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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
Hoffman, Bradford Department of Surgery Understanding how the genes critical to endocrine pancreas development, as well as ?-cell function and proliferation are regulated is essential for the development of novel strategies for the production of insulin-secreting cells, and for improving the efficacy of available transplantable material.
Hohl, Corinne Department of Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine; Epidemiology; Pharmacoepidemiology; Health Information Systems; Health Care Organization; Decision Making; Patient Safety; Medication Safety; Adverse Drug Events; Drug safety and effectiveness; Health Information Technology; Clinical Decision Making; Health services research; Adverse Event Reporting
Hoiland, Ryan Critical Care Medicine Neurosciences, medical and health and physiological aspects, n.e.c.; Clinical and translational cardiovascular sciences; Human physiology, n.e.c.; cerebral vascular physiology; acute brain injury; Spinal cord injury
Holsti, Liisa Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Medical, health and life sciences; premature infants; neurodevelopment; stress; pain; measurement; technology transfer; sucrose; rehabilitation; pediatrics
Holt, Robert Department of Medical Genetics, Department of Psychiatry Immunogenetics, Metagenomics - Infectious agents in Cancer, Cancer Genomes, Neurobiology, DNA Sequencing
Honer, William Department of Psychiatry Brain disorders, risk factors for disease
Honey, Christopher Richard Department of Surgery Neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation, trigeminal neuralgia, menifacial spasm, movement disorders, mood, pain
Hoodless, Pamela Department of Medical Genetics, School of Biomedical Engineering Computational cell biology; Cancer; Genomics; Medical and biomedical engineering; Nucleic acids studies; Developmental Genetics; Embryology; Embryonic Development; Epigenetics; Heart Valve / Valvular Diseases; Heart valve formation; Liver; Liver development; Stem Cells and Organogenesis; transcriptional regulation
Houghton, Kristin Health sciences; pediatric rheumatology, exercise and physical activity, knee injury
Howe, Leann Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biochemistry; chromatin; Transcription
Howe, Tami School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Acquired language disorders, aphasia
Hsiung, Ging-Yuek Robin Division of Neurology Dementia, Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology, Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Music Therapy in Dementia, Genetics of Dementia, Dementia Clinical Trials
Hui, Philip Li-Yeung ,
Hunt, Michael Department of Physical Therapy Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; Arthritis / Osteo-Arthritis; biomechanics; exercise; Joints (Articulations); musculoskeletal; Musculoskeletal Deformation; Neuromuscular Diseases; Orthoses and Prostheses; Physical Activity; rehabilitation
Huntsman, David Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology hereditary cancer, molecular pathology, cancer biomarkers, Pancreas centre
Huot, Suzanne Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy; Human geography; asylum seekers; bilingualism; community-engaged research; critical theory; francophone minority communities; francophones; french; Gender; immigration; intersectionality; Migration Studies; Migrations, Populations, Cultural Exchanges; occupational science; Qualitative research; refugees; social inclusion; social integration; Platform economy
Illes, Judy Division of Neurology Medical biotechnology; Biomedical Ethics; Aging and dementia; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Brain Injury; Stem Cells; Neurotechnology; Neuroethics
Isaac, Kathryn Department of Surgery Surgery; Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Jagday, Sandy
James, Sarah
Jamieson, Amy Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Jan, Eric Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biochemistry; Virus; Nucleic Acids; Proteomics; Antiviral innate immunity; Zika; coxsackievirus; enterovirus; Innate immunity; molecular biology; picornavirus; protease; Protein synthesis; RNA; RNA structure function; RNA virus; ribosome; SARS; tRNA; translation; Virology; virus host interactions; mRNA therapeutics
Jang, Kerry Department of Psychiatry addiction and substance use, and public health research on vulnerable urban populations, specifically the causes of homeless and the health status of individuals suffering from concurrently occurring psychiatric disorder and polysubstance abuse and addiction.
Janssen, Patricia School of Population and Public Health Health sciences; Public and population health; Gestation / Parturition; health of marginalized women; Lifestyle Determinants and Health; maternal child health; mobile health for pregnancy and parenting; Perinatal Period; social determinants of health
Jarus, Tal Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; Disciplinary education; art-based research; disabled practitioners;; Disabled students;; diversifying health and human service professions; Justice and equity in health professions

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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: Quality of Life Research
UBC Author(s): Julia Schmidt (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09629343
Volume: 33
Page Range: 877-901
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Genetics in Medicine
UBC Author(s): Alison Elliott (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine), Sylvia Stockler-Ipsiroglu (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10983600
Volume: 26
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Arthritis Care and Research
UBC Author(s): Diane Lacaille (Rheumatology Division / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 2151464X
Volume: 76
Page Range: 470-485
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1936878X
Volume: 17
Page Range: 396-407
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: European Radiology
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09387994
Volume: 34
Page Range: 2665-2676
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Cancer Survivorship
UBC Author(s): Christine Voss (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19322259
Volume: 18
Page Range: 352-365
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Chest
UBC Author(s): Brian Grunau (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00123692
Volume: 165
Page Range: 759-761
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Stroke
UBC Author(s): Teresa Yeong Lih Liu (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00392499
Volume: 55
Page Range: 812-821
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

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Publication: International Journal of Drug Policy
ISSN: 09553959
Volume: 126
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: The Pediatric infectious disease journal
UBC Author(s): Manish Sadarangani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 43
Page Range: 345-349
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

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Publication: Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
UBC Author(s): Linda Li (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00490172
Volume: 65
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Prenatal Diagnosis
UBC Author(s): Sylvie Langlois (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01973851
Volume: 44
Page Range: 389-397
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Pediatric Nephrology
UBC Author(s): Doug Matsell (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0931041X
Volume: 39
Page Range: 1185-1192
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy
UBC Author(s): Jacqueline Whittaker (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 54
Page Range: 1-14
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

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Publication: Kidney International
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00852538
Volume: 105
Page Range: 684-701
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Kidney International
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00852538
Volume: 105
Page Range: S117-S314
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Nature Reviews Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Stephanie Sellers (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 17595002
Volume: 21
Page Range: 264-273
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: JAMIA Open
UBC Author(s): Daniel Vigo (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 7
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

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Publication: Experimental Neurology
UBC Author(s): Weihong Song (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00144886
Volume: 374
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Orthopaedics
UBC Author(s): Bassam Masri (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine), Donald Garbuz (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 50
Page Range: 99-110
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Cancer Letters
UBC Author(s): Honglin Luo (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03043835
Volume: 585
Publication Date: 31 March 2024

View Publication
Publication: Cell Reports
UBC Author(s): Catherine Garnis (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 43
Publication Date: 26 March 2024

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Publication: Cell Reports
UBC Author(s): Mark Steven Cembrowski (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 43
Publication Date: 26 March 2024

View Publication
Publication: Neurology
UBC Author(s): Steven Miller (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Thiviya Selvanathan (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 102
Page Range: e209212
Publication Date: 26 March 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
2022 Dr. Simpson investigated the epidemiology, measurement, and recovery of arm and hand use following a stroke. This research increases our knowledge of this unique aspect of stroke recovery and will inform future stroke rehabilitation treatments. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2022 Dr. Wong examined mechanisms that underlie cell fate determination during normal T-cell development. She identified an epigenetic factor critical for maintaining appropriate lineage development. Her research furthers our understanding of normal T-cell differentiation and how aberrations throughout development can result in leukemia. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Nanditha examined the epidemiology of aging with HIV in British Columbia. She demonstrated the disproportionate burden of chronic diseases experienced by people living with HIV and proposed reproducible methodological approaches that improve the reliability of chronic disease frequencies measured using large administrative health datasets. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Wickham investigated modifiable risk factors associated with recurrent adverse drug events, and examined how well these events are captured in health care data. These studies have implications for patient safety, and for drug safety research, as the documentation of these events is crucial in understanding and preventing their recurrence. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Dr. Magee examined the epidemiology of schizophrenia spectrum conditions and access to psychiatric services among adolescents in British Columbia. Her findings can be used to plan for adequate mental health supports for young people in BC. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Dr. Closson explored the validity evidence of a commonly used measure of gender equity in sexual and reproductive health research among South African youth. She demonstrated that measures need to be adapted to be more inclusive, contemporary, and strength-based to better reflect gender equity and the positive elements of youth relationships Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Dr. Mo investigated the mechanisms of leukemogenesis in AML driven by genetic mutations. The research identified a novel genetic driver of AML, FBXO11, as well as a new link between two cellular systems, the ubiquitin pathway and mitochondrial function. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Strilchuk leveraged RNA and lipid nanoparticle technologies to create agents that control the stability of blood clots. She showed that this strategy could help restore hemostasis in models of coagulation disorders, providing the foundation for a new generation of therapeutics to protect people against thrombosis and bleeding. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Messing showed that blood immune biomarkers at time of ICU admission predict COVID-19 clinical outcome. She also studied immune responses in other conditions including muscular dystrophy and childhood allergic disease where she demonstrated important immunological mechanisms that underlie disease development. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Xiuyun Wu studied the relationship between human visual perception and motor action. She examined how perception and eye movements respond to different visual objects and tasks. This research provides new insights into how visual information is utilized by perception and action, and informs our understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)

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