2014 INDUCTEE Adolfo de Bold, PhD Heart & Vessels, Hormones

Born:

February 14, 1942

(Paraná, Argentina)

Died:

October 22, 2021

Education:

PhD, Queen’s University (1973)

Awards & Honours:

2014: Le Grand Prix scientfique de la Fondation Lefoulon Delalande Institut de France

2014: The American Society of Hypertension Research Award

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Discovered a new hormone and transformed our understanding of the functions of the heart

Father of the field of endocrinology

Recognized by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as one of the most important Canadian discoveries, Dr. de Bold and his team’s isolation and sequencing of the cardiac polypeptide hormone ANF established that the heart has an endocrine function. Dr. de Bold demonstrated that through ANF, the heart modulates blood pressure, blood volume and cardiovascular growth at multiple levels. This seminal finding has served as the basis for many new avenues of research in cardiovascular physiology, with important clinical implications that have revolutionized patient care for conditions such as hypertension and heart failure.

Key Facts

One of Canada’s most cited scientists

More than 27,000 basic and clinical scientific papers related to ANF have been published

Delivered more than 180 invited lectures worldwide

His work on ANF was declared the first of the top 10 research accomplishments funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario in the past 50 years

Holder of four patents

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

When Dr. De Bold published his ground-breaking discovery in 1981, there was a paradigm-shift in heart research and treatment. Not only has an entire field of research developed and expanded the scientific world’s knowledge of the heart, his contributions have had significant impacts in the clinic. Physicians are now better able to detect the early stages of heart failure and improve health outcomes for patients.

2014

April 24, 2014
Adolfo de Bold is inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Kingston, Ontario
2006
The International Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons awarded Dr. de Bold the “Living Legend” Award in recognition of his contributions to the field of heart health.
Heart & Vessels
1986 - 2013
Dr. de Bold moved to the nation’s capital and was influential in establishing the Research Centre at the University of Ottawa Heart institute.
Leadership in Organizational Development, Heart & Vessels
He served as the Director of the Cardiovascular Endocrinology Laboratory, a premier cardiovascular research institute, until his retirement in 2013.
1981
As a faculty member at Queen’s University, Adolfo de Bold makes his ground breaking discovery of ANF and the endocrine function of the heart.
Heart & Vessels
1973
Arrival at Queen’s University

After meeting a Queen’s Faculty member in Argentina, Dr. de Bold made the adventurous move to Canada to continue in research and studies in the Department of Pathology at Queen’s University. He obtained his PhD in Experimental Pathology this year.
1968
Laying the Groundwork

Dr. de Bold undertook his university training in the Faculty of Chemical Sciences at the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. In 1968, he obtained a professional degree in Clinical Biochemistry.