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.