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, we shine a spotlight on the remarkable scientists and groundbreaking research that have positioned Canada as a leader in the global immunology community.

In this issue, we celebrate seminal Canadian achievements in immunology, including an article on the discovery of insulin led by Frederick Banting and James Best at the University of Toronto. We also cover the discovery of stem cells and hematopoiesis led by James Till and Ernest McCulloch, the first identification of dendritic cells led by Ralph Steinman, and the first cloning of the TCR led by the Department of Immunology’s very own Tak Mak. These remarkable scientists have not only transformed the field but have also been recognized with the prestigious Canada Gairdner International Award, often referred to as the “baby Nobel prize”. We also highlight one of Canada’s recent achievements in immunology: the development of the first effective vaccine against Ebola virus.

Research dissemination is a cornerstone of any thriving scientific ecosystem, and the annual conferences of the Canadian Society for Immunology (CSI) are among the most important platforms for sharing Canadian findings. We visually explore the history of the CSI with an infographic and recap the 36th CSI conference, held this year in Banff, Alberta. But the journey of research and development is not without its hurdles; we discuss these in an article on the successes and challenges facing Canada’s growing biotech industry.

We also take a moment to honor our department’s legacy with an article on our 40th anniversary celebration held in June, and an interview with previous department chair Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker. Finally, we explore valuable insights from Indigenous ways of health and healing.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the student writers, editors, and designers who bring IMMpress Magazine to life. We also warmly welcome all the new students and staff who have joined the department this year. A special note of thanks goes to James Pollock, who is stepping down as Co-Editor-in-Chief, for his dedication and leadership. We are excited to welcome Meggie Kuypers, a longtime IMMpress contributor, as she takes on the role.

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it. As always, stay safe and healthy!

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