9/9/2009 Researchers

RESEARCHERS
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Discoverer of Immunocal®

Educated at the University of Turin and the

University of Genoa in his native Italy,
Gustavo Bounous’ distinguished career in
medical research began as a Research
Fellow in surgery at the Indiana Medical
Center, Indianapolis. In 1963, he moved to
Canada and commenced an academic
career that led him to become Professor of
Surgery, firstly at the University of Sherbrooke (1973-1985), then at
McGill University (1985-1993).

Dr. Bounous was awarded the 1965 medal of the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He pioneered the use of elemental
diets in the prophylaxis and treatment of intestinal lesions associated
with shock, intestinal ischemia, radiation, cancer chemotherapy and
Crohn’s disease.

In 1968, he was named Career Investigator of the Medical Research

Council, an award that was reconfirmed until 1993, the year of his
retirement from McGill University. In 1978, Dr. Bounous initiated a novel
research program to search for a dietary protein source that would boost
the immune system, in conjunction with a colleague from the McGill
University Faculty of Medicine. Studies led to the discovery of an
undenatured serum milk concentrate that sustains normal glutathione
levels and promotes immune enhancing activity. Subsequent identification
of the active ingredients present in this protein mixture, brought on in
1993, the production of a high-quality bioactive material given the name
and trademark Immunocal®.

Co-Discoverer of Immunocal®

Patricia Kongshavn received her Honors Degree

in Natural Sciences as a Major Scholar at
Cambridge University, and completed her
doctorate in Immunology at McGill University
after immigrating to Canada. She subsequently

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9/9/2009 Researchers
joined the Faculty of Medicine at McGill
University and held appointments in the
Departments of Physiology and Medicine,
becoming Full Professor in 1986. Her research
was funded by independent grants to her from
the Medical Research Council of Canada, the National Cancer Institute of
Canada and the National Institutes of Health in the United States.

Her main research was concerned with increasing basic knowledge of the
immune system, with a focus on cellular immunology, host/parasite
interactions and the genetics of natural resistance.

In the mid-1970’s she began collaboration initiated by Dr Gustavo

Bounous to research the influence of various dietary proteins on immune
responsiveness. They published their first paper on this research in 1978
and continued their collaboration until 1989, during which period they co-
authored 14 papers. This work led to the discovery of an undenatured
whey protein concentrate that regulated glutathione levels and promoted
immune enhancing activity. This led ultimately to the production of a high
quality bioactive nutraceutical: IMMUNOCAL®.

Dr. Kongshavn retired from McGill to relocate to the West in 1990.

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