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
Polymer ‘bristles’ could help repel proteins — and germs — from surfaces in medical settings
Top, left to right: A drop of water mixed with proteins dries on uncoated glass, leaving a residue that sticks to the surface. Bottom, left to right: as the same type of drop dries on glass coated with PDMS brushes, the residue cracks and separates from the surface....
EPIC welcomes the recipients of the 2026 Inspire Summer Studentships
From left: Henrie Asante, William Malzar, Enuka Saint Jacques, Khalid Osman, Alicia Machava 4 May 2026 By Aideen Teeling The Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Inspire Summer...
New startup MaaTRx offers early warning system for drug shortages
May 4, 2026 By Eva Schaessens This story was originally published on the Institute of Health Emergencies and Pandemics (IHEP) website. Drug shortages have become a steady pressure point in Canada’s health system, affecting everything from routine hospital operations...
