Toronto has a rich legacy of scientific breakthroughs. Here are 10 groundbreaking innovations that you may not know about.
Toronto is a powerhouse in the life sciences sector. The city is home to nine teaching hospitals, more than 35 medical research centres and 1,400 life sciences businesses driving innovation and discovery. Plus, the sector employs 30,000 skilled professionals, drawing from one of the world’s most diverse talent pools. Thanks to all of this, Toronto has a rich legacy of scientific breakthroughs—from the discovery of insulin to the first successful lung transplant. Fueled by its unmatched spirit for creativity and scientific discovery, the city continues to push boundaries. Here are 10 groundbreaking life science innovations that prove Toronto is leading the way.
1. Toronto hospitals are shaping the future of global healthcare with AI technologies
Canada is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare—and Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN) is leading the charge. The network, which includes four world-renowned hospitals, is the first Canadian medical institution to appoint a chief AI scientist. AI technologies are helping surgeons enhance precision in complex surgeries such as aneurysm repairs as well as improve the assessment of donor lung suitability, leading to higher transplant success rates
2. The SickKids team is redefining medicine for rare genetic diseases
Rare genetic diseases often go overlooked in drug development, but SickKids’ Dr. Jim Dowling made history with the world’s first single-patient gene therapy trial for spastic paraplegia type 50 (SP50), an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disorder. The groundbreaking treatment has halted disease progression, and with over 10,000 rare genetic diseases—most lacking therapy options—this Toronto trial is setting a new precedent for individualized, precision medicine.
3. Deep Genomics is using AI to unravel the mysteries of biology and discover new drugs
Developing new drugs to treat disease is slow, complex and has a low success rate, but Deep Genomics, an award-winning Toronto-based biotech startup, is using AI to change that. The company has developed the world’s first AI model that’s trained on the fundamentals of biology and chemistry and it helps decode genetic variations and identify potential therapeutic options.
4. BlueRock Therapeutics is developing possible treatment options for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting millions worldwide. Yet, treatment options have remained largely unchanged in over half a century. BlueRock Therapeutics, a Toronto-based startup, is working to change that. Its investigational cell therapy bemdaneprocel, which involves surgically implanting dopamine-producing neurons in the brain of people with Parkinson’s disease, has shown promising results in clinical trials.
5. BenchSci is turning medical researchers’ wish for an AI assistant into reality
Medical research is typically complex and time-consuming: searching relevant data, making connections and designing thoughtful experiments. Toronto startup BenchSci is using AI to streamline this. Its AI platform acts as a scientist’s assistant to help them answer complex questions, identify leads and guide experimental paths. BenchSci’s aim is to bring novel medicines to patients faster by increasing research and development productivity.
6. UHN is changing the game for lung transplants
Not only is Toronto’s UHN where the first successful lung transplant took place, but they are constantly improving the field. In 2008, UHN doctors invented a technology that would keep donor lungs alive outside the body, which is now used at transplant centres worldwide, and in 2021, they set a new standard for organ delivery, when they used a drone to transport lungs.
7. Dr. Daniel Drucker’s research paved the way for world-renowned drugs
Toronto’s Dr. Daniel Drucker, a globally recognized diabetes researcher co-discovered glucagon-like peptides (GLP-1 and GLP-2). His work laid the foundation for the development of GLP-1 based therapies for type 2 diabetes. His research also led to GLP-2 based therapy for short bowel syndrome, allowing many patients to reduce their dependence on IV nutrition.
8. SickKids’ Dr. Annie Huang is boosting survival rates for an aggressive childhood brain cancer
Toronto’s Dr. Annie Huang at SickKids has developed a radiation-sparing high-dose chemotherapy that is administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid for atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT), a rare, highly aggressive brain cancer that affects infants and children under three years old. This approach has now been adopted worldwide as it significantly improves survival rates while also reducing the devastating effects of radiation.
9. Toronto researchers developed an AI-driven platform to track the evolution of COVID-19
Researchers at UHN and the University of Toronto developed an AI-driven tool to track genetic mutations in COVID-19, helping predict the virus’s genetic evolution and transmission potential. This open-source tool is important for monitoring emerging variants, informing vaccine design and drug development and guiding global efforts to stay ahead of the ever-evolving virus.
10. Dr. Tak Mak’s research laid the groundwork for cancer therapy
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of Toronto’s top hospitals, is a global leader in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a process which engineers immune cells to treat cancer. This success has its roots in the pivotal work of Dr. Tak Mak, who cloned the T-cell receptor (TCR) gene, laying the groundwork for immunotherapies including CAR-T and TCR-T.
