DR. HENRY GEORGE FRIESEN

Condolences & Memories (7 entries)

• I met Dr Friesen while I was a medical student at McGill. He and other medical researchers who had been recruited from the University of Manitoba ran a summer student research program at McGill. The program was inspired by a similar one run by the legendary Joe Doupe who was a professor of physiology at UoM. The program included regular meetings with the other students in the program and the opportunity to present your results at a mini-conference at the end of the summer. Dr Friesen was personable and caring. He treated you like a scientist despite your inexperience and encouraged you to make contributions to the project. He invited me to the Laurentian Hormone Conference and included me as an author on the proceedings; my first paper! He kindled in me the excitement of discovery and in combination with the mentorship of Jim Hogg, another Joe Doupe influenced scientist, resulted in me choosing a career as a medical researcher. Dr Friesen had profound influence on Canadian Medical Science and on individuals; I am one of many. - Posted by: Peter Pare (Student and admirer) on: Jun 02, 2025

• Dr. Friesen was a giant in endocrinology research. His work on growth hormone and the physiology of human growth was well known to me before I relocated from the UK to Canada in 1988. As I began to take on leadership positions in addition to operating a research laboratory. He became a role model for me as to how to influence political thinking and foster investment to achieve the multiple benefits of investment in health research. His solid reputation as an international leader in his field of research was the foundation of his success in policy advocacy, and the greatest achievement was surely the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, As I became Scientific Director of the Lawson Health Research Institute in London I often considered how Dr Friesen would handle a particular issue I was facing, or sought his advice when we crossed paths in Ottawa or elsewhere. His legacy as a scientist, a thought leader and a mentor will live on in the careers of many. - Posted by: Dr. David Hill (Colleague) on: May 12, 2025

• Henry was a remarkable man - who played an outsized role as scientist, physician, and creative administrator - builder. I first met him in Boston where we briefly overlapped in the Astwood laboratory. Subsequently he played a key role in my recruitment to McGill and the Polypeptide laboratory which he had founded and directed. He was a kind and thoughtful director whose discovery of human prolactin capped a brilliant scientific career. His subsequent recruitment to head physiology at the University of Manitoba Med.School was soon followed by his paradigm changing role in the creation of the CIHR. He will be remembered for the positive influence he had on many people. May his memory be a blessing and a source of strength for his family - Posted by: Barry Posner (Colleague and Friend) on: May 10, 2025

• I had the great pleasure of working with, and for, Henry on the creation of the Canadian Genome Analysis and Technology (CGAT) Program under MRC oversight, a temporary program that introduced genomics into the Canadian scientific landscape and served as the forerunner for Genome Canada. Then eight years later I had the honor of working with him again on the CIHR Interim Governing Council, charged with developing the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Henry led that Council with great skill, blending the diverse ideas and opinions of several clinical and scientific leaders into a coherent operating plan. Henry had the idea to replace the MRC with the CIHR, the political skill to convince the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to support it, and the wisdom to guide its development from concept to a fully functional plan, before retiring and leaving its implementation to the next generation of researchers. Henry was one of a kind, and at exactly the right time. Thank you Henry. - Posted by: Ronald Worton (Scientific colleague) on: May 06, 2025

• We extend our love and sympathy to you-Joyce, Janet, Mark and family; and a heartfelt prayer that God's loving presence will you comfort as you mourn the loss of your dear husband and father. May God grant you the peace that passes all understanding, and the assurance of His everlasting love to carry you during this time of grieving and sorrow. I cherish fond memories of Henry as chairman of the board in the founding year of Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School back in 1981. As well, what a delight it was to have Janet eagerly assisting with duties in the Kindergarten classroom! And Joyce forever being the encourager. May our Heavenly Father sustain you all, and keep you in His care. Remembering you in our hearts and in our prayers,- Esther Anne and Terrance Klassen - Posted by: Esther Anne and Terrance Klassen (friend) on: May 05, 2025

• My sincerest condolences to Joyce, Mark and Henry's grandchildren for your loss. Canada has lost a great scientist and leader who discovered the hormone prolactin, menteed many young clinician scientists in Winnipeg, gave up his full life in Winnipeg to serve his country by becoming president of the Medical Research Council of Canada and initiated a national conversation that led to the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. I knew Henry first when he was the president of the MRC and I was head of the Lunenfeld Research Institute in Toronto. It was a challenging time for medical research in Canada as budgets were being slashed by at least 10% whilst the US NIH was undergoing a doubling of its budget. In typical Henry fashion, he rallied the Canadian health research community and amongst other things, launched a national 2 year conversation on transforming the MRC into an entirely new agency with a broader, more inclusive mandate, a different structure to include virtual research institutes and a correspondingly larger budget. During this sometimes difficult national conversation, many disparate views were expressed. It is to Henry's great credit that he listened, kept his eye on the ultimate goal which was parliamentary legislation that created the CIHR. Henry and I then crossed paths in a different way as I was asked to become the founding president of CIHR. During that time, Henry was always supportive, offered advice when I asked, and kept a watching brief in the background. His leadership of the MRC and its transition to the CIHR exemplified superb leadership, vision, perseverance and humanity. Without Henry, Canada would not have CIHR, a model internationally of where health research is today. Winnipeg, Canada and all of us who knew him have benefitted tremendously from his leadership, intelligence, vision, and humanity. With his passing, Canada has lost a giant. - Posted by: Alan Bernstein (Colleague) on: May 04, 2025

• Dr. Friesen was a senior medical resident at the Winnipeg General Hospital when I was a medical student. We were to become laboratory colleagues with Barry Posner (also from Winnipeg) in the Polypeptide Hormone Laboratory at The Royal Victoria Hospital and McGill University in Montreal. Henry provided me with a Medical Research Council Fellowship that launched my academic career, which cemented our friendship. Henry moved back to Winnipeg to be Professor and Head of Physiology at UM. He had established a frozen pituitary gland collection in Canada that produced human pituitary growth hormone (HGH) which benefitted many Canadian children who were HGH-deficient. My first research project was under Henry's direction: the first isolation of Human Pituitary Prolactin. One of Henry's greatest achievements was the establishment of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research that has fostered biomedical research across Canada for many decades. Henry was a critical thinker who often "thought outside the box", but he also had a subtle sense of humor. I valued him as a mentor, colleague and friend. My sincere condolences to Joyce and the Friesen family. Harvey Guyda, Dodds Professor Emeritus, McGill University. - Posted by: Dr Harvey Guyda (Former trainee, colleague and friend.) on: May 03, 2025