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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, Doug 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 Cancer; Hereditary Cancer; Cell division; Cell migration; Differentiation; Cell polarity
Mayo, John Robert Department of Radiology, Department of Medicine Radiology, lung health, medical imaging
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
Mikelberg, Frederick Samuel Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Other clinical medicine; Glaucoma
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

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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: Heliyon
UBC Author(s): Weihong Song (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 24058440
Volume: 10
Publication Date: 15 January 2024

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Publication: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
UBC Author(s): Christopher Carlsten (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 209
Page Range: 175-184
Publication Date: 15 January 2024

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Publication: British Journal of Nutrition
UBC Author(s): Rajavel Elango (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Jennifer Tomek (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Angela Devlin (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00071145
Volume: 131
Page Range: 92-102
Publication Date: 14 January 2024

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Publication: RMD open
UBC Author(s): Diane Lacaille (Rheumatology Division / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: 12 January 2024

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Publication: Blood
UBC Author(s): Alina Gerrie (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00064971
Volume: 143
Page Range: 152-165
Publication Date: 11 January 2024

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Publication: Human Genetics and Genomics Advances
UBC Author(s): Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: 11 January 2024

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Publication: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
UBC Author(s): Alexander Wyatt (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 116
Page Range: 115-126
Publication Date: 10 January 2024

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Publication: Neuroscience
UBC Author(s): Weihong Song (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03064522
Volume: 536
Page Range: 1-11
Publication Date: 9 January 2024

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Publication: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
UBC Author(s): Jonathan Loree (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 33
Page Range: 72-79
Publication Date: 9 January 2024

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Publication: Annals of work exposures and health
UBC Author(s): Mohammad Ehsanul Karim (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 68
Page Range: 36-47
Publication Date: 8 January 2024

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Publication: European heart journal
UBC Author(s): Liam Brunham (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 45
Page Range: 117-128
Publication Date: 7 January 2024

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Publication: The Lancet
UBC Author(s): Liam Brunham (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01406736
Volume: 403
Page Range: 55-66
Publication Date: 6 January 2024

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Publication: Nucleic acids research
UBC Author(s): Lakshmi Yatham (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 52
Page Range: D1333-D1346
Publication Date: 5 January 2024

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Publication: BJPsych Open
UBC Author(s): Raymond Lam (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: 5 January 2024

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Publication: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
UBC Author(s): Yvette Drew (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 30
Page Range: 50-62
Publication Date: 5 January 2024

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Publication: Nucleic acids research
UBC Author(s): Wyeth Wasserman (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 52
Page Range: D174-D182
Publication Date: 5 January 2024

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Publication: Nucleic acids research
UBC Author(s): Joerg Gsponer (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 52
Page Range: D426-D433
Publication Date: 5 January 2024

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Publication: Journal of Proteome Research
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine), Keith Walley (Critical Care Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), David Patrick (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine), James Russell (Critical Care Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Christopher Carlsten (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Christopher Ryerson (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15353893
Volume: 23
Page Range: 52-70
Publication Date: 5 January 2024

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Publication: BMJ Open
UBC Author(s): Michael Law (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: 4 January 2024

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Publication: Clinical chemistry
UBC Author(s): Christian Steidl (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Aly Karsan (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Alina Gerrie (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 70
Page Range: 273-284
Publication Date: 4 January 2024

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Publication: Cell
UBC Author(s): Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00928674
Volume: 187
Page Range: 44-61.e17
Publication Date: 4 January 2024

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Publication: Nature
UBC Author(s): Carl de Boer (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00280836
Volume: 625
Page Range: 41-50
Publication Date: 4 January 2024

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Publication: Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences
UBC Author(s): Manish Sadarangani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03171671
Volume: 51
Page Range: 40-49
Publication Date: 4 January 2024

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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. Hu has shown how the protein complexes produced by Salmonella and other similar pathogens infect humans, animals and plants. Bacterial infections are one of the world's most common issues for hospitality and death. This research advanced our understanding of bacterial pathogenicity and aided the development of new drugs and vaccines. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Ramsook examined how neural mechanisms contribute to sex differences in the fatigue of the respiratory muscles. His work contributes to advancing the understanding of human physiology and exercise performance, with an emphasis on the unique qualities of the respiratory system in males and females. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2022 Dr. Forrest examined the health implications of social networking through an investigation of mental and sexual health outcomes associated with app use among gay and bisexual men. His research findings have implications for public health programming in the digital era. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Patients with chronic wounds and extensive skin loss injuries have limited therapeutic option. Dr. Pakyari showed that through immune modulation of donated skin grafts and synthetic liquid dermal matrix generation, we can facilitate and accelerate acute and chronic wound healing process. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Lotto assessed cell type diversity during the migratory processes required for mouse liver and heart valve development using single-cell gene expression techniques. His analyses reveal novel cell types and will serve as a genetic atlas of liver and heart valve formation for future studies exploring these processes in normal and disease contexts. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Alamri studied synaptic proteins in the brain samples of older people. She found that higher amounts of specialized proteins contributed to better memory and lowered the risk of depression. Her findings demonstrated that synaptic proteins could serve as targets for developing treatments for disorders that affect the brain in old age. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Taylor examined changes in peptide hormone biosynthesis in the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. These studies have improved our understanding of the cellular and physiological changes that occur during the development of diabetes. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Pilsworth identified novel mutations in adult-type granulosa cell tumours of the ovary and explored the development of new models to study this rare cancer. She concluded that this cancer is a highly specific disease that is centered around the FOXL2 mutation and that treatments targeting this mutation is the most promising approach. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2022 Dr. Gray's research demonstrated how a health promotion intervention, called Choose to Move, could be implemented, adapted, and scaled up before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This intervention supported social connectedness and mobility, and reduced loneliness of older adults across BC. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2022 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease with unknown causes that gradually paralyzes people. Dr. Xue's research demonstrated that viral infection is a risk factor for ALS by accelerating disease progression. This finding will inspire the incorporation of antiviral drugs in treating ALS. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)

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