Brenda Andrews (supplied image)
Brenda Andrews recognized with Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research
Published: May 7, 2025
Brenda Andrews, a University Professor at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and the department of molecular genetics in U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has received the 2025 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research from the Friends of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FCIHR).
The annual prize recognizes exceptional innovation by a visionary health leader of international stature. It was established in 2005 to honour Friesen, a renowned endocrinologist known for his discovery of the lactation-stimulating hormone prolactin.
An internationally respected geneticist, Andrews is recognized for her functional genomics work in the budding yeast model system. She is particularly known for her studies on cell cycle-regulated transcription and protein kinase function in yeast, and for pioneering work with her Donnelly Centre colleague Charles Boone on genetic networks.
She is also recognized for her leadership as the inaugural director of the Donnelly Centre, a world-leading institute for interdisciplinary biomedical research that has helped solidify Canada’s reputation as a leader in post-genome biology and personalized medicine.
“I am honoured to have been awarded the 2025 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research," says Andrews. "This award is deeply meaningful to me as it recognizes the inspirational leadership of Dr. Friesen in shaping the biomedical and health research landscape in Canada."
