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
U of T team applies learnings from mpox to strengthen pandemic preparedness for gay, bisexual and queer men
Daniel Grace (left) and Mac Stewart June 27, 2024 By Betty Zou Amid the usual preparations for Pride events around the world this year, many public health and community agencies also sent out reminders about mpox vaccinations. Here in Toronto, where 21 new cases were...
Thinking of getting your child’s measles vaccine early? Here’s what parents need to know.
Shelly Bolotin (left) and Sarah Wilson June 24, 2024 By Betty Zou and Ishani Nath With measles cases in Canada reaching historic highs, public health officials are urging parents to ensure children are up to date on their measles vaccinations — especially for those...
EPIC announces recipients of 2024 Ignite Grants
Clockwise from top left: Aereas Aung, Michael Fralick, Rob Kozak, Allison McGeer, Beate Sander, Shaun Morris, Mario Ostrowski, William Navarre June 20, 2024 By Betty Zou Eight projects tackling emerging and existing infectious threats are getting a kick-start with...
