Research funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) has contributed to a significant decline in deaths caused by cardiovascular disease.
1954 |
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Dr. Wilfred Bigelow performs first successful open heart surgery on a patient in Canada at Toronto General Hospital using a surgical technique developed through an HSF research grant.1963 |
The foundation establishes a summer medical student scholarship program to attract the brightest young minds to cardiovascular |
1964 |
Dr. William Mustard develops surgical procedure to correct “blue baby syndrome,” a previously lethal congenital heart defect. |
1965 |
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Diagnosing heart disease becomes easier thanks to ECG telemetry, technology funded by HSF that allows doctors to monitor patients’ hearts remotely while they go about their daily activities.1968 |
The first heart transplant surgery, made possible as a result of research funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, is performed in Canada. |
1976 |
Foundationfunded researchers discover that prostaglandin E2, a naturally occurring substance, could maintain a unique feature of fetal circulation, giving surgeons much needed time to repair defects in the hearts of newborns. |
1976 |
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Dr. Henry Barnett conducts first clinical trial using aspirin to prevent strokes. Dr. Barnett begin negotiations to greatly increase focus on funding stroke research.1980 |
Dr. Adolfo de Bold discovers atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), the hormone that controls high blood pressure, sparking a revolution in blood pressure research. |
1983 |
Foundation-funded researcher Dr. Robert Côté perfects the Canadian Neurological Scale, a clinical tool that measures neurological deficit following an acute stroke. The scale is now used in Canada and all over the world. |
1987 |
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Foundation researchers pioneer the use of the clotbusting drug tPA for heart attacks and develop a new surgical technique for treating irregular heartbeats.1990 |
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Foundation researchers discover first genetic link to premature heart disease.1997 |
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Human genome mapped with HSF funding, including identification of more than 84,000 DNA sequences related to heart disease and stroke.2000 |
Research by Alberta’s Dr. Lori West reveals that, unlike adults, newborns are able to accept hearts from incompatible donors. Foundation-funded project discovers that ACE inhibitors significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. |
2003 |
The Canadian Stroke Strategy, a joint initiative of the Canadian Stroke Network and HSFC, revolutionizes stroke management with a new integrated approach to stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. |
2004 |
INTERHEART study, led by Dr. Salim Yusuf, discovers the existence of nine modifiable risk factors that account for over 90% of heart attacks worldwide. The foundation immediately begins translating the findings into public health education programs aimed at preventing heart disease and stroke before they occur. |
2005 |
Foundation researchers discover the gene responsible for heart arrhythmias. |
2006 |
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Researchers identify important gender differences in the development of hypertension.2009 |
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Foundation-funded research enables first-ever in-utero surgery to correct congenital heart defects.2010 |
A report by Manitoba’s Dr. Hans Kruger finds that a 1 to 2% reduction in heart disease and stroke risk factors over 15 years translates into $3.5 billion in savings in direct and indirect health care costs in that province alone. |