World Firsts

1877

Introduction of Lister's antiseptic system (T.G. Roddick)

1890

Development of culturing diphtheria bacilli (W.G. Johnston)

1932

Identification of pituitary and placental hormones (J.B. Collip)

1950

Discovery that drugs taken by pregnant women could result in birth defects(C. Fraser)

Role of phosolipids in hormone signalling (M. L. Hokin)

Elastic properties of the lung described (R. Christie, M. Becklake)

1st neuro-surgical treatment of epilepsy (W. Penfield et al.)

1952

Role of phosolipids in hormone signalling (M. L. Hokin)

1953

"Levadopa" offered a marked but temporary antiparkinsonian effect demonstrated (T. Sourkes)

1957

Invention of artificial cell (T. Chang)

1st kidney transplant in North America (K. McKinnon, J. Dossetor)

Discovery of GABA neuro transmitter (KAC Elliott, H. McLennan et al.)

1965

1st artifical knee joint in the world (J. Miller)

1969

Discovery of carcino-embryonic antigen – tumour marker for cancer (P. Gold, S. Freedman)

1970

Connection between small airway diseases and cigarette smoking demonstrated (P. Macklem)

Development of PET technology

1972

Presence of peptide hormone receptors in known target tissues (B. Posner)

Isolation of Prolactin from human pituitaries and establishment of 1st assay created (H. Friesen, H. Guyda)

1979

Use of electron microscope radioautography to identify new hormone targets (B. Posner, M. Van Houten, J. Bergeron)

1980

Demonstrated that brain neurons regenerate (A. J. Aguayo)

First bone marrow transplant performed on a child in Canada (MCH)

1990

New surgical technique for damaged hearts (R. Chu-Jeng Chiu)

1992

Identification of a protein stimulating function of pancreatic islet cells (L. Rosenberg)

1993

Cloned the bcg gene in mice and in humans (P. Gros, E. Skamene, S. Vidal, D. Malo)

Gene associated with neurofibromatosis discovered (G. Rouleau)

Gene associated with Lou-Gehrig disease discovered (G. Rouleau)

Gene associated with early atherosclerosis discovered (R. Rozen)

1994

BRCA1 breast cancer susceptibility gene identified (P. Tonin, S. Narod)

1995

BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility gene identified (P. Tonin, S. Narod)

First physical map of the human genome created (T. Hudson et al.)

Gene associated with localized muscular dystrophy identified (G. Rouleau)

Gene associated with tumour metastic spread identified (P. Brodt et al)

1998

Genetic test for BRCA1 and BRCA2 for French Cdn women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers developed (P. Tonin, S. Narod)

1999

Vaccine for nerve regeneration developed (S. David)

Gene therapy with retinoid X receptor in cancer developed (R. Kremer)

2001 - 2002

Gene linked to a form of juvenile ALS identified (G. Rouleau et al.)

The HapMap Consortium to map human disease initiated (T. Hudson et al.)

Epilepsy mapping and method to assess, diagnose, prognose or treat achieved (G. Rouleau, P. Cossette)

Protein involved in wound healing and cancer progression discovered (A. Philip)

Tissue engineering of pancreatic islet cells achieved (L. Rosenberg)

Gene for epilepsy discovered (G. Rouleau, P. Cossette)

New technology for assisted reproduction developed (R-C Chian)

Gene associated with obesity discovered (T. Hudson, J. Engert et al.)

Drug targets for fungal infections identified (B. Turcotte)

2003

Gene that controls susceptibility to TB discovered (P. Gros, L. Mitsosand et al.)

Immunodiagnostic test for human paratuberculosis developed. (M. Behr, M. Semret)

1st clinical trial of the use of cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain in Canada (M. Ware, G. Bennett, JP Collet, A. Gamsa, Y. Shir, S. Shapiro, T. Huynh)

Gene associated with liver cirrhosis developed (T. Hudson)

Protein associated with vessel growth in cancer discovered (M. Park, C. Saucier)

New primary therapies in cystic fibrosis (L. Lands et al.)

Use of genetically engineered stem cells in mice (A. Peterson)

2004

Method of preserving fertility in young women with cancer developed (S-L Tan)

Leprosy susceptibility genes identified (E. Schurr, A. Alter, M. Mira, and M. Orlova)

Diagnostic test for Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection developed (B. Ward, M. Ndao)

Cryoleaf, a freezing device for eggs and embryos developed (S-L Tan, R-C Chian)

Antibodies associated with Lupus disease found (J. Rauch, R. Suban)

Drug target for pain control identified (G. Rouleau)

Biomarker for obesity discovered (A. Sniderman, K.Cianflone)

2005

Evdience of inheritance of colon cancer found (J. Jass)

Treatment of Crohn’s disease using Interleukin (IL)-1 achieved (D. Franchimont)

Electronic prevention of prescription errors developed (R. Tamblyn, A. Huang et al.)

Gene associated with premature aging discovered (D. Goltzman, D. Miao)

Device for egg collection in assisted reproduction developed (S-L Tan, W. Buckett)

2006

Risk associated with the use of Cox-2 inhibitors described (L. Levesque, J. Brophy, B. Zhang)

2007

Identification of human brain ordering centre (M. Petrides)

1st baby born from frozen eggs, matured in the lab (S-L Tan)

Diabetes gene discovered (C. Polychronakos, R. Sladek)

2008

Identification that apoB is the best index of the adequacy of LDL lowering therapy. (A. Sniderman)