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Every day across British Columbia, trainees and researchers at the UBC Faculty of Medicine are turning skills into jobs, investments into discoveries, and discoveries into solutions that are transforming health for everyone.

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors, health care professionals, and medical researchers, making remarkable discoveries to help create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The UBC Faculty of Medicine offers a diverse array of training opportunities including cutting-edge research experiences in the biosciences, globally recognized population health education, quality health professional training, as well as several certificate and online training options. The Faculty of Medicine is home to more than 1,700 graduate students housed in 20 graduate programs (14 of which offer doctoral research options). Year after year, research excellence in the Faculty of Medicine is supported by investment from funding sources here at home and around the globe, receiving approximately more than $1.8B in total research funding since 2016.

We value our trainees and the creative input they have to scholarly activities at UBC. Our priority is to enable their maximum potential through flexible opportunities that provide a breadth of experiences tailored to their own individual career objectives. We maintain high standards of excellence, and work to create a community of intellectually and socially engaged scholars that work collaboratively with each other, the university, and the world, with the overarching goal of promoting the health of individuals and communities.

 

Research Facilities

UBC Faculty of Medicine provides innovative educational and research programs in the areas of health and life sciences through an integrated and province-wide delivery model in facilities at locations throughout British Columbia.

The Life Sciences Centre is the largest building on the UBC Vancouver campus. Completed in 2004, the $125 million, 52,165 sq metres building was built to accommodate the distributed medical educational program and the Life Sciences Institute.

The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH), a partnership between the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health, unites under one roof research and clinical expertise in neuroscience, psychiatry and neurology in order to accelerate discovery and translate new knowledge into better treatment and prevention strategies. DMCBH has both laboratory and clinical research areas within the Centre proper and in the UBC Hospital Koerner Pavilion. Our core facilities are essential to ongoing collaboration, teaching, and research.

The BC Children's Hospital Research Institute is it the largest research institute of its kind in Western Canada in terms of people, productivity, funding and size. With more than 350,000 square feet of space, the Institute has both 'wet bench' laboratory and 'dry lab' clinical research areas, and other areas to facilitate particular areas of research and training.

Research Highlights

New knowledge and innovation are crucial to successfully identifying, addressing and overcoming the increasingly complex health-related challenges that influence the lives of all of us – in British Columbia, in Canada, and in countries and communities around the globe.

The UBC Faculty of Medicine is recognized nationally and internationally for research innovation that advances knowledge and translates new discoveries to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Research opportunities feature extensive collaborations across other faculties, health institutions and health partners across British Columbia, Canada and internationally.

The Faculty provides and fosters research excellence across the full continuum, from basic science to applied science and then to knowledge implementation, with a focus on precision health; cancer; brain and mental health; heart and lung health; population health; and chronic diseases.

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.
Name Academic Unit(s) Research Interests
Cote, Helene Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine HIV Infection, blood research, infectious diseases
Cox, Susan School of Population and Public Health Other medical sciences; Sociology and related studies; Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music), architecture and design
Cox, Michael Department of Urologic Sciences genetic testing, experiences of hereditary risk, social and ethical implications of genetics, interpersonal and family communication, qualitative research, narrative and story, Prostate cancer
Craig, Ann Marie Department of Psychiatry Excitatory and inhibitory synapses, Synapse development and plasticity, Synapse organizing proteins, Neurotransmitter receptors, Autism and schizophrenia
Cresswell, Silke Division of Neurology Functional imaging (PETand fMRI) in Parkinson
Cripton, Peter School of Biomedical Engineering Mechanical engineering; Medical and biomedical engineering; biomechanics; Cranio-Encephalic and Spinal Cord Trauma; hip fracture; injury prevention; Mechanical Systems; neurotrauma; Spinal cord injury; spine biomechanics; Trauma / Injuries; Traumatic Brain Injury; Sex Differences in Seat Belt Performance
Crook, Juanita Department of Surgery Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics
Crowell, Philip Philosophy; Medical Ethics
Culo, Sandi
Cundiff, Geoffrey Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, urogynaecology, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, obstetrical injury, quality assurance, Epidemiology of pelvic floor disorders, to anatomy, to education, to the prevention of maternal obstetrical trauma
Cynader, Max Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences eye diseases; glaucoma; dyslexia; stroke; neurotrauma; memory; vision; learning disabilities; hearing development; recovery after brain damage; ischemia; gene therapy, Alzheimer's
Dahl, Marshall Andrew Medical, health and life sciences; Gender-Affirming Endocrine Care. (Transgender Care). Focus is on pharmacotherapy.
Daley, Denise Division of Respiratory Medicine Bioinformatics; Asthma; Complex Trait Genetics; Epigenetics; gene-gene and gene-environment interactions; Genetic Diseases; genetic epidemiology; Genetics of Aging; statistical genetics; Susceptibility Genes
Daugaard, Mads Department of Urologic Sciences Cancer progression and metastasis; Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; Cancer Diagnosis and Detection; Cancer biology; Cancer diagnostics; Cancer therapy; Cell Signaling and Cancer; Cell Therapy of Cancer; Chemotherapy; DNA damage response pathways; glycobiology; Immunotherapy; Radiotherapy; Cell stress and Cancer; Cell stress signalling in cancer
Davies, Hugh William School of Population and Public Health Environmental and occupational health and safety; Health sciences; Public and population health; Antineoplastic drug hazards; Community Health / Public Health; environmental health; Exposure Assessment; Noise and Health; Occupational Health; Occupational Safety and Health
Davis, Noelle Department of Surgery cancer surgery and surgical oncology, Surgical oncology, Head and neck cancer
de Boer, Carl School of Biomedical Engineering Gene regulation
Dedhar, Shoukat Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology molecular biology, molecular biology as it relates to disease; developing new theraputics for cancer; how brain cells (neurons)make connections, therapeutics for cancer; molecular genetics and cancer; medical research, cancer, inflammatory diseases, cariovascular diseases, Cellular proteins, extracellular martrix, integrins, signal transduction, calreticulin, protein kinase, gene expression, cell differentiation
Deering, Kathleen Division of Social Medicine Medical, health and life sciences
Dell, Sharon Department of Pediatrics Asthma in Children; Bronchial Disorders; Children's Health; Interstitial Lung Diseases; Rare diseases; Primary ciliary dyskinesia
DeMarco, Mari Other medical sciences; Analytical chemistry, n.e.c.; Biochemistry; Biomarkers; Neurodegenerative diorders; Alzheimer's disease; Frontotemporal degeneration; Clinical mass spectrometry; Parkinson's disease; Lewy body dementia; ALS
Dennis, Jessica Department of Medical Genetics Bioinformatics; Genetic medicine; Administrative health data; Complex Trait Genetics; Electronic health records; Epidemiology; genetic epidemiology; Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases; Machine Learning; Mental Health and Psychopathology in Children and Youth; Precision Health; statistical genetics
Dennis, Brittany Division of Social Medicine Substance use, Harm reduction
Devlin, Angela Department of Pediatrics Human nutrition and dietetics; Human reproduction and development sciences; Pathology (except oral pathology); cardiovascular disease; Children; developmental programming; Diabetes; Obesity
Dewar, Leith ,

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Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Medicine.

 

Publication: BMJ open
UBC Author(s): Ian Pike (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Page Range: e085850
Publication Date: 17 April 2024

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Publication: JAMA
UBC Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00987484
Volume: 331
Page Range: 1276-1278
Publication Date: 16 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of the American Heart Association
UBC Author(s): Nadia Ahmed Khan (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 13
Page Range: e034118
Publication Date: 16 April 2024

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Publication: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
UBC Author(s): Michael Kobor (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 121
Publication Date: 16 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of cognitive psychotherapy
UBC Author(s): David Kealy (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 38
Page Range: 169-184
Publication Date: 16 April 2024

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Publication: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
UBC Author(s): Guy Tanentzapf (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 121
Publication Date: 16 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of Molecular Biology
UBC Author(s): Amritpal Singh (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00222836
Volume: 436
Publication Date: 15 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
UBC Author(s): Deborah Money (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15254135
Volume: 95
Page Range: 411-416
Publication Date: 15 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
UBC Author(s): Kelly Marshall McNagny (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 212
Page Range: 1257-1267
Publication Date: 15 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of Infectious Diseases
UBC Author(s): Brian Grunau (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00221899
Volume: 229
Page Range: 1019-1025
Publication Date: 15 April 2024

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Publication: Journal of Affective Disorders
UBC Author(s): Raymond Lam (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01650327
Volume: 351
Page Range: 631-640
Publication Date: 15 April 2024

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Publication: The Lancet
UBC Author(s): Jennifer Tomek (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01406736
Volume: 403
Page Range: 1472-1481
Publication Date: 13 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Human Genetics and Genomics Advances
UBC Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: 11 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Cancer Letters
UBC Author(s): Yuzhuo Wang (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03043835
Volume: 587
Publication Date: 10 April 2024

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Publication: JAMA Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Andrew Krahn (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine), Shubhayan Sanatani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 23806583
Volume: 9
Page Range: 377-384
Publication Date: 10 April 2024

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Publication: JAMA
UBC Author(s): Maria Socias (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00987484
Volume: 331
Page Range: 1215-1224
Publication Date: 9 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Developmental Cell
UBC Author(s): Calvin Roskelley (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15345807
Volume: 59
Page Range: 853-868.e7
Publication Date: 8 April 2024

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Publication: Cancer Cell
UBC Author(s): David Scott (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine), Christian Steidl (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15356108
Volume: 42
Page Range: 583-604.e11
Publication Date: 8 April 2024

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Publication: JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions
UBC Author(s): John Webb (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19368798
Volume: 17
Page Range: 859-870
Publication Date: 8 April 2024

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Publication: Fluids and barriers of the CNS
UBC Author(s): Tully Michael Underhill (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 21
Page Range: 31
Publication Date: 5 April 2024

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Publication: RMD open
UBC Author(s): Linda Li (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: 4 April 2024

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Publication: American Journal of Human Genetics
UBC Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00029297
Volume: 111
Page Range: 621-623
Publication Date: 4 April 2024

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Publication: Harm reduction journal
UBC Author(s): Angela Towle (Medicine Department / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 21
Page Range: 75
Publication Date: 4 April 2024

View Publication

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Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2023 Dr. Liang studied how harmful bacteria in the gut exploit our body's natural defenses to reproduce and cause infections. Her work informs future therapeutics beyond antibiotics to treat bacterial infections by targeting pathogen metabolism. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Caballero Silva studied and characterized the molecular structures of bacterial nano-machineries involved in the life cycle of the bacterium responsible for Tuberculosis. This research provides the groundwork into the development of novel therapeutics which can target key steps stopping bacterial infection. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Truong's research demonstrated the important role of social support on exercise adherence after traumatic sport-related knee injuries. These studies assist us in understanding the best ways to facilitate exercise behaviours to prevent inactivity, weight gain and early-onset osteoarthritis in this at-risk group. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ash studied adult neurogenesis, the birth of new brain cells in adulthood, in rodent models to examine how new brain cells integrate into neural circuitry. She also studied neurogenesis and memory in a rodent model of Alzheimer's Disease, characterizing structural changes and plasticity of brain cells during early stages of disease pathology. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2023 Dr. Kwon's work focused on developing radiopharmaceuticals targeting molecular markers present on cancers with poor outcomes. These radiopharmaceuticals are able to both image and treat cancers through radiation emission. Several candidates showed better performance than the standard of care and will be considered for clinical investigation. Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD)
2023 Dr.Chen developed a novel drug for treating stroke. He also extended his research interest to employing precision medicine to assit the management of young patients with epilepy that are caused by rare variants. His studies showed a great potential in improving the life quality of the old and young patients. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2023 Dr. Pataky's research explored methods to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of precision medicine technologies. She found that using genomic testing to define eligibility for cancer therapy can provide value for money. These new evaluation methods will help health care systems to better assess the value of funding precision medicine. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Yagi investigated sex differences in how new neurons in the hippocampus are related to learning and memory in males and females, and roles of estrogens in females. He found sex differences in new cell production and how they are integrated into the brain. This knowledge will lead to a better understanding of hippocampus-related diseases. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2023 Dr. Huang studied the impact of genetics on heart-related side effects caused by cancer drugs, and explored ways to minimize them. Her research offers new insights that can assist doctors in identifying genetic mutations in patients before initiating cancer therapies, improving cancer treatment safety and efficacy. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Kajabadi identifies the cell population and molecular signals responsible for inducing muscle atrophy, a progressive condition of muscle loss commonly seen in chronic pathologies such as cancer associated cachexia. This finding can help in developing therapeutics aimed at ameliorating disease-induced muscle atrophy. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)

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