Welcome to the Emerging Pathogens & Infectious Diseases Consortium
Welcome to EPIC – the Emerging Pathogens and Infectious Diseases Consortium.
EPIC brings together researchers, clinicians, and institutions across the University of Toronto and its hospital partners to advance infectious disease research and build lasting resilience against emerging threats.
This work builds on a long legacy: EPIC partners have played an integral role in infectious disease research for a century, from work that helped control diphtheria and eradicate smallpox, to today’s front-line research in antimicrobial resistance and infection control. Our collective response to COVID-19, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and mpox makes clear there’s never been a more important time to advance that work, from emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to health inequities and public trust.
Building on this momentum, EPIC marshals the advanced research infrastructure and world-renowned research and training expertise of our EPIC partners to deliver an integrated, innovative response to the infectious disease challenges facing communities today and in the future.
Seven EPIC research clusters
Antimicrobial Resistance
Protecting the effectiveness of the medicines we depend on.
Chronic Infections
Addressing the long-term burden of infections that don’t resolve.
Emerging Pathogens
Detecting and responding to new and re-emerging threats before they spread.
Health Inequities
Ensuring infectious disease research and response reach everyone, equitably.
Health Systems Resilience
Building health systems that bend, not break, under infectious threats.
Misinformation, Disinformation & Public Trust
Strengthening public trust through clear, credible information.
Sepsis & Acute Respiratory Distress
Improving detection and treatment when every minute counts.
EPIC News
Study maps how tuberculosis bacteria power themselves
John Rubinstein and Gautier Courbon 24 March, 2026 By Jelena Djurkic This article was originally published on the SickKids News website. Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have uncovered how the bacteria...
New diagnostic system leverages AI to help fight hospital-acquired infections
Professor Nicole Weckman (ISTEP, ChemE) presenting her research on C. auris diagnostics at the 2022 Annual Wyss Institute Retreat. (photo by Max Rousseau, Wyss Institute) 3 March 2026 By Mason Subotich This story was originally posted on the University of Toronto...
“They are like nanobot police officers.”: Meet the researchers using viruses to treat patients with antibiotic resistant bacterial infections
At the October 2025 reception for the U of T Temerty Medicine Alumni Impact Award, Steffanie Strathdee — an award recipient — is pictured with Greg German and a fellow guest, celebrating her outstanding dedication to health care, research and education. 27 February...
