Join the Pulse of Health Innovation

As one of North America’s top life sciences and medical research centres, Toronto is advancing clinical and commercial innovation for better healthcare treatment, therapies and technologies. It is home to nine teaching hospitals and more than 1,400 life sciences businesses.

The city is a true centre of excellence for AI in life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, health research and development, image and medical devices, neuroscience, pharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine.

Canada’s largest concentration of hospitals, research institutes, business incubators and support services are in Toronto’s Discovery District. The city is also home to the largest integrated cancer research, teaching and treatment centre in Canada. Pioneering Toronto researchers in the life sciences industries are transforming the future of work, of healthcare and of society itself.

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Aerial View of MaRS Discovery District & University Avenue

Meet in Toronto

Conference and meeting planners can easily tap into this enormous brain trust, giving delegates the chance to form local collaborations, tour exclusive research centres and receive cutting-edge solutions from experts in the field.

Within the city’s collaborative and connected life sciences ecosystem lies the Discovery District, which covers 650,000 square metres and includes Canada’s largest concentration of hospitals and research facilities, as well as the University of Toronto.

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You’re in Good Company

Many global life sciences leaders make Toronto their Canadian headquarters: Apotex, AstraZeneca, BlueDot, Deep Genomics, Fusion Pharmaceuticals, Johnson + Johnson, Microbix, Neoglacia and Roche Canada.

Dr. Denise Belsham Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Neuroendocrinology Professor of Physiology and Medicine, University of Toronto

“At the University of Toronto, we have a thriving ecosystem of renowned researchers, educators and entrepreneurs—many of us wearing all three hats.”

Milos Popovic Professor & Director of BME

Dr. Milos Popovic Institute Director, KITE, University Health Network, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

“Toronto has one of the most vibrant hospital, medical and biomedical research clusters in North America, often ranked first or second in various life sciences disciplines. For example, our spinal cord injury research has been ranked number one in the world for the last 10 to 20 years.”

Dr. Robert Deans Chief Technology Officer and Head of Research at the Rett Syndrome Research Trust

“We wanted to emphasize the translational stage of stem cell biology at the meeting and chose the perfect venue: Toronto really embraces diversity and innovation. We had access to the top thought-leaders in the field.”

Host With the Most

Toronto has proudly hosted various life sciences conferences such as International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Scientific Meeting and Exhibition, American Statistical Association Joint Statistical Meeting, American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting, International Association for the Study of Pain World Congress, World Stroke Congress and more.

University College building at The University of Toronto

Research Hub

Connect with a rich network working out of University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University and York University, as well as our independent research centres.

Tech Tours and Unique Experiences

Offer delegates and attendees a range of industry technical tours and hands-on experiences in the city.

Toronto’s Discovery District is Canada’s largest concentration of hospitals, research institutes, business incubators and support services. The district is home to a network of nine teaching hospitals and more than 30 medical research centres.

Toronto also has the first Johnson + Johnson incubator outside of the U.S.—the world-renowned JLABS—which is helping to nurture the next great healthcare breakthrough.

Scientist, wearing a lab coat, looking into a microscope

Did You Know?

A Toronto AI scientist developed a platform to track changes in the genetic structure of the COVID-19 virus.

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An Insider’s Toronto: Skipnopathy’s Keith Loo

Keith Loo, CEO of Skinopathy, co-founded the AI-driven platform to enable early detection of skin conditions by providing healthcare professionals with rapid assessments that support early cancer intervention and treatment of chronic issues. Keith credits Toronto’s robust medtech and start-up ecosystems for the company’s growth, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration.