Our Research
The Donnelly Centre is a research hub where scientists from diverse fields work across disciplinary boundaries and develop cutting-edge technologies to advance discovery, medicine and health.
Our community includes emerging and established leaders in biomedical research, many of whom are credited with key advances in biology that have transformed medicine over the past decade. Our faculty consists of 34 members and is continuously growing to expand our collective expertise as a leading biomedical research centre in Canada. In addition to our faculty members, we support nearly 100 postdoctoral fellows, around 200 graduate students and more than 90 undergraduate students throughout the academic year.
We prioritize innovation and collaboration in our approach, with the goal of conducting impactful research that translates to more effective treatments and therapies for disease. The Donnelly Centre facility is designed to encourage faculty and trainees to work together on high-risk, high-reward projects to solve the biggest and most urgent issues in global health.
We streamline our research through four themes to tackle the areas of greatest need in biomedicine. The following research themes encompass the directions in which we are driving medicine forward.
Research Themes
Bioengineering
Our faculty are developing cutting-edge tools and techniques—such as advanced microscopy, organoids and organs-on-chips—to make research more efficient and more accurately reflect biological processes. By leveraging technological innovation and biomimetic design, we aim to transform how diseases are studied and treated.
Computational Biology & AI
We are advancing the frontiers of computational biology and artificial intelligence to transform the study of cellular and molecular biology. Our faculty are leading efforts in large-scale, high-throughput genomic data analysis to uncover new biological pathways, mechanisms of disease and therapeutic targets. We aim to improve human health through integrative, data-driven approaches.
Discovery Genomics
Our faculty have made significant breakthroughs in functional genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, forming a strong foundation for biomedical research. We are pioneers in high-throughput methods that advance our understanding of gene function. Our ongoing work aims to make the human genome more accessible and easier to interpret, helping to reveal how cells and tissues function and guiding drug discovery.
Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine & Aging
We are improving the treatment of challenging diseases, such as neurodegenerative and musculoskeletal disorders, by exploring how cells and tissues with regenerative capabilities can be integrated into medicine. Our faculty are revolutionizing the treatment of debilitating diseases that lead to the loss of cells with critical functions and are developing treatments that will contribute to healthy aging.