The Zhejiang University-University of Toronto Joint Institute of Genetics and Genomic Medicine was established in November 2015, aiming to fully integrate the scientific research and clinical treatment resources of the two schools in the field of genetics and genomic medicine, complement each other's advantages, rapidly advance precision medicine research, develop and enhance international reputation.

Genetics at Zhejiang University has a long history and solid academic foundation. As early as 1937, when Mr. Tan Jiazhen, the founder of modern genetics in China, was a professor in the Department of Biology at Zhejiang University, he took the lead in teaching and researching genetics, and trained a number of famous domestic and foreign experts such as Xu Daojie, Shi Luji, Sheng Zujia, and Liu Zudong, who have made great contributions to the development of genetics in China. After the 1950s, Mr. Chen Shiyi served as a professor and head of the Department of Biology at Zhejiang University. He proposed the yeast haploid cell mating method and discovered the role of nuclear genes and extrachromosomal genes in the expression of yeast respiratory-deficient small colonies. Its synergy is the pioneer of yeast genetics and mitochondrial genetics. After several generations of efforts, the genetics discipline of Zhejiang University has made great progress, and has cultivated outstanding talents such as Academician Yang Huanming. Genetics is currently a key discipline in Zhejiang Province. The Institute of Genetics of Zhejiang University currently has 11 professors, 6 associate professors, 2 lecturers and other members, and there are more than ten co-professors on campus.

The University of Toronto is ranked among the top 20 in the world in major world university ranking systems and is the best university in Canada. It has a huge international influence in the field of life and health. It is the discovery place of insulin and stem cells. Based on the ESI ranking of health and medicine, it is ranked among the top three in North America. The Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto is an institution specializing in genetics and genomic medicine research at the University of Toronto. It is closely linked with the 9 affiliated hospitals of the University of Toronto and has formed a strong foundation and synergy of translational medicine, leading the world theoretical and applied research of genomic medicine. The Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto is composed of more than 100 independent research groups. The main research areas are divided into six directions, covering the structure and function of cells and molecules, computational and systems biology, functional genomics and proteomics, genetic models of development and diseases, molecular medicine and human genetics, molecular microbiology and infectious diseases. The main researchers include many members of the Royal Society and academicians of the American Academy of Sciences.

The Zhejiang University-University of Toronto Joint Institute of Genetics and Genomic Medicine is a platform for the two schools to complement each other's strengths, carry out joint research, and jointly cultivate doctoral students. At present, cooperative research has been carried out in five directions, including mitochondrial diseases, RNA-binding proteins in Drosophila, GABAergic neural circuits, genetics of neurodegenerative diseases, and personalized cancer models. Many papers have been published in well-known journals such as Gut and Nucleic Acids Research. The direction and field of joint research will further increase with the development of the joint research institute. On the basis of cooperative research, the Joint Institute will carry out joint training of international first-class doctoral students in accordance with the standards of both parties, international enrollment, mutual training, and awarding of degrees from both parties.