DR. HENRY G. FRIESEN
Message posted on May 5, 2025
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Friends of CIHR
I am extremely sad to inform you that we have learned that Henry Friesen passed away on April 30/25.
We have been received an outpouring of messages to recognize Henry’s many contributions to Canadian Health Research and to the formation of CIHR in particular. Below are some of them –
“Friends of CIHR mourns the death of Dr. Henry Friesen, a towering figure in Canadian biomedicine. His legacy is immortalized by his contributions in endocrine science, for his leadership in health research policy and by the many scholars who carry his name in recognition of their outstanding research”.
Dr. Aubie Angel C.M. MD
Founding President , Friends of CIHR
“Dr. Friesen was widely recognized and respected for his innovation, integrity and significant contributions to science, medicine and cross-disciplinary research. He leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking scientific discoveries that advanced medical research and had a tremendous impact at the individual, national, and international levels.“
Dr. Andrea Baumann PhD, FAAN, CAHS, CM
Vice President , Friends of CIHR Executive
“Unassuming benign and gentle, Henry was easily underestimated even as he made seminal biologic discoveries or, later on, with the advent of CIHR and Genome Canada essentially recast and rejuvenated the entire Canadian biomedical research landscape. He was one of a kind.”
Dr. Alexander MacKenzie MD, PhD
Secretary , Friends of CIHR Executive
“Henry Friesen was a remarkable scientist who transformed the Canadian health research landscape to the benefit of us all by skillful navigation of our complex federal political system.”
Dr. Reinhart Reithmeier, PhD FCAHS
Treasurer , Friends of CIHR Executive
CIHR postings
cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54305.html
cihr-irsc.gc.ca/f/54305.html
Friends Funeral Service (Winnipeg)
friendsfs.ca
Dr. Peter N. Lewis Interim President of CIHR
Obituary: Visionary Dr. Henry Friesen re-invented Canada’s premier health research funding agency. He also did groundbreaking work isolating and purifying the hormone prolactin, by @picardonhealth https://t.co/COaJUqqjI0 via @globeandmail @CIHR_IRSC
— André Picard (@picardonhealth) May 9, 2025
Title of Talk – Dr. Brenda Andrews – 2025 Friesen Prize:
“Accelerating Discovery: The Catalytic Impact of Interdisciplinary Environments
on Basic Biomedical Research”
Announcement – Dr. Brenda Andrews – 2025 Friesen Prize
Annonce – la Dre Brenda Andrews – le Prix Friesen 2025
