The Institutional Strategic Initiatives portfolio increases the University of Toronto’s capacity to support large-scale, high-impact interdisciplinary research

The ISI Impact Report is out!

The report features success stories from U of T’s 22 Institutional Strategic Initiatives (ISIs) and the special projects our office supports.

Over the past five years, the university’s ISIs have made tremendous strides in addressing our most pressing social, economic, political, and environmental issues. Our report showcases those stories and highlights how important the ISIs are to the university community—they are strengthening collaboration, helping to build partnerships, attracting significant external funding, supporting faculty and student research, and creating new training opportunities.

Read the report

Recent ISI news

New Lawson Climate Institute at U of T will accelerate climate solutions

April 23, 2025 | Climate Positive Energy

The institute will educate the next generation of climate leaders, mobilize talent and innovative ideas from across the university, expand on U of T’s world-leading sustainability research and discovery, and inspire the urgent action needed for a healthier future.

Mitochondrial transplantation: powering the revolution in regenerative medicine

April 15, 2025 | MITO2i (Mitochondrial Innovation Initiative)

MITO2i awarded $23.8M NFRF-T grant to pioneer mitochondrial transplantation therapy — an emerging field that could redefine how the world treats organ failure, chronic inflammation, and degenerative diseases.

The Future of CDHI Moves to UTSC

April 11, 2025 | CDHI (Critical Digital Humanities Network)

In partnership with the UTSC, the Critical Digital Humanities Initiative (CDHI) is excited to announce that their important will transition into a new home at UTSC on July 1, 2025.

Canada’s Associate Minister of Health attends Inlight research symposium

March 13, 2025 | Inlight – Student Mental Health Initiative

Student researchers, faculty members and staff from the U of T community gathered to seek ways to mobilize the knowledge being generated by their research, to create real and lasting change for student mental health and well-being at U of T.

Op-ed: AI-fuelled misinformation threatens the Sustainable Development Goals

March 5, 2025 | SDGs at UofT

Achieving sustainability goals is increasingly threatened by the muddying of the digital information landscape. The production of AI-generated misinformation constitutes a system of cultural and technological processes that produces a culture of apathy toward digital information, which is the opposite of what we need if we’re going to use emotional reasoning to achieve sustainable development goals.

Upcoming events

2025 IfP interdisciplinary symposium — “Responding to the Unexpected: Bridging science, policy, and community actions in public health emergencies"

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | Institute for Pandemics

On May 13, members of the Institute, the university, the government, the private sector, and community members are invited to come together for presentations and discussions around IfP’s themes of readiness, resilience, recovery, and equity.

2025 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research Days

Monday, May 26, 2025 | EPIC (Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium), Institute for Pandemics

The annual U of T Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research Days returns on May 26 – 27, 2025. Call for abstract submissions opens on April 9, 2025. The event is free and open for all to attend.

Current Initiatives

Learn more about current initiatives