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
Chew, Ben Department of Urologic Sciences how kidney stones form and in particular intestinal absorption of minerals that can form kidney stones (calcium and oxalate); genetically modifying bacteria normally used to make yogurt to express a naturally occurring enzyme that breaks down oxalate, thus preventing its absorption into the body where it can combine with calcium to form kidney stones.
Chi, Kim Nguyen Division of Medical Oncology Thrombosis in cancer patients, methemoglobinemia, hemolysis, anticancer drugs, prostate cancer, chemotherapy, cell cancer, breast cancer
Chia, Stephen K.L. Division of Medical Oncology Cancer; translational research in breast cancer
Choi, Peter Tsz Lung Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Anesthesiology, peroperative medicine, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, research education
Christenson, James Department of Emergency Medicine Other clinical medicine; sudden cardiac death; chain of survival; out of hospital cardiac arrest; emergency medical services; resuscitation science
Churg, Andrew Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Lung disease
Cibere, Jolanda Division of Rheumatology Rheumatology; early osteoarthritis; magnetic resonance imaging in osteoarthritis; biomarkers in osteoarthritis; progression of early osteoarthritis; clinical detection of early osteoarthritis
Ciernia, Annie Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biochemistry; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Autism; Brain development; Epigenetics; Gene-Environment Interactions; Neurodevelopmental disorders
Ciocca, Valter School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Auditory System; Perception and Representation; Recognition of Speech; Speech and Language Development Disorders; Auditory grouping of speech and non-speech sounds, also known as "auditory scene analysis"; perception and production of normal and disordered speech
Collins, Colin Department of Urologic Sciences translational genomics where mathematics, genomics, computer science, and clinical science converge in diagnostics and therapeutics
Colozzo, Paola School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Developmental language disorders; language and cognition; discourse, assessment and intervention for children with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
Conibear, Elizabeth Department of Medical Genetics Other basic medicine and life sciences; Protein trafficking in cell biology; Molecular genetics; Functional genomics; Membranes; Enzymes and Proteins; Vesicle Trafficking; Molecular Genetics; Neurodegenerative diseases; Protein Palmitoylation; Cell Signaling and Cancer
Conway, Edward Division of Hematology Basic medicine and life sciences; coagulation; Innate immunity; Inflammation; vascular biologh
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
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
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

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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: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open
UBC Author(s): David Wilson (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine), Kishore Mulpuri (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 7
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Materials Science and Engineering R: Reports
UBC Author(s): Karim Miran-Khan (Family Practice / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0927796X
Volume: 164
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Current Opinion in Immunology
UBC Author(s): Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09527915
Volume: 94
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
UBC Author(s): David Wilson (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 17516161
Volume: 166
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Physiotherapy (United Kingdom)
UBC Author(s): Kristin Campbell (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine), Kendall Ho (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Patricia Camp (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00319406
Volume: 127
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Addictive Behaviors Reports
UBC Author(s): Brittany Dennis (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 21
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Breast
UBC Author(s): Stephen K.L. Chia (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09609776
Volume: 81
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Journal of Pediatrics
UBC Author(s): Steven Miller (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Ruth V Grunau (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00223476
Volume: 281
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Nutrition Reviews
UBC Author(s): Rachel Murphy (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00296643
Volume: 83
Page Range: 1047-1060
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

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Publication: Environment International
UBC Author(s): Martin Guhn (Human Early Learning Partnership / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01604120
Volume: 200
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Journal of Genetic Counseling
UBC Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10597700
Volume: 34
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Medical Education
UBC Author(s): Kevin Eva (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03080110
Volume: 59
Page Range: 606-614
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Clinical Biomechanics
UBC Author(s): Peter Cripton (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02680033
Volume: 126
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: NMR in Biomedicine
UBC Author(s): Liisa Holsti (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine), Ruth V Grunau (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09523480
Volume: 38
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
UBC Author(s): Deborah Giaschi (Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01497634
Volume: 173
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Paediatric Anaesthesia
UBC Author(s): Matthias Goerges (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 11555645
Volume: 35
Page Range: 485-486
Publication Date: June 2025

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Publication: Vaccine
UBC Author(s): Annalee Yassi (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0264410X
Volume: 57
Publication Date: 31 May 2025

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Publication: Cell Reports
UBC Author(s): Samuel Aparicio (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 26391856
Volume: 44
Publication Date: 27 May 2025

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Publication: The Lancet
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01406736
Volume: 405
Page Range: 1809-1810
Publication Date: 24 May 2025

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Publication: Nucleic Acids Research
UBC Author(s): Sheila Teves (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03051048
Volume: 53
Publication Date: 22 May 2025

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Publication: Blood
UBC Author(s): Christian Steidl (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00064971
Volume: 145
Page Range: 2460-2472
Publication Date: 22 May 2025

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Publication: CMAJ. Canadian Medical Association Journal
UBC Author(s): Julio Sergio Gonzalez-Montaner (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08203946
Volume: 197
Page Range: E534-E535
Publication Date: 20 May 2025

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Publication: Journal of the American College of Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Liam Brunham (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Gordon Francis (Division of Endocrinology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 07351097
Volume: 85
Page Range: 1898-1903
Publication Date: 20 May 2025

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Publication: FASEB Journal
UBC Author(s): Michael Hayden (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08926638
Volume: 39
Publication Date: 15 May 2025

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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
2025 Dr. Ding studied how mobile health technologies are used to support youth mental health. Her research showed that health technologies should be designed with youth input to be effective and equitable. These findings will benefit youth, care providers, health policymakers, and other health partners. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2025 Dr. Yusuf used health services data to investigate the period before the first recognized symptoms of multiple sclerosis. She identified different patterns of health service use and investigated the role of several biases. Her findings suggest that people with multiple sclerosis can be identified and treated earlier. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2025 Dr. Deng investigated the roles of different types of direct talin-mediated actin linkages in cell-ECM adhesion in mice. Her research highlighted the importance of maintaining multiple integrin-actin linkage pathways and shed light on the regulation of integrin-mediated adhesion for tissue development, maintenance and homeostasis in mammals. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2025 Dr. Mannar investigated biochemical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 variant spike proteins during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was shown that variant spike proteins possessed enhanced receptor binding properties and displayed evasion of neutralizing antibodies. This work informs our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein evolution. Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD)
2025 Dr. Panahi investigated the molecular drivers of high-risk multiple myeloma, a challenging and currently incurable blood cancer. She developed a novel risk classification approach to better identify aggressive cases and support the development of more effective targeted therapies. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2025 Dr. Wyder-Hodge studied how soft tissue properties shape light touch perception. He developed novel methods to measure friction across body regions, revealing force characteristics and velocity thresholds that define pleasant touch. His work informs clothing design, wearable tech, and identifying clinical populations with diverse touch responses. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2025 Dr. Wang transformed the understanding of prostate cancer by identifying lineage-specific transcription factors and a three-phase progression model. Highlighting NFIX as a key regulator of tumor dormancy, this work paves the way for early intervention to control cancer within a patient’s lifespan—bringing a cancer no-fear world closer. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2025 Dr. Kabacinska studied the use of social robotics to improve mental health across lifespan. Her research focused on exploring the perspectives of current and future robot users to improve robot mental health interventions and make them better suited to user needs. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2025 Dr. Richardson’s research focused on Granzyme K, a previously understudied enzyme now linked to chronic inflammatory diseases. She established a role for Granzyme K in psoriasis, uncovering how it promotes disease development in skin. Her work redefines the biological function of Granzyme K and sets the stage for future therapeutic innovation. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2025 Dr. Robinson's research in Experimental Medicine developed a new Indigenous research methodology and framework called the KIJIKATIG Education Model. His work highlights how narrative inquiry and carving practices restore knowledge, revitalize education, and affirm carving as medicine, benefiting Indigenous communities, scholars, and educators Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)

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