Dr. Albert D. Friesen, who holds a PhD in protein chemistry, is largely regarded as a founding father of biotechnology in Manitoba.
He was the first full-time employee and eventual president of the Rh Institute, overseeing the development and pharmaceutical approval of WinRho for the treatment of Rh disease in unborn and newborn infants. He has been instrumental in the founding and early stage development of several other health-industry companies including ABI Biotechnology, Viventia Biotech Inc., Genesys Pharma Inc., Medicure Inc., the Manitoba Science and Technology Fund, DiaMedica Inc. and Genesys Venture Inc., a life-sciences startup incubator.
The founder of the Industrial Biotechnology Association of Canada (IBAC) and past chair of its board of directors, his other significant contributions include being:
- A former member of the Manitoba Health Research Task Group, Economic Innovation and Technology Council, National Planning Council, XVII World Congress of the International Society for Heart Research and the committee to establish the Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.
- A former member of the board, Canadian Hemophilia Society (Manitoba Chapter) and the Manitoba Health Research Council and a former chair of the Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship.
- The current director and chair of the board of Wellington Mennonite Personal Care Inc., director of the board of the Eden Foundation and chair of the Business of Science Symposium (Winnipeg). His also a current member of the American Heart Association, the Aboriginal Summit Steering Committee and the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.
Friesen is an adjunct professor at the faculty of pharmacy and a consultant to the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Manitoba. In 2003, he received the University of Manitoba’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
