Collection F2212 - Hendry-Connell Research Foundation collection

The Hendry-Connell Research Foundation was established in 1935. It was incorporated by Dr. Hendry Connell (1895-1964), an assistant professor at Queen’s University Medical School specializing in the treatment of ear, nose and throat problems. Dr. Connell engaged in research regarding cataracts of the eye. Based on results noted in cataract experiments, Dr. Connell formulated an enzyme solution (Ensol) thought to be quite promising in the treatment of cancer. Dr. Connell became involved in the clinical application of Ensol with cancer patients in July of 1935, and continued with his research until the mid 1950’s, when Ensol fell out of production.

The Foundation was in continual need of financial backing, due to the free distribution of Ensol to cancer patients, and received funding from a number of different sources. Dr. Connell entered into a research agreement with the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, whereby the assignment of patent rights for Ensol in the United States was exchanged for further research funds (Ensol went under the brand name Rex in the United States). Mr. Irenee Dupont of Wilmington, Delaware significantly funded the Franklin Institute, and in turn the Hendry- Connell Research Foundation. Dupont had a keen interest in promoting cancer research and was integral to the production of Ensol, and the establishment of the Foundation. Dupont withdrew his funding from the Foundation in 1938 at which point Dr. Connell appealed to the Government of Ontario which went on to fund the Foundation, at a greatly reduced rate, for the next few years. During the busiest year of Ensol production it was distributed and/or patented in over twenty-two countries.