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
Fairbairn, Nadia Division of Social Medicine Drug Abuse
Fast, Danya Division of Social Medicine Social sciences; Substance Use; Substance Use Care; Adolescents and Young Adults; urban health; Urban Poverty; Medical Anthropology; Canada; East Africa
Fedida, David Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics How the heart generates, maintains and regulates electrical activity, Anesthesiology
Field, Thalia Division of Neurology stroke; Clinical trials; cerebral venous thrombosis; outcomes; cognition; Machine Learning
Fisher, Charles Department of Orthopaedics adult spine surgery, with special clinical and research interests in trauma, oncology and evidence-based medicine
Flannigan, Ryan Department of Urologic Sciences evaluating genetic and molecular mechanisms contributing to non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA)
Fleetham, John Division of Respiratory Medicine Sleep disorders, neuromuscular disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, imaging techniques, respiratory muscle function, systemic blood pressure, hypothalamic pituitary function, psychological status, disordered breathing
Forbes, Connor Department of Urologic Sciences Urology; Other basic medicine and life sciences; Drug discovery, design and delivery; Endourology; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; Kidney stones; Translational research
Forster, Bruce Department of Radiology Radiology; imaging
Forwell, Susan Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Neurological conditions and their impact on chosen occupations
Foster, Leonard Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories Biochemistry; Genomics; Agriculture; antigen presentation; Bioinformatics; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Biotechnology; Cell Signaling and Infectious and Immune Diseases; Honey bees; host-pathogen interactions; Immune System; Microbiology; Proteomics; Systems Biology
Francis, Gordon Division of Endocrinology lipoproteins; Cholesterol metabolism; Cardiovascular risk factors; Prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes; High density lipoproteins (HDL)
Frangou, Sophia Department of Psychiatry the study of the human brain in health and disease
Frank, Erica School of Population and Public Health Health sciences; Public and population health; Other education; Free education; Preventive Medicine; Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Architecture; Holocaust studies; Exile Reintegration; Democratization; Intervention Research
Freeman, Hugh James Division of Gastroenterology Intestinal Diseases
Friedman, Jan Marshall Department of Medical Genetics Other clinical medicine; Genetic medicine; Genomics; Health counselling; Application of whole genome sequencing to diagnose genetic disease; Birth defects epidemiology; Clinical genomics; Developmental Genetics; Genetics and Heredity; Neurofibromatosis
Gadermann, Anne Social determinants of health; Housing and homelessness; Quality of
Gao, Zu-Hua Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Garbuz, Donald Department of Orthopaedics reconstructive surgery of the hip and knee; novel imaging techniques to assess early changes in articular cartilage, which may be indicators for osteoarthritis
Garnis, Catherine Department of Surgery Cancer biology; Tumor progression; Oral premalignant lesions; Head and neck cancer; RNA biology, microRNAs; Alternative splicing; Biomarkers
Geller, Josie Department of Psychiatry Eating Disorders
Geoffrion, Roxana Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology patient education, surgical outcomes after various pelvic reconstructive surgeries and surgical skill development through simulation and standardized training; pelvic floor reconstruction procedures such as vaginal prolapse or urinary incontinence surgery
Gerrie, Alina Division of Medical Oncology Clinical medicine; Lymphoid Cancer; Leukemia; genomics; Population-based outcomes; Cellular therapy; Quality of life; Survivorship
Giaschi, Deborah Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; amblyopia; reading; dyslexia; motion perception; binocular vision; visual development
Gibson, William Department of Medical Genetics Genetic medicine; Genetic Diseases; Chromosomes: Structure / Organization; Epigenetics

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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: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention
UBC Author(s): Aline Talhouk (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Michael Anglesio (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10559965
Volume: 34
Page Range: 762-773
Publication Date: 1 May 2025

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Publication: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
UBC Author(s): Donald Sin (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1073449X
Volume: 211
Page Range: 700-708
Publication Date: 1 May 2025

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Publication: Arthritis and Rheumatology
UBC Author(s): Kelly Brown (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 23265191
Volume: 77
Page Range: 606-614
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
UBC Author(s): Christopher Ryerson (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1073449X
Volume: 211
Page Range: 709-728
Publication Date: 1 May 2025

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Publication: Urogynecology
UBC Author(s): Geoffrey Cundiff (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 31
Page Range: 482-495
Publication Date: 1 May 2025

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Publication: Annals of the American Thoracic Society
UBC Author(s): Sharon Dell (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 23296933
Volume: 22
Page Range: 724-731
Publication Date: 1 May 2025

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Publication: Kidney International Reports
UBC Author(s): Jagbir Gill (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 24680249
Volume: 10
Page Range: 1538-1547
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: BJU International
UBC Author(s): Alan So (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14644096
Volume: 135
Page Range: 818-827
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: CJC Open
UBC Author(s): Stephanie Sellers (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine), Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine), John Webb (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine), Philipp Blanke (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 7
Page Range: 657-659
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Journal of Pathology
UBC Author(s): Aline Talhouk (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Michael Anglesio (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00223417
Volume: 266
Page Range: 9-25
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Leukemia
UBC Author(s): Florian Kuchenbauer (Division of Hematology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08876924
Volume: 39
Page Range: 1090-1101
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Journal of Microscopy
UBC Author(s): Susan Homewood (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00222720
Volume: 298
Page Range: 185-203
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Research in Developmental Disabilities
UBC Author(s): Jill Zwicker (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08914222
Volume: 160
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: American Journal of Surgery
UBC Author(s): Sam Michael Wiseman (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00029610
Volume: 243
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: American Journal of Medicine
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00029343
Volume: 138
Page Range: 850-861.e8
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Histopathology
UBC Author(s): Amy Jamieson (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Jessica McAlpine (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Aline Talhouk (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), David Huntsman (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03090167
Volume: 86
Page Range: 862-877
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Atherosclerosis
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00219150
Volume: 404
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal
UBC Author(s): Bruce Forster (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08465371
Volume: 76
Page Range: 197-198
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal
UBC Author(s): Bruce Forster (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08465371
Volume: 76
Page Range: 212-220
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Radiotherapy and Oncology
UBC Author(s): Juanita Crook (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01678140
Volume: 206
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Modern Pathology
UBC Author(s): Torsten Nielsen (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08933952
Volume: 38
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: European Journal of Human Genetics
UBC Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10184813
Volume: 33
Page Range: 649-657
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: European Journal of Human Genetics
UBC Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10184813
Volume: 33
Page Range: 633-641
Publication Date: May 2025

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Publication: Journal of Urology
UBC Author(s): Miles Mannas (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00225347
Volume: 213
Page Range: 609-616
Publication Date: 1 May 2025

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Publication: Chest
UBC Author(s): Christopher Ryerson (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00123692
Volume: 167
Page Range: 1271-1273
Publication Date: 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
2024 Dr. Rafizadeh's work investigated the comparative effectiveness of clozapine versus other antipsychotics in improving outcomes related to non-nicotine substance use disorders, which commonly co-occurs with schizophrenia. It also explored factors influencing clozapine metabolism to tailor dosing for individuals and mitigate potential side effects. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Banville studied B cells in the context of the immune response to ovarian cancer. She defined tumour-associated B cell reactivity patterns and discovered novel target antigens. Her findings suggest multi-faceted roles for B cells in anti-tumour immunity which will ultimately guide the development of more effective cancer immunotherapies. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Gemmell studied how urban environments impact children’s health and human rights, including the right to play. She developed and mapped a playability index across Canadian cities, identifying disparities in neighbourhood quality for children’s outdoor play. Her research advances assessment of urban environments for child health and well-being. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2024 Dr. Usman studied how the lungs repair after injury, both in healthy people and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She found that the inflammatory mediator, interleukin-1 alpha is vital in preventing scaring, and that targeting specific master regulators of this mediator could lead to new treatments for COPD. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Merry studied how and why exercise therapies are used to manage chronic Achilles tendon injuries. He applied this knowledge to develop a new tele-rehabilitation system to improve treatment, which is now in pilot testing with patients. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2024 Dr. Bahreyni investigated the use of microRNA-modified Coxsackievirus B3 (miR-CVB3) in breast cancer treatment. His research explored how combining miR-CVB3 with immune-enhancers and advanced delivery methods might offer improvements in therapy. Dr. Bahreyni's work provides useful insights into potential strategies for enhancing cancer treatment. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Rubino investigated human behaviour and brain function in the acquisition and performance of skilled actions using eye-tracking, interactive robotics and brain imaging. Her work reveals that the oculomotor system plays a role in both developing motor skills and performing motor tasks after stroke. Her work offers a new avenue into discovery for stroke neurorehabilitation. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2024 Dr. Vikulova studied risk factors and barriers to preventing early-onset heart disease. She found that many young adults are unaware of their high risk and do not get preventive treatment and that screening first-degree relatives of patients with early-onset heart disease may help identify those at high risk and those with silent plaques in heart blood vessels to initiate preventive therapy timely. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Auditory Brainstem Response audiometry is the typical method for estimating hearing thresholds in infants. New stimuli called narrowband chirps (NBchirps) may elicit larger responses than traditional stimuli. However, Dr. Adjekum's research indicates that NBchirps have a wider spectral content, leading to responses from broader cochlear regions, wh Doctor of Philosophy in Audiology and Speech Sciences (PhD)
2024 Dr. Kenward characterized crucial viral proteins and mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2, revealing core features of its cysteine protease and identifying potential antiviral targets. This work advances our understanding of the virus's lifecycle and aids in the development of resilient therapeutics against COVID-19 and future viral threats. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)

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