Clinical Immunology & Allergy Residency Program
Residency Training Overview
The aim of the Clinical Immunology and Allergy Program is to develop the skills necessary for a trainee to become a consultant in this area of clinical medicine. The Program is approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The main institution of involvement is the McMaster University Medical Centre with occasional activity, on a consultation basis, in the Hamilton Civic Hospitals, St. Joseph's Hospital and the Chedoke Centre. Students wishing to become accredited in this area are expected to do two years of training, at least six months of which provide experience in research.
The general goal of the Program is to develop the postgraduate student in a flexible fashion adapted to the requirements of the Royal College and the particular applicants. A sound background of immunology theory and practice are supplied, including a foundation for basic or applied research in allergy and immunology. Laboratory training in a wide range of techniques appropriate to the practice of clinical immunology and allergy is also considered part of the educational Program. Each applicant may select one of the following blocks:
- Clinical immunology, including autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions and immunodeficiency
- Atopic disease, including respiratory and clinical allergy
- Immunodermatology
- Pediatric immunology and rheumatology
Other electives include transplantation and tumour immunology, immunology of infectious disease, and immunohaematology. It is expected that students in this Program familiarize themselves through the clinical immunology laboratory with all tests of immune function relevant to the clinical situation encountered. A block of several months in the laboratory, or horizontal time spent in the laboratory, are both acceptable in terms of this aspect of monoclonal antibodies, molecular biological approaches and immunohistochemistry or application of basic immunology to clinical problems, is a feature offered.
Research projects, in which basic or applied immunology and allergy questions are being explored, are an ongoing significant part of the training Program in this specialty area. Members of the Molecular Virology & Immunology Program, all have ongoing research interests in the areas of immunology, allergy, inflammation, virology and cellular/molecular biology which are potentially available for exploration with students as part of their two-year Program. Furthermore, ongoing clinical projects constitute an avenue for training in research. Research and clinical rounds, seminars, journal clubs and courses at various levels in immunobiology create a unique atmosphere of academic excellence. A critical mass of faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines constantly affords the trainee a high quality, peer-reviewed structure.
Links with rheumatic diseases, gastroenterology, haematology, respirology and pharmacology Programs are encouraged.Specific areas of clinical and basic investigative interest include: cytokines and growth factors in acute and chronic inflammation, neuroimmunology, gastrointestinal immunology, reproductive immunology, virology and HIV biology, vaccine development, immunogenetics, immunodermatology and autoimmunity. Selections take place mid-September for the following academic year.
