The Institutional Strategic Initiatives portfolio increases the University of Toronto’s capacity to support large-scale, high-impact interdisciplinary research
Defence & Sovereignty Network (DSN) Seed Funding Program
The Institutional Strategic Initiatives Office is launching the Defence & Sovereignty Network Seed Funding Program to strengthen U of T’s capacity for interdisciplinary research in defence, sovereignty, and dual-use innovation.
Defence & Sovereignty Network (DSN) Seed Funding Program
The Institutional Strategic Initiatives Office is launching the Defence & Sovereignty Network Seed Funding Program to strengthen U of T’s capacity for interdisciplinary research in defence, sovereignty, and dual-use innovation.
Upcoming events and latest news
BSMI associate director Shashi Kant receives Paul W. Fox Award, recognizing nearly 30 years of distinguished voluntary service to the university.
September 25, 2026 | Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI)
Shashi Kant says this award is especially meaningful because it recognizes his impact on people. “The other awards were for my academic achievements. This award is closest to my heart because it’s an acknowledgement of how I treat people and the way I’ve influenced their thinking and their lives.” Reflecting on the award, Kant emphasizes the collective nature of his work: “We achieved everything together. I lead from behind because if you treat human beings as human beings, they can do wonders."
Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI) awarded Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) Stage II Funding
July 17, 2026 | Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI)
The Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Institute (BSMI) has been awarded five years of funding from the Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) Stage II Funding Program. BSMI will provide a pan-Canadian platform to advance research in the bioeconomy by building decision frameworks to realize the advantages of sustainable natural resources; studying policy options that can enhance Canadian competitiveness in the green economy; examining cross-industry business models that enable private enterprises to innovate and deliver new value to consumers and the community at large.
DSI to lead initiative awarding $1M in Anthropic Claude AI credits to accelerate AI-enabled research
July 14, 2026 | Data Sciences Institute
A gift from AI company Anthropic will provide $1 million in Claude API credits to support research and education at the Data Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. The initiative will equip researchers with access to cutting-edge AI tools that can support discovery, analysis, software development, and innovation across disciplines. “U of T has a strong history of leadership in artificial intelligence. This new initiative with the Data Sciences Institute, will provide access to cutting-edge AI tools to researchers and will open new possibilities for discovery, analysis, and innovation across the university,” highlights Leah Cowen, VPRI and Strategic Initiatives, U of T
DSI to partner in major Canadian collaboration for AI and real-time health data
June 26, 2026 | Data Sciences Institute
This week, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, announced the launch of Vital — a national initiative that will connect health data across Canada for research and innovation — in one of the largest investments in Canadian history for health data innovation. As part of the newly announced national initiative, the Data Sciences Institute will lead the development of statistical methods and software tools to enable advanced analytics in federated environments for healthcare.
IHEP-supported work sparks new NFRF-funded project advancing response to health misinformation
June 23, 2026 | Institute of Health Emergencies and Pandemics
Interdisciplinary collaboration supported by the Institute of Health Emergencies & Pandemics (IHEP) has helped catalyze a new interdisciplinary project that has received funding through the Exploration stream of the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). The program supports high-risk, high-reward research that brings novel approaches to complex challenges.
Heart health begins with community: An Arts-Based Report on the Experiences of Heart Health in the Moosonee Community
June 11, 2026 | Transform-HF
A novel study led by Sahr Wali, PhD, TRANSFORM HF, conducted among Indigenous communities in Canada, utilizing sharing circles as the primary method of qualitative data collection shows that heart health is shaped by emotional, spiritual, social, and systemic factors, with trauma strongly influencing how care is accessed and trusted. The research highlights the need for interventions that extend beyond clinical management to include culturally grounded nutrition programming, relationship-centered care pathways, and models that combine Indigenous and Western knowledge systems.
