Immunology

The Specialist Programme in Immunology is offered through Trinity College in collaboration with the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto.

About Immunology and the Programme

Immunology is a new branch of the medical sciences which has recently gained prominence as a field of study in its own right, but which continues to draw on the more traditional disciplines of Microbiology, Pathology, and Biochemistry. In essence, Immunology is the study of the physiological responses which result when foreign (i.e. non-self) materials are introduced into a vertebrate organism such as man. Traditionally, the discipline has focussed on the body's response to infectious micro-organisms, with the purpose of developing effective vaccines. However, the scope of modern Immunology now encompasses all aspects of self vs. non-self recognition phenomena including organ transplantation, tumour immunology, autoimmune diseases and allergy. Recent major advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of the immune response, as well as the complex genetic mechanisms it requires, promise to provide us with a new generation of prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic reagents of relevance to human and animal health.

Immunology represents an emerging, inter-disciplinary subject in Biology and, in recognition of this, a specialist program in Immunology was established at Trinity College in collaboration with the Department of Immunology in 1986. The goal of this program is to provide students with a sound theoretical understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of non-self recognition, together with sufficient laboratory experience to enable the students to consider embarking on a career in the discipline. Immunologists may have careers as scientists in universities and other centres of learning and research, as well as in the biotechnology industries, diagnostic laboratories and various government agencies. As with the other Basic Medical Sciences, a degree in Immunology also provides a good background for a career in professions such as teaching or medicine.

Welcome to the Programme!

We hope that you will find your studies in the Immunology Specialist Program interesting, challenging and rewarding. The following pages outline the courses that are involved in the program as well as the undergraduate Research Opportunities that are available. A description of the Immunology books available in the Trinity College library is also included. In addition, we have given you a list of our Faculty members and a "one-line" description of the work they are pursuing in their research labs. Lastly, if you find that at some point you are interested in pursuing some research in Immunology at the graduate level, we have a brief description of the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs that our Department offers through the School of Graduate Studies for students who have obtained a B.Sc.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about Immunology or the programme!

Dr. Alberto Martin, (416) 978-4230