In the late 90s, there was no human genome sequence, no wide-spread stem cell technologies, and DNA sequencing was slow and expensive. However, University of Toronto Professors Cecil Yip and James Friesen foresaw that new genomic technologies would open up massive progress in biomedical research. Anticipating the growing need for interdisciplinary approaches, they envisioned a research institute where all boundaries in research could be lifted.

Thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada, the province of Ontario, private sector companies and Terrence J. Donnelly, a philanthropist with a vision, that revolutionary idea materialized into a world-renowned institute for biomedical research – the Donnelly Centre.

On November 5, 2005 the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research opened its doors to world-class researchers in biology, computer science, engineering, chemistry and pharmacy under one joint roof, where they could feed off each other’s expertise and creativity to decipher the biology behind the world’s most devastating diseases.