History of the Department
The history of the Department of Immunology (DoI) at the University of Toronto is a narrative of evolution, growth, and adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of immunological research.
In 1971, the foundation for the DoI was laid with the establishment of the "Institute of Immunology," under the leadership of Dr. Bernhard Cinader. This institute served as the nexus for immunologists across Toronto, fostering collaboration and communication among researchers interested in understanding the fundamental aspects of the immune system. The 1970s marked a period of dynamic theoretical exploration, with concepts such as clonal selection and self-non-self-discrimination taking center stage in shaping our understanding of immunity.
The year 1984 was a significant milestone for the department as it attained academic status within the Faculty of Medicine, under the guidance of Dr. Richard Miller. This transition marked a formal recognition of the department's importance in the academic landscape of the university. Concurrently, the department forged strong ties with Trinity College, further solidifying its academic presence. Throughout the 1990s, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Julius, the DoI experienced continued expansion and integration with affiliated hospital-based research institutes. This period saw a proliferation of research activities, reflecting the growing significance of immunology in medical research.
As the new millennium dawned, Dr. Michael Ratcliffe assumed the role of department chair, overseeing a period of renewed growth and expansion, particularly at the Medical Sciences Building site. The department's footprint also extended to the Sunnybrook Research Institute, reflecting its increasing prominence within the research community.
In 2012, Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker assumed the role of the fourth chair of the DoI, succeeding Dr. Michael Ratcliffe. His leadership broadened the department's research scope to encompass clinical studies, alongside traditional cellular and molecular aspects of the innate and adaptive immune response, further solidifying the department’s place as a world leader in immunological research.
Dr. Jen Gommerman became the fifth and current chair in 2024. Under her leadership, the DoI continues its pursuit of excellence in research, education, and innovation. With a faculty of 88 members across nine locations in Toronto, the department remains at the forefront of understanding the immune system's role in health and disease.
Over the years, the DoI has upheld its mission of advancing immunology knowledge and mentoring future researchers, having now graduated 263 MSc alumni and 256 PhD alumni, with many of them now working in academia (45%) or in the industry and business (30%) sectors. DoI discoveries have included the identification of the T cell receptor, characterization of genes involved in Crohn’s disease, identification and characterization the immune regulatory functions of SHP1 and CTLA4, elucidation of mechanisms of T cell co-stimulation, the development of an in vitro system to generate T cells, illumination of a gut-brain axis in neuroimmunology, elucidation of sex-and diet-dependent effects on the microbiome in autoimmune disease and in cancer, and many, many more.
Looking forward, the DoI anticipates advancements in targeted immunotherapies, the use of machine learning on immunological data, and genomic approaches, with the overarching goal of translating our research into therapies. With its strong and inspirational history as a foundation, we expect that the DoI will continue as a hub for excellence in research and teaching for years to come.