In keeping with the theme of this seasonal edition, I sat down to interview an integral member of our Canadian immunology community here at the University of Toronto (UofT). Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker was the UofT’s Department of Immunology Chair from 2012 to 2023. He has left a lasting legacy on our community, and here...

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“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Frederick Banting Nobel Laureate Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin with Charles Best, says something that we must embrace as Canadian Scientists. In this issue of IMMpress we have lots to be proud of as Canadian Scientists. We punch above our weight class (and...

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Autumn has arrived, and as the maple leaves turn a vibrant red, we are thrilled to bring you this latest issue of IMMpress Magazine, dedicated to the rich and diverse landscape of Canadian immunology. Canadians from sea to sea are making significant strides in the field of immunology every day, and so in this issue,...

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(image) The human body has been bombarded by environmental insults since conception. The prenatal immune system facilitates the generation of tissues and organs and is a versatile medium for communication with the outside world, which largely constitutes endogenous maternally-derived solutes. As the fetus matures, characterized by an elaboration of physical and chemical barriers, this prepares...

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Since the beginning of Homo sapiens as a species, breastfeeding has been the main feeding practice for newborns. The earliest documented cases of neonatal breastfeeding date as far back as 2000 BC, and the importance of this practice has been well understood for centuries as a primary source of nutrition for infants. Alternative feeding practices...

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Four years ago in March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic. Nations scrambled to develop and secure vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – competing for supplies, intensifying political rivalries, and hoarding in the name of nationalism. As adults engaged in this frenetic...

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Growing pains, painful acne, menstruation, pubic hair, and voice cracks – these are some of the physical changes many of us can remember as we unavoidably stepped into teenhood. Puberty marks a crucial period in sexual maturation characterized by alterations in the composition and levels of our sex hormones which drive sex-specific changes in physical...

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Have you ever met a devoted cat-owner that is simultaneously allergic to that same cat? While 10-20% of the world’s population is allergic to cats or dogs, a 2020 survey of cat owners by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found 23% of cat owners lived with an allergy to cats. 84% of those allergic...

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In her book “The Baby and the Biome,” Meenal Lele, a mother of two children, invites readers on a deeply personal journey as she navigates the complexities of caring for her son Leo, who suffers from severe allergies. Drawing from her own maternal experiences and extensive research, Lele goes beyond the conventional scope of managing...

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