I was saddened to read in the papers an obituary for Dr. DeBold, the father of cardiac endocrinology who discovered that the heart produces a hormone, which no one believed. He had difficulty publishing his most important article showing that the heart produces “atrial natriuretic factor”, which helps manage pressure. He did his research on a shoestring budget and rose to direct the Ottawa Heart Institute.
Canada should spend more than it does on research into basic sciences. And since Dr. DeBold emigrated from South America it also speaks to the value of having educated immigrants.