The Armand-Frappier Foundation was created in 1978 to support the Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre, affiliated to the Institut national de recherche scientifique. Since its creation in 1938 by the eminent researcher Armand Frappier, this research and training center remains one of the most important contributors to Quebec’s efforts in the fields of human and public health.
Throughout the years, the Foundation has donated several million dollars to the Centre by awarding scholarships for the training of the next generation of researchers, by setting up research chairs, by contributing to the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment and by financing large-scale rallying projects.
Dr Armand Frappier
Dr Armand Frappier was a doctor, a microbiologist, a professor and a researcher, a humanist, a visionary and a pioneer of research in health, who brought a remarkable contribution to the advancement of public health in Quebec, as well as to research and training in sciences.
Affected by the death by tuberculosis of many of his loved ones, Armand Frappier decided to focus first on tuberculosis, as he made battling infectious diseases the fight of his life. In 1938, he founded the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de Montréal, today the Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Center, to contribute to the wellbeing of his community through research, training, as well as the production of biologics.
An enriching journey to the institut pasteur
Dr Armand Frappier, sometimes referred to as the “Quebecer Pasteur”, journeyed for the first time to the Institut Pasteur in 1930, as the first live attenuated vaccine had been successfully used there for eight years. Convinced that he had finally found an efficient weapon against tuberculosis, Dr. Frappier will return to Montreal with something unusual in his suitcase: a BCG strain.
Dr Armand Frappier, sometimes referred to as the “Quebecer Pasteur”, journeyed for the first time to the Institut Pasteur in 1930, as the first live attenuated vaccine had been successfully used there for eight years. Convinced that he had finally found an efficient weapon against tuberculosis, Dr. Frappier will return to Montreal with something unusual in his suitcase: a BCG strain.<span class="su-quote-cite">Dr Armand Frappier</span>
Throughout his career, Armand Frappier worked to set up different types of laboratories that were usually the first of their kind in Quebec and amongst the first in Canada. He also headed the production of common vaccines, including new ones used against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, influenza, measles and pertussis.
On March 21, 2012, Dr Armand Frappier was inducted at The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in Toronto. The Hall of Fame thus paid tribute to someone who, by the force of his convictions and active involvement, was able to gather around him a competent team who remains to this day devoted to his cause.