The Dr. Gustavo Bounous Fund

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3 min readSep 6, 2021
  • CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. GUSTAVO BOUNOUS

Immunotec Hosts a Scientific Symposium at McGill University and Launchesther Dr. Gustavo Bounous Fund. On October 3rd, 2008, a Symposium sponsored by Immunotec, a company which developed Immunocal®, took place in the McGill University Faculty Club to honor the life and work of Dr. Gustavo Bounous, an investigator and Professor at McGill. His studies on the “Elemental Diets” in the early the 1960s to 80s at the laboratories of the McGill University Surgical Clinic, on the 9th floor of the Montreal General Hospital, eventually led to the realization that glutathione was the key to supporting the immune system, which in turn led to a product now known as Immunocal®. At this celebratory Symposium, invited speakers included Dr. Gerald Batist, Chairman of the Department of Oncology, and McGill surgeons Dr. David S Mulder and Dr. Ray C.J. Chiu. As each of these three men reflected on the early stages of their careers, their respect and affection for Dr. Bounous were obvious, as was his indelible imprint on their lives. The Symposium took place in a former mansion located in the Golden Square Mile of Montreal, originally the home of Baron Alfred Baumgarten who built the ballroom setting for the Symposium on springs to help support young dancers’ feet. Fittingly, Baumgarten was a scientist who developed the refinery process of sugar beets. The McGill Faculty Club continues to be a place where great minds gather for lunch and discussion. Dr. Gerald Batist’s discussion entitled Glutathione and Cancer, an Exciting Story was the first of the presentations. He serendipitously bumped into Gustavo Bounous over a coffee break and started a conversation about glutathione enhancement that unlocked the doors to their breakthrough research. The next speaker who simply introduced himself as a former student, friend and colleague of Dr. Bounous, was Dr. David Mulder, past Chairman of the Department of Surgery. His description of The Bounous Effect on Surgical Nutrition was a fascinating entrée into the lives of young surgeons and the pioneering academic enrichment research projects of which they were part at the University Surgical Clinic laboratories, under then Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Dr. Fraser Gurd. The final member of the McGill community to speak was Dr. Ray C.J. Chiu, who arrived later at the University Surgical Clinic, where Dr. Bounous and his close research collaborator, Hope McArdle, PhD, had been working for many years on surgical nutrition. His sometimes lighthearted talk Gus Bounous: A Luciano Tending the Bridge recalled a somewhat reclusive researcher in the next office who would often sing loudly in Italian, bringing to mind the famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. In recognition of Dr. Bounous’ groundbreaking work and his significant achievements in research and development, Immunotec President & CEO Mr. Northrop declared the launch of the Dr. Gustavo Bounous Fund, benefiting research at McGill University. The inaugural recipient of this award, chosen by Immunotec’s Scientific Advisory Board, is Dr. Thomas Jagoe, a pulmonologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology at McGill.

Retrieved from page 13 http://www.squareknot.mcgill.ca/SquareKnot_Winter2009.pdf

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