Biosecurity

On this page:

• The Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI³)
• Emerging and Pandemics Infections Consortium (EPIC)
• Toronto High Containment Facility Containment Level 3 Lab
• Biomanufacturing Hub Network (BioHubNet)
• Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT)

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The Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI³)

The Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI³) is a University of Toronto-led coalition of more than 90 academic, hospital, research network, industry, government, not-for-profit and community partners. HI³ strengthens Canada’s preparedness for infectious disease threats by advancing biomanufacturing and countermeasure development capacity, enabling faster and more coordinated responses to future pandemics and emerging biological risks.

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Emerging and Pandemics Infections Consortium (EPIC)

The Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC), which includes the Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF) Containment Level 3 laboratory, has supported the Greater Toronto Area’s biomedical ecosystem for more than two decades. EPIC facilitates high-impact academic and industry research on infectious pathogens, including HIV, tuberculosis and emerging global health threats. Through coordinated research, training and knowledge translation, EPIC accelerates the development and implementation of diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines and clinical interventions that strengthen regional and national response capacity.

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Toronto High Containment Facility Containment Level 3 Lab

The Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF) is a Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory providing secure, state-of-the-art infrastructure for research involving infectious pathogens requiring enhanced biosafety controls. Operating under stringent regulatory and safety standards, THCF enables critical research in infectious disease, immunology, diagnostics and medical countermeasure development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, THCF played a key role in Ontario’s response capacity by supporting SARS-CoV-2 research and contributing to the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and evidence to inform public health decision-making.

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Biomanufacturing Hub Network (BioHubNet)

BioHubNet is a national, immersive talent development platform focused on building an industry-ready workforce for Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sectors through industry-led training, hands-on experiential learning, mentorship, and commercialization support aimed at graduate students, postdocs, and other trainees. It is part of a broader federal initiative to strengthen pandemic preparedness and biomanufacturing capacity by equipping highly qualified personnel with practical skills and linking academic research with industry and commercialization pathways.

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Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT)

The Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT) is a collaborative platform led by the University of Toronto, the National Research Council of Canada and Unity Health Toronto. CRAFT advances microfluidics, or the precise manipulation of fluids at micron scales, for biomedical, diagnostic, and bioengineering applications. Its research and prototyping infrastructure enables the development of compact, high-precision systems such as point-of-care diagnostics, organ-on-a-chip models and biofabrication tools, generating technologies across healthcare, biomanufacturing, biodefense and advanced laboratory automation.