“In 2005 about 31% of CIHR applicants were awarded grants, yet by 2018 less than 15 of applicants received funding.” Regardless of what Copernicus says, our world revolves around money; so, it’s not surprising that money is the biggest roadblock of modern-day scientific discoveries. The majority of funding for research in Canada comes directly from...

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“These things are so bizarre that I cannot bear to contemplate them.” – Poincaré Sacks takes us back to the early days of defining neurological disease when sleeping sickness (Encephalitis lethargica) abruptly washed over the world shortly after the first world war and influenza pandemic wrapped the globe around their staunch fingers. Ending a decade...

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These go to 11. That line from This is Spinal Tap says it all, and highlights how IMMpress Magazine did not just go up to 10 Volumes, but when you need highest level of output from our outstanding UofT Immunology graduate students, well, they do not stop at 10, they go to 11. This issue...

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In recent years, PhD graduates have seen a shift in employment opportunities, with a growing number of non-traditional roles available beyond teaching and research. The specialized knowledge and expertise gained through rigorous research training make PhD professionals highly valuable to government agencies, non-profits, and private companies. In Canada, “law and social, community, and government services”...

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Scientists are used to communicating with their lab, classmates, and more broadly with a scientific audience. But have you ever tried to explain your project, or any specific scientific concept to friends and relatives from a non-scientific background? If yes, you will probably have noticed that some concepts that seem easy to understand for you...

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Picture [left to right]: Philip Barbulescu (Co-Editor-in-Chief), Karen Yeung (Co-Editor-in-Chief), Kitty Liu (Design Director) With this issue of IMMpress Magazine, we shine the spotlight on how modern media and scientific communication has shaped the public perception of science. It is impossible to discuss any aspect of modern society without acknowledging the role that science and...

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Indulging in personal activities and hobbies outside of research during grad school can be for personal enjoyment, but for some dedicated students, it can also be a way to earn a little money on the side. After all, grad school can be financially challenging, and side hustles can help subsidize assistantship or fellowship stipends. Dr....

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Every cell in your body has a genome, a collection of over 20,000 genes that instruct the body to function properly. Genes are made up of smaller building blocks called DNA bases. With over three billion bases in the human genome, a natural outcome is mutations, when incorrect bases occur. Although many mutations are harmless,...

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Dr. Piero Anversa had built a dazzling reputation as a revolutionary scientist. As a professor at Harvard Medical School, he directed the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He also served on the Board of Scientific Counselors, a peer-review committee that evaluates the quality of research conducted at National Institute of Health...

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Since the first industrial revolution in the mid-1700’s where breakthroughs in science and engineering led to the unprecedented rise in production output, the abrupt growth that societies experienced allowed for larger population capacities and an increased quality of life. For a large part of history, this endless need to progress has caused a reckless craving...

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