At this moment, rogue bacteria are raging through North American hospitals, making even routine surgeries high-risk. Meanwhile diseases like Ebola and Zika, with a foothold in parts of Africa and South America, pose a threat to all of humanity. In some cases, we have the medicines to save lives but lack the means to deliver them. In others, we're nearly powerless as pathogens evolve faster than we can discover new medicines. This raises the spectre of a post-antibiotic world.
Already, too many are perishing. 700,000 lives were lost last year due to antibiotic resistance, projected at 10 million by 2050.
A robust and balanced immune system is the best protection. Not only against these global scourges, but also against many cancers. However, the wrong type of immune response can also trigger dire reactions in the form of allergic or autoimmune disorders.
Clearly, we need to change the game. We need to accelerate research on infection and immunity and usher breakthroughs in the process. With your help, the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) will do just that.
Sign your name today to pledge your support for this life-saving research initiative.
