- Henry Friesen
Henry G. Friesen, CC, OM, MD, FRSC (born
July 31 ,1934 ) is a Canadianendocrinologist , a distinguished professor emeritus of theUniversity of Manitoba and the discoverer ofprolactin , ahormone which stimulateslactation inmammary gland s.Born in
Morden, Manitoba , he obtained a Bachelor of Science in medicine and a medical degree from the University of Manitoba in 1958. From 1965 to 1973 he was atMcGill University and from 1973 to 1992 he was a professor and head of the department of physiology and professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba.His research on
growth hormone s in dwarf children helped in developing a therapy for the treatment of this problem. In addition his work with prolactin helped to develop the drugbromocriptine , used for the treatment ofinfertility .From 1991 until 1999 he was president of the Medical Research Council of Canada and helped to transform it into the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research . He was president of the National Cancer Institute of Canada and president of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation. He is the founding chair ofGenome Canada .Honours
* In 1978 he was made a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Canada .
* He was named an Officer of theOrder of Canada in 1987 and promoted Companion in 2001.
* In 2001 he was inducted into theCanadian Medical Hall of Fame .
* In 2001 he was awarded theGairdner Foundation Wightman Award .
* In 2004 he was awarded theOrder of Manitoba .
* In 2006 he was awarded theCanadian Medical Association 's F.N.G. Starr Award, described as the "Victoria Cross of Canadian Medicine", "for his exceptional devotion for the betterment of mankind which has made a difference in health care". [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2006/10/c4688.html]
* He has received Honorary Doctorates from theUniversity of Western Ontario , University of Manitoba,University of British Columbia , McGill University andMcMaster University .References
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