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
New study reveals a minimalist bacterial defense that disrupts viral assembly
Professors Michael Norris (left) and Karen Maxwell 4 February 2026 By Betty Zou University of Toronto researchers have expanded our understanding of bacterial immunity with the discovery of a new protein that can both sense and counteract viral infections. In the new...
Inspiring success: how a summer research program is empowering Black and Indigenous students in science
From left: Mary Addo, Shilo Chislett and Jezreel Sol-Edeigba 19 January 2026 By Betty Zou Over the past three years, the Emerging and Pandemics Infections Consortium’s Inspire Summer Studentship program has supported 19 Black and Indigenous undergraduate students in...
EPIC announces 18 recipients of the 2026 Doctoral Awards
January 14, 2026 By Aideen Teeling The Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Doctoral Awards. Eighteen outstanding PhD candidates pursuing infectious disease research will receive financial...
