Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Understanding the body and disease process Hormones

Hormones are produced by glands or special cells and are sent into the bloodstream to various tissues in our bodies as part of the endocrine system. Hormones influence almost every cell, organ and function in our bodies.

Researcher Researchers

Hormones

  1. 1920

  2. 1926

    Dr. James Collip succeeded in isolating the parathyroid hormone (PTH)

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  3. 1928

    Passing over an invitation from the Mayo Clinic, Collip instead joined McGill University as the head of their new Department of Biochemistry

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  4. 1930

  5. 1930s

    For 25 years, John Browne pursued a productive research agenda, which included the isolation of pregnanediol, a metabolic product of progesterone detectable in urine

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  6. 1931

    Along with Dr. Duncan Graham, Dr. Ray Farquharson published a report on Simmonds’ disease with three case studies

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  7. 1936

    Dr. Hans Seyle presented his concept of stress in the science journal, Nature

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  8. 1938

    After comparing the similarities between Simmond’s disease and anorexia nervosa, Drs. Farquharson and Hyland classified anorexia nervosa as a mental disorder and not a disorder of the endocrine gland

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  9. 1940

  10. 1941

    Dr. Charles Huggins made a seminal discovery

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  11. 1950

  12. 1955

    Dr. Hans Selye published “Stress and Disease” in Science

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  13. 1955

    Not ready to return to Canada, Dr. Claude Fortier joined the University of Balyor in Texas

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  14. 1956

    Dr. Jacques Genest made his first contribution to the study of hypertension. In a paper published in 'Science", he described the role of aldosterone in hypertension

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  15. 1959

    Dr. Huggins continued to explore the impacts of interrupted cell signalling

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  16. 1960

  17. 1960

    Fortier returned to Canada and became Director of the endocrinology lab at the Université Laval

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  18. 1960s

    Prolactin was discovered

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  19. 1961

    Douglas Harold Copp discovered the hormone calcitonin

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  20. 1965

    In the mid-1960s, Dr. Fortier was at the forefront of innovation as one of the first scientists to use computers as a tool in medical research

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  21. 1966

    Dr. Charles Huggins was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology

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  22. 1967

    Dr. Chrétien proposed what is now known as Prohormone Theory

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  23. 1967

    Dr. Michel Chrétien established the first protein chemistry lab built around specialized infrastructure

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  24. 1969

    Following his initial discovery of calcitonin, Dr. Douglas Copp was associated with isolating pure salmon calcitonin

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  25. 1970

  26. 1972

    Dr. Jean Dussault developed a blood test for congenital hypothyroidism

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  27. 1974

    Dr. Hans Seyle published "Endocrinology"

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  28. 1974

    Dr. Mladen Vranic presented his discovery of extra-pancreatic glucagon at the Conference of Glucagon held at Santa Ynez ranch in California

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  29. 1979

    The International Institute of Stress was founded

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  30. 1980

  31. 1980's

    Dr. Genest and his team continued to study the role of sodium and water excretion by the kidney

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  32. 1988

    Dr. Dussault purified thyroid receptor proteins

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  33. 1990

  34. 1998

    Extending his influence beyond Quebec, Dr. Chrétien was named the scientific director of the Loeb Institute at the Ottawa Civil Hospital

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  35. 2000

  36. 2010

  37. 2020

  38. 2021

James Collip, MD PhD

Hormones, Diabetes, Diabetes

Dr. James Collip is perhaps best known as a member of the team that discovered Insulin. Long after his role in that…

Read more about James Collip, MD PhD
Picture of James Collip, MD PhD

James Collip, MD PhD

Hormones, Diabetes, Diabetes

Dr. James Collip is perhaps best known as a member of the team that discovered Insulin. Long after his role in that…

Read more about James Collip, MD PhD
Picture of James Collip, MD PhD

John Browne, MD PhD

Hormones, Health and Medical Education & Training, Hormones

Dr. John Symonds Lyon Browne received great acclaim for his work in endocrinology and became a leader in medical…

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Illustration of John Browne

Ray Farquharson, MD

Hormones, Leadership in Organizational Development

As an authoritative figure in the field of endocrinology, Dr. Ray Fletcher Farquharson made a lasting mark on Canadian…

Read more about Ray Farquharson, MD
Picture of Ray Farquharson, MD

Hans Selye, MD PhD

Hormones, Hormones

Dr. Hans Selye is acknowledged as the "Father" of the field of stress research, having gained world-wide recognition for…

Read more about Hans Selye, MD PhD
Picture of Hans Selye

Ray Farquharson, MD

Hormones, Leadership in Organizational Development

As an authoritative figure in the field of endocrinology, Dr. Ray Fletcher Farquharson made a lasting mark on Canadian…

Read more about Ray Farquharson, MD
Picture of Ray Farquharson, MD

Charles Huggins, MD

Hormones

As a pioneer in hormonal research, Dr. Charles Huggins made ground-breaking inroads into one of the most difficult…

Read more about Charles Huggins, MD
Picture of Charles Huggins

Hans Selye, MD PhD

Hormones, Hormones

Dr. Hans Selye is acknowledged as the "Father" of the field of stress research, having gained world-wide recognition for…

Read more about Hans Selye, MD PhD
Picture of Hans Selye

Claude Fortier, MD

Hormones

When Dr. Claude Fortier began his post-secondary education, he studied sociology and political science. After a life…

Read more about Claude Fortier, MD
Picture of Claude Fortier, MD

Jacques Genest, MD

Hormones, Genitourinary Tract, Leadership in Organizational Development

Dr. Jacques Genest became the pre-eminent Canadian investigator of the cause and treatment of high blood pressure. He…

Read more about Jacques Genest, MD
Picture of Jacques Genset, MD

Charles Huggins, MD

Hormones

As a pioneer in hormonal research, Dr. Charles Huggins made ground-breaking inroads into one of the most difficult…

Read more about Charles Huggins, MD
Picture of Charles Huggins

Claude Fortier, MD

Hormones

When Dr. Claude Fortier began his post-secondary education, he studied sociology and political science. After a life…

Read more about Claude Fortier, MD
Picture of Claude Fortier, MD

Henry Friesen, MD

Hormones, Leadership in Organizational Development, Female Reproduction, Hormones

Dr. Henry Friesen has had a profound influence on health research in Canada, both as a groundbreaking scientist and as a…

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Picture of Henry Friesen

Douglas Harold Copp, MD

Hormones, Skin, Bones, Muscles & Joints

In 1961, Dr. Douglas Harold Copp's research into hormones led to the groundbreaking discovery of calcitonin, a hormone…

Read more about Douglas Harold Copp, MD
Picture of Douglas Harold Copp, MD

Claude Fortier, MD

Hormones

When Dr. Claude Fortier began his post-secondary education, he studied sociology and political science. After a life…

Read more about Claude Fortier, MD
Picture of Claude Fortier, MD

Charles Huggins, MD

Hormones

As a pioneer in hormonal research, Dr. Charles Huggins made ground-breaking inroads into one of the most difficult…

Read more about Charles Huggins, MD
Picture of Charles Huggins

Michel Chrétien, MD

Hormones

Physician/endocrinologist Michel Chrétien is an incomparable researcher. He discovered γ-lipotropin in 1967 and was the…

Read more about Michel Chrétien, MD
Picture of Dr. Michel Chrétien

Michel Chrétien, MD

Hormones

Physician/endocrinologist Michel Chrétien is an incomparable researcher. He discovered γ-lipotropin in 1967 and was the…

Read more about Michel Chrétien, MD
Picture of Dr. Michel Chrétien

Douglas Harold Copp, MD

Hormones, Skin, Bones, Muscles & Joints

In 1961, Dr. Douglas Harold Copp's research into hormones led to the groundbreaking discovery of calcitonin, a hormone…

Read more about Douglas Harold Copp, MD
Picture of Douglas Harold Copp, MD

Jean Dussault, MD

Hormones, Global Health

Before Dr. Dussault’s developed a screening test for congenital hypothyroidism, millions of children developed a tragic…

Read more about Jean Dussault, MD
Picture of Jean Dussault

Hans Selye, MD PhD

Hormones, Hormones

Dr. Hans Selye is acknowledged as the "Father" of the field of stress research, having gained world-wide recognition for…

Read more about Hans Selye, MD PhD
Picture of Hans Selye

Mladen Vranic, MD DSc

Diabetes, Patient Care

A giant in the field of diabetes research, Dr. Mladen Vranic’s career spreads over 50 decades. In that time, his ground…

Read more about Mladen Vranic, MD DSc
Picture of Mladen Vranic

Hans Selye, MD PhD

Hormones, Hormones

Dr. Hans Selye is acknowledged as the "Father" of the field of stress research, having gained world-wide recognition for…

Read more about Hans Selye, MD PhD
Picture of Hans Selye

Jacques Genest, MD

Hormones, Genitourinary Tract, Leadership in Organizational Development

Dr. Jacques Genest became the pre-eminent Canadian investigator of the cause and treatment of high blood pressure. He…

Read more about Jacques Genest, MD
Picture of Jacques Genset, MD

Jean Dussault, MD

Hormones, Global Health

Before Dr. Dussault’s developed a screening test for congenital hypothyroidism, millions of children developed a tragic…

Read more about Jean Dussault, MD
Picture of Jean Dussault

Michel Chrétien, MD

Hormones

Physician/endocrinologist Michel Chrétien is an incomparable researcher. He discovered γ-lipotropin in 1967 and was the…

Read more about Michel Chrétien, MD
Picture of Dr. Michel Chrétien

About the CMHF

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world, fostering future generations of health professionals through the delivery of local and national youth education programs and awards.

This enduring tribute to our country’s rich medical history is showcased here and in our physical exhibit hall in London, ON.