University of Toronto home to new hub that will strengthen Canada’s pandemic preparedness and increase biomanufacturing capacity

Temerty Faculty of Medicine Professors Jen Gommerman and Scott Gray-Owen will co-lead the HI3hub (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn) A new national hub focused on enhancing Canada's ability to respond quickly, effectively and equitably to future pandemics has become a reality with $2 million in funding from the Canada Biomedical Research Fund. Led and anchored by the University of Toronto, the Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence and Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI³) is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary and multi-sector coalition of more than 80 partners. It will provide a powerful network to support a robust domestic pipeline of life-saving vaccines and therapeutics targeting existing and emerging infectious threats. Linking the innovation engine and resources of eight Ontario universities and six research hospitals with regional and national commercialization, biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical partners, the HI³ hub will enable the country to be more prepared, resilient and independent in facing future health challenges. The hub is led by co-directors Jen Gommerman and Scott Gray-Owen , professors of immunology and molecular genetics , respectively, in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto. Gray-Owen is also the academic director of the Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) and the Toronto High Containment Facility. "While it's human nature to be reactive, we must strive to be proactive to prevent and limit the impact of future pandemics," said Gommerman.