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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
Masri, Bas Department of Orthopaedics Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction and Replacement and to Musculoskeletal Oncology
Masse, Louise School of Population and Public Health Health care administration; Health sciences; Public and population health; Childhood obesity with specific interests in prevention and treatment using lifestyle modification; Films, Membranes and Multiphase Polymers; Health Promotion; Nutrition; Obesity; Physical Activity
Matsell, Douglas Department of Pediatrics Childhood kidney disease, Congenital urinary tract obstruction
Matsubara, Joanne Aiko Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Sensory systems, visual; Cellular interactions (including adhesion, matrix and cell wall); Gene and molecular therapy; Cellular neuroscience; neuroscience; vision; cell and development; cell death pathways; innate immune response; eye disease, retinal degenerations; Alzheimer's disease; neurodegeneration
Mawson, John Department of Radiology Quality improvement/quality assurance issues; Pediatric medical imaging services; Anatomy; Congenital Heart Defects
Maxwell, Christopher Department of Pediatrics Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; Cell differentiation, proliferation and death; Pediatric cancer; Cancer progression and metastasis; Hereditary Cancer; Cell division; Cell migration; Differentiation; Cell polarity
Mayor, Thibault Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories Biochemistry; Genomics; Aging; Cell Biology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Proteasome; Protein Degradation; Protein Folding; Proteomics; Proteostasis; Ubiquitin; Yeast Genetics
McAlpine, Jessica Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology subtypes of ovarian and endometrial cancers, and prevention
McCracken, Rita Department of Family Practice Audit and feedback to improve primary care prescribing; Health human resources; Polypharmacy and deprescribing; Frailty, aging; Patient-oriented research outcomes; Primary care research; Health services evaluation
McGrail, Kimberlyn School of Population and Public Health aging and health care services use; health care costs; health care financing; primary care; health care policy, Variations in health care services use across patients, providers and regions, and their relationship to population health, Aging and the use of health and social services, Personal, economic, and social factors that produce health at an individual and population level, and the role of the health care system in that process
McKay, Heather Department of Family Practice, Department of Orthopaedics Population health interventions; Aging process; Social and biological determinants of aging; Health promotion and disease prevention; Prevention, treatment and support of youth health; Medical, health and life sciences; Knowledge translation and implementation science in health; Health and community services; Aging Process; Public and Population Health
McKeown, Martin Division of Neurology Neurology; novel treatments for Parkinson's; Video Monitoring Parkinson's; Brain Stimulation; Biomedical Engineering; Machine Learning; fMRI; EEG
McLeod, Christopher School of Population and Public Health occupational heath and the social epidemiology of the working life course.
McMaster, W Robert Department of Medical Genetics Molecular Immunology
McNagny, Kelly Marshall School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medical Genetics Cellular immunology; Regenerative medicine (including stem cells and tissue engineering); Stem Cells; Immunology; Inflammation; Mouse models of human disease; Tissue degeneration/regeneration; Cancer; innate immune response; kidney function; Biologics and therapeutics
Meckler, Garth Department of Pediatrics Evidence to Innovation; Pediatric Simulation; Continuing Medical Education; Pediatric Headache
Meneghetti, Adam Department of Surgery Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery; oncology; Education and Curriculum Development
Meneilly, Graydon Division of Geriatric Medicine diabetes and carbohydrate metabolism in the elderly
Michalak, Erin Department of Psychiatry bipolar disorder; quality of life; stigma, community based research; depression; mental health; ehealth; self-management, Bipolar disorder, quality of life, stigma, community based research, depression, mental health, ehealth, self-management
Miller, Steven Department of Pediatrics Birth defects, Concussion, Preterm labor, Steroids
Miller, William Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy
Milloy, Michael-John Division of Social Medicine Infectious diseases; Clinical sciences, n.e.c.; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; medical cannabis; overdose; HIV disease; people who use drugs; Substance use disorder
Miran-Khan, Karim Department of Family Practice, School of Kinesiology Exercise is Medicine; Health promotion via Exercise; Type 2 DM prevention
Mitton, Craig School of Population and Public Health Health care administration; Health sciences; Public and population health; Health Policies; Health care resource allocation
Moe, Jessica Department of Emergency Medicine Clinical medicine; Substance Use; Addictions; Identifying, characterizing and developing interventions for high risk emergency department patients; Evaluating optimal naloxone dosing in ultra-potent opioid overdoses; Developing approaches to emergency department screening for opioid use disorder; Evaluating buprenorphine/naloxone standard dosing and microdosing interventions; Overdose prevention

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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: mBio
UBC Author(s): Shoukat Dedhar (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine), Samuel Aparicio (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 21612129
Volume: 16
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
UBC Author(s): Quynh Doan (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08859701
Volume: 40
Page Range: E154-E162
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

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Publication: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
UBC Author(s): Kate Salters (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Physical Therapy
UBC Author(s): Teresa Yeong Lih Liu (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00319023
Volume: 105
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Physical Therapy
UBC Author(s): Patricia Camp (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00319023
Volume: 105
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Thoracic Oncology
UBC Author(s): Stephen C Lam (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15560864
Volume: 20
Page Range: 249-251
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Haematology
UBC Author(s): Kirk Schultz (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 24519960
Volume: 12
Page Range: e214-e223
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Academic Radiology
UBC Author(s): Rachel Eddy (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10766332
Volume: 32
Page Range: 1734-1742
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Computers in Biology and Medicine
UBC Author(s): Martin McKeown (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00104825
Volume: 187
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences
UBC Author(s): A Jonathan Stoessl (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03171671
Volume: 52
Page Range: 205-213
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

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Publication: Journal of Psychiatric Research
UBC Author(s): John Ogrodniczuk (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00223956
Volume: 183
Page Range: 47-51
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Transplant Immunology
UBC Author(s): Christopher Nguan (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09663274
Volume: 89
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Journal of Pediatrics
ISSN: 00223476
Volume: 278
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
UBC Author(s): Nadia Ahmed Khan (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01674943
Volume: 130
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Gait and Posture
UBC Author(s): Kishore Mulpuri (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09666362
Volume: 117
Page Range: 268-272
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Schizophrenia Research: Cognition
UBC Author(s): Donna Lang (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 39
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
UBC Author(s): Liam Brunham (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0021972X
Volume: 110
Page Range: e703-e709
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

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Publication: Resuscitation Plus
UBC Author(s): Brian Grunau (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 22
Publication Date: March 2025

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Publication: Cancer Medicine
UBC Author(s): Parveen Bhatti (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Genetics in Medicine
UBC Author(s): Alison Elliott (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10983600
Volume: 27
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Laboratory Investigation
UBC Author(s): Torsten Nielsen (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00236837
Volume: 105
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
UBC Author(s): Lakshmi Yatham (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09333657
Volume: 161
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Pediatric Transplantation
UBC Author(s): Tom Blydt-Hansen (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Megan Levings (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 13973142
Volume: 29
Publication Date: March 2025

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
2024 Dr. Nguyen studied the molecular machines responsible for the transcription of RNA using cutting-edge techniques like super resolution microscopy and next-generation sequencing. His work not only unraveled novel perspectives of transcription mechanisms, but also challenged previous paradigms to provide a better understanding of gene regulation. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Kumar studied the mechanisms underlying protein quality control in cells exposed to DNA damage. His work focused on post-translational modifications and their role in regulating the dynamics of protein sequestration. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2024 Dr. Bell investigated the role of the surface glycoprotein, podocalyxin, in breast and pancreatic cancer and showed that the molecule's sugar-rich, extracellular domain contributes to tumour cell collective invasion. This work provides insight into mechanisms of early metastasis and highlights the potential of podocalyxin-targeted therapeutics. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Randall explored long-term patient satisfaction with total knee replacement. She found that 12% of participants were dissatisfied, particularly those with ongoing symptoms and unmet expectations. The main concern for patients was how well their new knee supported their daily lives. These findings have both clinical and research implications. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2024 Dr. Li conducted research on the association between TNF inhibitors and multiple sclerosis in four Canadian provinces. An increased risk of multiple sclerosis was found in users of TNF inhibitors. This finding is vital for healthcare practitioners to weigh the benefits and risks of TNF inhibitors, ultimately guiding safer medical decisions. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Around the world people breathe in polluted air that irritates their lungs and causes inflammation. Dr. Huff's research demonstrated that current anti-inflammatory asthma medications increase common cold infections in human lung cells exposed to pollution, and identified three new medicines that reduce air pollution induced inflammation. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Hrelja examined how decision-making was bidirectionally influenced by self-administered drugs of abuse in rodent models. This preclinical research illuminates considerations and refinements that can be made to the treatment of addiction. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2024 Dr. Tophkhane studied the functional effects of mutations in WNT pathway genes associated with Robinow syndrome using the chicken embryo model. She found that the mutant proteins disturb development of the facial skeleton and cell signaling. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Orach investigated the dose-response to controlled air pollution exposure in a clinical trial. He identified blood proteins, breath measurements and symptoms that are closely related to diesel exhaust levels. This research facilitates health monitoring and improves our ability to assess and mitigate the harmful impacts of air pollution. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Fournier uncovered a new role for ARID1A, a gene lost in about 7% of all cancers, in the maintenance of genome integrity. Using CRISPR screening, he also identified vulnerabilities of cancer cells that lose ARID1A. This work expands our understanding of how these tumours develop and provides potential new avenues for treatment. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

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