The Collaborative Specialization in Next-Generation Precision Medicine is designed to encourage cross-disciplinary training and collaboration across diverse departments at the University of Toronto. We provide training in cutting-edge technologies to develop novel therapeutic strategies, create new tools for disease diagnosis, and enable a deeper understanding of disease biology through integration of principles and methods across the physical and life sciences, and engineering.
About This Program
The Collaborative Specialization in Next-Generation in Precision Medicine provides a diverse and cross-disciplinary approach to training. It looks to bridge expertise in the natural sciences and engineering with understanding of the life sciences in order to better equip scientists of the future.
Advances in precision medicine will require a multi-disciplinary perspective and creative solutions beyond conventional genomics and mutational profiling. The Collaborative Specialization in Next-Generation Precision Medicine will equip researchers with a true understanding of research that crosses many disciplines in order to address the unmet challenges of human disease. The unique focus will include training and innovative approaches in precision medicine through a broad range of recognized course modules, a thesis that includes cross-disciplinary supervision, and a seminar course that will allow students to present their research and exchange ideas with trainees and investigators from different research fields.
This program is run through PRiME within the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. PRiME was established as an Institutional Strategic Initiative at the University of Toronto in 2019 to align research efforts in the broad area of precision medicine. With over 75 leading investigators across 4 faculties, PRiME brings together world-renown experts in disease biology, diagnostics, and therapeutics to support graduate student training through this Program. In addition to the support of research excellence and scholarship offered by Faculty members within PRiME, the initiative under the direction of Prof. Shana Kelley, also strives to build community and empower trainees with skills that will enable successful careers upon graduation. Toward this latter goal, PRiME is also invested in building the local biotech ecosystem to enable more career opportunities for graduates in related industry fields.
Admission
Applicants to the Collaborative Specialization must be supervised by a member of the Collaborative Specialization’s core faculty or have a core faculty member as a member of the supervisory committee, and are encouraged to have at least one member of their supervisory committee with research expertise in a different field of study related to drug discovery, diagnostics and disease biology.
Students interested in joining must first apply to and enrol in a PhD program in one of the participating departments. Students must already have a supervisor and a thesis project determined, as well as follow a program of study that meets the requirements of both the home department and the Collaborative Specialization in Next-Generation Precision Medicine.
Once accepted into a PhD degree program, students can then apply for admission to the Collaborative Specialization in Next-Generation Precision Medicine.
To apply to the Next-Generation Precision Medicine Collaborative Specialization, students are asked to complete an application form and submit it to prime.education@utoronto.ca for consideration.
The Collaborative Specialization Committee will then review the application and notify applicants of their decision.
Participating members
Core Faculty members participating in this Collaborative Specialization Program are listed below. The Collaborative Specialization welcomes additional Faculty. Please email prime.education@utoronto.ca if you are interested in joining the program.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
1. Christine Allen
2. Stephane Angers
3. Carolyn Cummins
4. Shana Kelley
5. Keith Pardee
6. Raymond Reilly
Department of Chemistry
1. Alan Aspuru-Guzik
2. Robert A. Batey
3. Scott Prosser
4. Gilbert Walker
5. Aaron Wheeler
Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
1. Alison McGuigan
2. Molly Shoichet
Department of Molecular Genetics
1. Gary Bader
2. Alan Cochrane
3. Leah Cowen
4. Fritz Roth
Program requirements
Apply
To apply to the Next-Generation Precision Medicine Collaborative Specialization, please download and complete the application form below. Submit the completed form to prime.education@utoronto.ca. The Program Committee will then review your application and notify you of acceptance into the program.