CRAJ Fall 2026

Fall 2026 (Volume 36, Number 3)

Canadian Hero in Rheumatology: Dr. Marvin Fritzler

Dr. Marvin Fritzler was born in Vulcan, Alberta, the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada." He is Professor Emeritus in the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, where he served as the Head of the Division of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology & Dermatology (1985-1993) and Associate Dean of Research (1995-1999). His clinical practice centered mainly on systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis, and he continues to speak at symposia focusing on autoantibodies as biomarkers for predicting, preventing, and treating autoimmune diseases. He also held the Arthritis Society Research Chair for 14 years and is the founder and director of the Mitogen Diagnostics Corporation. In 2015, he served as Director of the McCaig Institute for Bone & Joint Health, culminating in a $10M endowment from the McCaig family. Dr. Fritzler’s research interests focused on the cell and molecular biology of autoantigens and the induction of autoimmunity by environmental exposures. The spectrum of diagnostic tests based on his discoveries reflects his commitment to knowledge translation and innovation. His research was continuously funded for almost 40 years by several agencies, most notably the Canadian Institute for Health Research with total funding greater than $80M. He has published more than 650 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and his work has been cited more than 46,000 times (h index 98; i10 index 459). He co-authored one of the top 100 citations in the Journal of Immunology (Autoantibody to a Nuclear Antigen in Proliferating Cells. J Immunol 1978 121:2228-34) and the book, “Ten Years of Progress in GW/P Body Research,” which had >38,000 downloads.

In 2001 he was appointed to the Government of Alberta’s Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy Board, and from 2005-2010 he chaired the Alberta Research and Innovation Authority (ARIA). He was inducted into the BioAlberta Hall of Fame, was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal and the ASTech Foundation Award for his leadership in shaping the research and innovation system in Alberta. Dr. Fritzler spearheaded the inaugural International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus held in Calgary in 1986. He facilitates, organizes and co-chairs the International Workshop on Autoantibodies and Autoimmunity and the Dresden Symposium on Autoantibodies.

For his contributions, he was inducted into the American Lupus Society Hall of Fame in 1986; named Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Calgary in 1988; inducted as an Honorary Member into the Mexican Academy of Medicine in 2002; designated Distinguished Investigator by the Canadian Rheumatology Association in 2003; and received The Arthritis Society Hero Award of Distinction that same year as well. In 2010 he was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and in 2013 he was designated a Master of the American College of Rheumatology, followed by being inducted into the Order of the University of Calgary in 2014. He has also been awarded the American Association of Clinical Chemistry—Carl R. Jolliff—Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016; Le Prix Rogers Demers, for International Contributions to Rheumatology in 2018; the Canadian Society Clinical Chemists Research Excellence Award in 2018; the Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists Neter Award for outstanding contributions to laboratory immunology; Master of the Canadian Rheumatology Association in 2019; and InGen’s City of Calgary “Top 7 Over 70” in 2025.

The four enduring principles he lives by include the following:

Reminder: Science is both provisional and contingent;
Perspective: Don’t focus on the bugs on the windshield;
Progress: Best seen by checking the rear-view mirror; and
Instill HOPE: Help Others Pursue Excellence