Toronto High Containment Facility | EPIC Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium

U of T researchers unveil new preclinical insights into why males are more likely to have severe COVID-19

Sep 29, 2023 | New research, Toronto High Containment Facility

A new study from a team of EPIC members has uncovered the biological reasons underlying sex differences in COVID-19 outcomes and is offering a promising new strategy to prevent illness. Early on during the pandemic, clinicians quickly noticed that males were more likely than females to be hospitalized or admitted to the ICU or to die from COVID-19 despite having similar infection rates. This pattern held true across all age groups and in countries around the world. The research, conducted in mice and published in the journal iScience, points to the ACE2 protein as a key contributor to differences in COVID-19 outcomes between males and females.

Two U of T teams partner with Moderna to develop new mRNA-based tools to target HIV and other diseases

Jul 26, 2023 | Funding announcement, Toronto High Containment Facility

From left to right: Mario Ostrowski, Haissi Cui and Landon Edgar July 27, 2023 By Betty Zou and Mayuri Punithan Two teams of researchers at the University of Toronto have partnered with Moderna Canada to advance new mRNA-based therapies for HIV and other diseases. The...

Expanding the research toolbox for one of the world’s deadliest animals

Jan 30, 2023 | Toronto High Containment Facility, Uncategorized

Mosquito-transmitted diseases affect an estimated 347.8 million people annually and are responsible for nearly 450,000 deaths each year, making them one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Despite their devastating impact, research on the mosquito has lagged behind that of other model organisms, in part due to the lack of appropriate tools and resources. Kathryn Rozen-Gagnon is trying to change that. Read more about how she is integrating diverse fields to study the interplay between mosquito-borne viruses and their mosquito and human hosts.

U of T receives $35 million to modernize high containment facility

Nov 16, 2022 | Funding announcement, Toronto High Containment Facility

The University of Toronto has received $35 million in critical research infrastructure funding from the federal government to revitalize the Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF), an investment that will support a planned $85-million transformation of the facility into the largest academic high-containment research centre in Canada. With significantly increased capacity for research and training, the revitalized Toronto High Containment Facility will be able to drive innovation, enhance pandemic preparedness and strengthen Ontario and Canada’s health security.

Study identifies new SARS-CoV-2 variant in white-tailed deer and first evidence of deer-to-human transmission

Nov 10, 2022 | New research, Toronto High Containment Facility

A team of researchers led by EPIC member Samira Mubareka has characterized a new, highly divergent variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Ontario white-tailed deer. They also found the first evidence of deer-to-human transmission.

U of T researchers unveil new preclinical insights into why males are more likely to have severe COVID-19

Two U of T teams partner with Moderna to develop new mRNA-based tools to target HIV and other diseases

Expanding the research toolbox for one of the world’s deadliest animals

U of T receives $35 million to modernize high containment facility

Study identifies new SARS-CoV-2 variant in white-tailed deer and first evidence of deer-to-human transmission

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