Adolfo J. de Bold

Adolfo José de Bold (February 14, 1942 – October 22, 2021) was an Argentine-born Canadian cardiovascular researcher, best known for his discovery of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a polypeptide hormone secreted by heart muscle cells. The hormone plays a role in regulating blood pressure, blood volume, and cardiovascular growth, and its discovery proved the endocrine function of the heart.

De Bold was an officer of the Order of Canada and was an inductee into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Early life and education De Bold was born Adolfo José de Bold on February 14, 1942, to Ana Patriarca and Adolfo Guillermo de Bold in Paraná, Entre Ríos in eastern Argentina. His mother was a homemaker and his father was a bureaucrat.

Before moving to Canada in 1968, De Bold obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in clinical biochemistry at the faculty of chemical sciences of the National University of Córdoba.

The discovery also led to what was called the Heart Hormone Patent Wars, with laboratories across the world racing to try and synthesize the hormone in what was considered the heart's hormone equivalent of insulin, with the rationale that the hormone could be used to treat heart conditions and also, to diagnose heart attacks. Lacking partnerships with drug companies, De Bold and his team at Queen's University found themselves at a disadvantage driving practical applications. Eventually, the team was able to synthesize the hormone. Manning Innovation Awards Principal Award (1986), Royal Society of Canada McLaughlin Medal in Medical Research (1988), International Society of Hypertension Research Award (1990), CIBA Award of the American Heart Association (1994), the American Society of Hypertension Research Award, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario included the discovery of ANP among its top ten research discoveries of the past fifty years. In 1992, he was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada. In 2014, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Personal life De Bold married fellow scientist and collaborator Mercedes Kuroski, a classmate in Argentina. The couple had five children. While settled in Canada, the family maintained their ties to Argentina, spending a month annually vacationing in the country.

Adolfo J. de Bold died on October 22, 2021, in Ottawa, Canada, aged 79.

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