Emerging Pathogens & Infectious Disease Consortium (EPIC) — Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Emerging Pathogens & Infectious Disease Consortium (EPIC)

EPIC signature lockup

The Emerging Pathogens & Infectious Disease Consortium (EPIC) builds upon the work of two successful Institutional Strategic Initiatives — the Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium and the Institute for Health Emergencies & Pandemics (IHEP). The initiative mobilizes a diverse community of experts to respond to the greatest infection-related challenges of today and build capacity to confront threats in the future. Anchored by U of T’s Infectious Disease Laboratories (IDL), Toronto’s only Combined Containment Level 3 (C-CL3) unit for the study of high-risk human pathogens, as well as the CL2+ aerosol containment facility and Biobank, EPIC aims to be the leading initiative on infectious disease research and training from discovery to policy, a magnet for world-leading talent, and an authority on infectious disease-focused education and science-based advocacy.

EPIC team

EPIC events

Learn more about the Emerging Pathogens & Infectious Disease Consortium (EPIC)

Emerging Pathogens and Infectious disease consortium

EPIC awarded Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISI) Stage II Funding

September 29, 2026

EPIC has secured renewed five-year funding and with it, a new name, a broadened mandate, and an even closer working relationship with the Institute of Health Emergencies and Pandemics (IHEP). With this new phase also comes a change in leadership. After five years at the helm, Scott Gray-Owen is stepping back as academic director, with Rupert Kaul stepping into the role. Kaul will be joined by co-directors Nelson Lee, professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and director of IHEP, and Nicole Weckman, assistant professor and Paul Cadario Chair in the Centre for Global Engineering at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

U of T launches rapid research response for highly pathogenic avian influenza

February 13, 2025

EPIC is supporting five projects that aim to understand the fundamental biology of bird flu viruses, including their potential for human transmission. The projects also seek to develop new methods for detection and outbreak management.

Second annual EPIC Symposium on October 17

October 1, 2024

This full day event brings together Toronto’s infectious diseases research community and some of the world’s foremost experts to meet, network and discuss important topics related to infectious diseases and global health. The symposium features talks by nationally and internationally renowned infectious diseases researchers.

U of T-anchored hospital network among leading life sciences research hubs, report finds

November 20, 2023

The University of Toronto and its partner hospitals are propelling the Toronto region as a leading global hub for life sciences research – but its success is at risk from underinvestment. That’s among the findings of a new report that examines the strengths and challenges within the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) – which comprises U of T […]

Justin Vigar, pictured here in a lab in South America, is developing paper-based diagnostics like the paper chip shown on the right, where each dot represents a different test (supplied image)

U of T PhD student uses synthetic biology to create low-cost diagnostic tools

October 26, 2023

A relatively new field of research, synthetic biology applies engineering principles to recreate fully functional biological systems. Justin Vigar, the recipient of a doctoral award from EPIC, believes it can improve the health and lives of people around the world.

Research may explain why men are more likely to experience severe cases of COVID-19

October 4, 2023

Haibo Zhang, a researcher at Unity Health Toronto and U of T, led pre-clinical research that suggests why males are more likely to experience worse outcomes from COVID-19, opening the door to potential new treatments.

First annual EPIC Symposium: October 17, 2023

September 26, 2023

The first annual Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium symposium is a day of research, networking and community-building. The event will feature a keynote presentation, research talk, panel discussion, new PI quick fire round, poster session, and networking reception.

Jacqueline Watt (left) and Lauren Ramsay are PhD students at the University of Toronto working to tackle tuberculosis.

World Tuberculosis Day: How EPIC researchers at U of T are making an impact

Members of the University of Toronto’s Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium are working to tackle TB from multiple angles, from creating better vaccines to gaining a deeper understanding of TB’s financial toll on patients and families.

Temerty Faculty of Medicine Professors Jen Gommerman and Scott Gray-Owen will co-lead the HI3 hub (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T home to new hub that will strengthen Canada’s pandemic preparedness and increase biomanufacturing capacity

A new national hub focused on enhancing Canada’s ability to respond quickly, effectively and equitably to future pandemics has become a reality with $2 million in funding from the Canada Biomedical Research Fund.

Leah Cowen and another scientist in a lab

Canada’s opportunity in the future of genomics

One of U of T’s strengths lie in human genomics, which is supported by top-ranked faculty and researchers, anchored by a strong network of affiliated hospitals and medical research centers. Together, this network continues to advance frontiers of knowledge in critical areas of genomics including genetic susceptibility to disease, personalized medicine, machine learning for biomedical data, and more. Innovation hubs like the Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC), Precision Medicine Initiative (PRiME), Medicine by Design, and the Structural Genomics Consortium are part of a network of high-impact interdisciplinary research centres that leverage areas of focus such as infectious disease, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, drug discovery, open science and more.

U of T partners with Moderna to advance research in RNA science and technology

U of T and Moderna, Inc. – known for its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine – plan to work together to develop new tools to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, said U of T is excited to work alongside Moderna to protect society from current and future health threats.

Still from groundbreakers showing elevated view of UofT campus

The people behind the research': Video series focuses on unique collaborations launching across U of T

December 7, 2021

November 29, 2021 - 'The people behind the research': Video series focuses on unique collaborations launching across U of T (utoronto.ca) Inequality, climate change, infectious diseases – these are just a few of the global problems that leading researchers at the University of Toronto are working to solve, says Christine Allen, associate vice-president and vice-provost, strategic […]

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