Emerging Pathogens
Detecting and responding to new and re-emerging threats before they spread.
Infectious disease threats rarely announce themselves in advance. This research cluster focuses on the surveillance, rapid characterization and early response capacity needed to identify and control emerging and re-emerging pathogens before they gain a foothold. Our research response capacity is designed to fill the critical timing gap between when a new pathogen emerges and when formal funding calls and institutional responses catch up. We support the very first line of research questions asked.
Researchers across microbiology, virology, , applied sciences, engineering, One Health, public health, and other diverse disciplines work together to strengthen detection systems, accelerate outbreak investigation and build rapid research response capacity to help maintain and mitigate a potential pandemic before it takes hold. EPIC also supports training in this space through partnerships with One Health platforms like Canopy, helping build the next generation of researchers equipped to respond to emerging zoonotic threats.
EPIC Emerging Pathogens News
“A particularly difficult Ebola outbreak”: U of T expert on the current outbreak, global preparedness and Canada’s readiness to respond
Ebola virus particles (red) budding from an infected host cell. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) 2 June 2026 By Betty Zou On May 17, 2026, the World Health Organization declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a...
“Right people, right place, right time”: How an EPIC collaboration shaped the mpox research response in Canada
Evidence of cytopathic effect in Vero cells after incubation for 6 days following infection with mpox virus (Courtesy of Rob Kozak). 31 March 2026 By Aideen Teeling Darrell Tan remembers diagnosing the first-ever case of mpox in Ontario in May 2022. Based on reports...
EPIC launches Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Rapid Research Response to inform and support comprehensive influenza pandemic preparedness
(Left to right): Michael Norris, Samira Mubareka, Sharon Walmsley, Vanessa Allen and Beate Sander January 30, 2025 By Sunitha Chari The University of Toronto’s Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) has launched a Rapid Research Response to address the...