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Greetings: Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research Dinner- 26 Sept. 2006
Emőke J.E. Szathmáry, Ph.D. It is a pleasure to co-host this dinner and bring greetings from the University of Manitoba to the celebrations surrounding the first conferral of the Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research. For the establishment of the prize, I want to recognize the Friends of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The prize is designed not only to honour an internationally renowned health researcher, but also to promote understanding of health research, including recognition of its essential role in health care, in creating economic opportunity, and in fostering social well-being. This dual purpose is facilitated by the future broadcast of the Prize winner?s lecture by CBC Radio, and by the future visit of each prize winner to a Canadian University. I am very pleased to note that the inaugural recipient of the prize, Dr. Joseph Martin, will be visiting the University of Manitoba later this academic year. For the decision to name the International Prize after Dr. Henry Friesen, I want also to thank the Friends of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Permit me to say in the vernacular of the University of Manitoba?s students that, from our perspective this decision was a "slam dunk". Dr. Friesen is arguably the one individual whose vision and contributions have had the most significant impact on medical research in Canada in recent history. The University of Manitoba is particularly proud of Dr. Friesen, who is an alumnus and has received both an earned degree in medicine and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from his alma mater. After some years away, Dr. Friesen returned home in 1973 to become an inspiring teacher and researcher at the University of Manitoba, where he mentored scores of graduate students and more than 80 post-doctoral fellows. His major research achievements include discovering the human pituitary hormone, prolactin, and developing a simple test to measure its level. As well he demonstrated that human growth hormone can be used effectively to stimulate the growth of very small children. Dr. Friesen's influence was extensive, as can be expected from one who has published more than 400 papers in scientific journals. He is, however, more than just a superb clinical scientist. He is also the visionary who re-defined how health research is done in Canada. The transformation of the Medical Research Council of Canada into the Canadian Institutes for Health Research took place when Dr. Friesen became President of the MRCC, and not only did he lead the transformation, but he also secured the commitment of the Federal Government to provide significantly more funding to the new entity. Later, Dr. Friesen added another administrative first to his career, as the founding Chair of Genome Canada. Dr. Friesen means much to the University of Manitoba, to his city and to his province. We were all delighted that he returned home after his term at the CIHR ended. Dr. Friesen is currently Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, where he continues to inspire all those who come in contact with him. In closing I would also like to extend, on behalf of the University of Manitoba, congratulations to Dr. Martin on his selection as the inaugural recipient of the Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research. Dr. Martin, a westerner from Bassano, Alberta, I might add, clearly, meets the criteria of the prize as he is a leader in health policy, an accomplished researcher, and academic leader. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Martin to the University of Manitoba when he visits later this academic year. |