This newest IMMpress Magazine issue, “From Bench to Business”, focuses on scientific
entrepreneurship, recent discoveries, and job opportunities within our field. This was a very
comprehensive issue that should be required reading for anybody engaged in research. I think I’ll
drop off a copy at the Rotman School of Management so they can have an inside view of what it
is to do discovery research in Immunology that ultimately leads to therapies.
I was inspired by the scan across our department at bourgeoning spin-offs, and the scan across
Canada at burgeoning companies. But what inspired me the most was the story of Novo
Nordisk. Of course, we know of this company as the maker of Ozempic, but its history is very
relevant to a country like Canada. Novo Nordisk was born out of what used to be a fierce
competition between two Danish companies that buried the hatchet and came together to become
more than the sum of their parts. Not only did this actualize on some important therapeutics, but
the philanthropic work of Novo Nordisk to fund the discovery sector has been an important part
of Denmark’s economy.
Despite our land mass, Canada is a small country like Denmark. We cannot afford to duplicate
efforts, yet too often we are parochial and provincial. In light of our recent economic separation
from the United States, we must grow out of our adolescence and become better at working
together, putting on our “Canada Hats” as I like to say. A balanced diet of lab-directed and
mission-directed science driven by shared goals and values is the culture we must strive to
achieve. A bit of competition and a bit of collaboration in good measure have the potential to
bake a better Canadian biotech cake.
Also in this issue are some positive vibes for learners wondering what is next in their careers.
The Department of Immunology prides itself in training scientists that can use their powers of
problem solving, persistence and critical thinking to achieve great things, whether at the bench or
elsewhere. We have a tremendous track record of launching successful scientists into multiple
sectors. And there’s no “mistakes” in one’s next step – I myself toggled between academic,
industry and back to academia again. I learned a great deal in these different environments.
I sit and write this in late December 2025, at the end of a tumultuous year. I don’t know if you
feel it, but I sense optimism in the air and a collective desire to do hard things that will make
Canada a more prosperous and humane place to live. I hope you all begin 2026 with a sense of
optimism – together we can do a great deal.
Jen Gommerman, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Tissue Specific Immunity
Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology
Jennifer Gommerman
Latest posts by Jennifer Gommerman (see all)
- Letter from the Chair, Dr. Jennifer Gommerman – Volume 13 Issue 3, 2025 - January 25, 2026
- Letter from the Chair, Dr. Jennifer Gommerman – Volume 13 Issue 2, 2025 - October 2, 2025
- Letter from the Chair, Dr. Jennifer Gommerman – Volume 13 Issue 1, 2025 - May 13, 2025
