Welcome from the Chair

MoGen is a large and diverse research community, and what makes it special is the people. Our faculty, fellows, trainees, and staff bring curiosity, rigour, and generosity to their work every day. Together, they contribute to research and training that spans genetics, genomics, human disease, microbiology, computation, and biotechnology.

Our department brings together more than 100 faculty members working across multiple research sites, including the Medical Sciences Building, the Donnelly Centre, the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning at SickKids, the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital, and the MaRS Centre. This close connection to Toronto’s major research institutes creates an environment where collaboration is part of daily life and where trainees have access to outstanding facilities and expertise.

Training is central to everything we do. Our undergraduate and graduate students pursue many paths after MoGen, including academic research, teaching, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, consulting, science communication, policy, and law. Mentorship, research presentations, and student-led initiatives play an important role in building a supportive and engaged community and in preparing trainees for a wide range of careers.

We are also committed to building a research environment that is inclusive and accessible. We recognize that systemic barriers continue to shape who has access to scientific training and careers. Addressing these barriers and expanding opportunities through mentorship, outreach, and support programs remains an important priority for the department.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge that our work takes place on the traditional lands of the Huron Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. This land continues to be a place of learning and gathering, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work and train here.

Thank you for your support of Molecular Genetics. I look forward to the year ahead and to the work we will continue to do together.

Warmest regards,

Timothy Hughes, Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement recognizing the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. For more information about Land Acknowledgements, visit the Indigenous U of T Land Acknowledgement page.