基本免疫学哲学博士-移植免疫学

博士学位是高级研究学位，旨在反映与候选人担任独立研究科学家的能力一致的培训水平。这涉及成功完成反映现代免疫学知识的课程工作，并具有进行可发表质量研究的证明能力。要获得该学位的资格，每个候选人都必须成功地获得候选人资格，根据他/她的原始研究提交令人满意的论文，并在期末口试中成功地为其辩护。博士学位论文应包含大量的原始研究成果，其数量应与在经认可的参考期刊上发表的两三篇论文相适应。通常，这些手稿至少应在考试时被接受发表。<br> <br>移植可能是治疗晚期器官衰竭的有效方式。但是，收件人的免疫系统将识别并响应
The Department of Immunology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in a wide range of immunological disciplines. These disciplines include molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte development and selection, T-cell and B-cell receptors, cell interactions, growth factor receptors, cytokine networks, antigen processing and presentation, signal transduction in lymphocytes, V(D)J recombination, anergy, apoptosis, transgenic and knock-out models, immuno-targeting and vaccine design, autoimmunity, AIDS, diabetes, and transplantation.<br>The department provides a common forum for investigators in many areas of U of T and an interdisciplinary research experience in immunology. Members and students in the department are located at the Medical Sciences Building, at the Ontario Cancer Institute, and at the Research Institutes of Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Sunnybrook Hospital. The PhD degree is an advanced research degree intended to reflect a level of training consistent with the ability of the candidate to function as an independent research scientist. This involves successful completion of course work reflecting a knowledge of modern immunology, as well as a demonstrated ability to carry out research of publishable quality.<br>Transplantation can be a potent modality for the treatment of end-stage organ failure. However, the recipient's immune system will recognize and respond to foreign antigens on grafts, which include both Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and minor histocompatibility (mH) antigens, leading to graft rejection. To prevent graft rejection, most transplant recipients are put on a life-long, combined immunosuppressive drug/steroid therapy. Despite the side effects and toxicity, this treatment is not effective to prevent chronic graft rejection. Furthermore, since immunosuppressive drugs non-specifically inhibit the immune system, recipients have a higher incidence of infections and malignancy. Currently, a major goal of transplantation is to induce unresponsiveness or tolerance in recipients specifically to donor antigens expressed on grafts while maintaining a healthy and intact immune system against third-party antigens, such as viruses. Based on the immune mechanisms leading to graft rejection, many strategies have been developed for tolerance induction and been shown effective in animal models. These strategies include preventing the activation of anti-graft T cells by blocking costimulatory molecules, eliminating activated anti-graft T cells. More recent studies also suggest a role for regulatory T cells in the induction of transplantation tolerance.