stature who best exemplifies Henry Friesen’s prescience, organizational creativity and broad impact on health research and health research policy.”

Henry Friesen inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Winnipeg, Manitoba

CIHR was established

After years of persistence and development, Friesen led the establishment of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. As a result, he is credited with redefining medical research in Canada.

Henry Friesen met with Paul Martin, Minister of Finance, to discuss the possibility of a new national agency for Canadian medical research

This meeting began Friesen’s determined push for change in the nature federal support for medical research in Canada.

The Medical Research Council of Canada appointed new leadership

Dr. Friesen served as President of the MRC for the next nine years. Committed to strengthening Canada’s medical community, he facilitated the establishment of the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative and the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund.

Friesen moved to the University of Manitoba

He became Professor and Head of the Department of Physiology and Professor of Medicine until 1991.

Friesen returned to Canada

He accepted a position at McGill University and was cross-appointed to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Prolactin was discovered

Against the skepticism of some of his colleagues, Dr. Friesen discovered prolactin and described its physiological effects. During this time, he also pursued research on human growth hormones.

Friesen graduated from medicine at the University of Manitoba

He then pursued post-graduate training in endocrinology at the New England Center Hospital in Boston.