The Living Medicines Initiative at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine is advancing a new class of therapies built from living systems. These therapies use the body’s own building blocks, including cells, genes and microbes (living organisms found in and on your body, such as in your gut and on your skin), to detect, respond to and repair disease at its source.
This marks a shift from treating symptoms to directly correcting what is going wrong in the body, redefining how disease can be treated and, in some cases, cured. First-generation living medicines are already saving lives in cancer, genetic disorders, autoimmune conditions, and infectious diseases, but we are only beginning to realize their full potential.
Over the next decade, the Cumming School of Medicine will build on existing strengths in cellular therapy, gene-based medicine, microbiome science and clinical translation to position Calgary as a national leader and global destination for developing, manufacturing and delivering living medicines.
Currently, Canada has limited domestic capacity to develop and manufacture clinical-grade living medicines. Reliance on international infrastructure delays patient access, increases costs and slows homegrown research and development. With strategic investment, UCalgary can build the facilities, manufacturing capabilities and clinical trial infrastructure needed to translate groundbreaking discoveries into patient treatments.
Upcoming Events
Having IMPACTT 6: Advancing Microbiome Research
Sept 28-30, 2026
Stay connected with the Living Medicines Initiative
The Living Medicines Initiative is building a broad community of researchers, clinicians, trainees, staff, patients, families, community members, partners and supporters committed to advancing the next generation of therapies built from living systems.
Complete this form to receive updates, learn about future events, share your area of interest, or connect with the initiative.
UCalgary Notice of Collection
The University of Calgary (UCalgary) respects your privacy and is
committed to ensuring the privacy of all students, staff, and community members. Your personal information is being
collected under the authority of section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA). It will be collected, used
and disclosed for the purposes outlined in UCalgary’s
Notice of
Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information and managed in accordance with UCalgary’s
Privacy
Management Program.
Your personal information may be input into automated systems to generate content or make decisions,
recommendations, or predictions. If you have questions regarding this notice or UCalgary’s collection,
use, or disclosure of your personal information, please contact
accessandprivacy@ucalgary.ca.