Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

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
Black, Charlyn School of Population and Public Health Public and population health
Black, Peter Department of Urologic Sciences Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (especially equality rights); Canadian human rights legislation
Black, Alexis School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Cognitive sciences
Blanke, Philipp Department of Radiology
Blydt-Hansen, Tom Department of Pediatrics Childhood Diseases; Pediatric kidney transplant; Injury phenotype; Rejection; Biomarkers; Metabolomics; Chemokines
Bouchard, Katrina Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Clinical sexology; Mental health and wellbeing; Sexual identy, sexual attraction and sexual behaviour; Sexual health; sexual response; sexual well-being; women's health; couples
Bowie, William Division of Infectious Diseases infections (travel, sexually transmitted diseases, water borne, vector borne, zoonotic); bioterrorism; antibiotic use; public health issues related to communicable disease; climate change, environmental degredation, inequities and infection, Social, economic and environmental factors which put people at risk for infection
Boyd, Lara Department of Physical Therapy Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; Learning; Learning and Memory; Motor System; Motor learning; Neurophysiology; Physiology; Plasticity / Neuronal Regeneration; stroke
Boyd, Jade Division of Social Medicine
Brauer, Michael School of Population and Public Health Environmental and occupational health and safety; Health sciences; Public and population health; air pollution; built environment; Community Health / Public Health; environmental health; environmental epidemiology; healthy cities; remote sensing
Brigham, Emily Division of Respiratory Medicine Asthma; COPD
Brooks-Wilson, Angela Department of Medical Genetics Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genetic medicine; Genomics; cancer families; cancer genetics; genetic susceptibility; human genetics; longevity; Super seniors
Brotto, Lori Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Psychiatry Human reproduction and development sciences; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Clinical psychology; mindfulness; Sexual Dysfunctions; sexual desire; treatment of sexual concerns; women's sexual health; asexuality; digital health interventions
Brown, Kelly Department of Pediatrics Medical, health and life sciences; childhood rheumatic diseases; Inflammation; phagocytes
Brown, Carolyn Janet Department of Medical Genetics Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genetic medicine; Genomics; Health counselling; Applied Genetics; Chromosomes: Structure / Organization; DNA methylation; Epigenetic control of gene expression; Gene Regulation and Expression; Genes escaping X-chromosome inactivation; Long non-coding RNAs; X-chromosome inactivation; XIST RNA
Brubacher, Jeffrey Department of Emergency Medicine drugs and driving, alcohol impaired driving, road safety
Brunham, Liam Division of General Internal Medicine Medical, health and life sciences; Lipids; Genetics; Pharmacogenomics; Cardiovascular diseases
Brussoni, Mariana Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health Developmental psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; Population health interventions; injury prevention; Children's outdoor play; Risky play; Parenting; health behaviour change; Implementation Science
Bryan, Stirling School of Population and Public Health Economics of health care, policy, from UK
Calam, Betty Department of Family Practice medical education; Indigenous health; Decolonizing methodologies; Community‐based participatory projects; Pregnancy and birthing care; Reproductive counselling; Sexual health; Culturally-informed cancer screening; Hospitals & Clinics; Healthcare
Camp, Pat Department of Physical Therapy Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine
Campbell, Kristin Department of Physical Therapy Clinical oncology; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; Biomarkers; Breast Cancer; Exercise Physiology; oncology; physical function; Physiology; Quality of Life and Aging; rehabilitation
Carleton, Bruce Department of Pediatrics Pediatrics, clinical pharmacology, outcomes research, drug policy evaluation, health services research, drug safety and adverse drug reactions
Carlsten, Christopher Division of Respiratory Medicine Environment and Respiratory Diseases
Caron, Nadine Department of Surgery health policy; special health needs and disparities of rural, remote, northern and Aboriginal communities.

Pages

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: JAMA
UBC Author(s): Torsten Nielsen (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00987484
Volume: 331
Page Range: 1135-1144
Publication Date: 2 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Vaccine
UBC Author(s): Manish Sadarangani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0264410X
Volume: 42
Page Range: 2138-2143
Publication Date: 2 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Chemistry - A European Journal
UBC Author(s): Francois Benard (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09476539
Volume: 30
Publication Date: 2 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Kidney International Supplements
UBC Author(s): John Gill (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 21571724
Volume: 13
Page Range: 83-96
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Arthritis Care and Research
UBC Author(s): Nicholas Bansback (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 2151464X
Volume: 76
Page Range: 444-453
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: The Journal of general physiology
UBC Author(s): Edwin D Moore (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 156
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: GeroScience
UBC Author(s): Angela Brooks-Wilson (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 25092715
Volume: 46
Page Range: 1589-1605
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Ceramics International
UBC Author(s): Karim Miran-Khan (Family Practice / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02728842
Volume: 50
Page Range: 10789-10796
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Science China Life Sciences
UBC Author(s): Weihong Song (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 16747305
Volume: 67
Page Range: 847-848
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Canadian Journal of Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Jeffrey Brubacher (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), K Malcolm MacLure (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0828282X
Volume: 40
Page Range: 554-561
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Global Spine Journal
UBC Author(s): Marcel F S Dvorak (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 21925682
Volume: 14
Page Range: 821-829
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Clinical Psychology
UBC Author(s): David Kealy (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00219762
Volume: 80
Page Range: 795-808
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
UBC Author(s): Lakshmi Yatham (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 07067437
Volume: 69
Page Range: 242-251
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Neurology
UBC Author(s): Thalia Field (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14744422
Volume: 23
Page Range: 336-337
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Surgical Education
UBC Author(s): Sam Michael Wiseman (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19317204
Volume: 81
Page Range: 486-494
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: American Journal of Surgery
UBC Author(s): Sam Michael Wiseman (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00029610
Volume: 230
Page Range: 103-104
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: European Radiology
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09387994
Volume: 34
Page Range: 2677-2688
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Affective Disorders
UBC Author(s): Christopher Richard Honey (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01650327
Volume: 350
Page Range: 887-894
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions
UBC Author(s): Jacqueline Pettersen (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: April-June 2024

View Publication
Publication: Futures
UBC Author(s): Daniel Steel (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00163287
Volume: 158
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
UBC Author(s): Julie Bettinger (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08913668
Volume: 43
Page Range: 301-306
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Neuroethics
UBC Author(s): Judy Illes (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 18745490
Volume: 17
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Annals of Emergency Medicine
UBC Author(s): Ian Pike (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01960644
Volume: 83
Page Range: 327-339
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Autism
UBC Author(s): Tal Jarus (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 13623613
Volume: 28
Page Range: 1010-1028
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
UBC Author(s): Ran Goldman (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10811206
Volume: 132
Page Range: 512-518.e1
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication

Pages

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
2023 Dr. Andrews studied how RNA viruses evade the host immune response by degrading key host proteins. His research identified host proteins degraded during infection and provided a deeper understanding of how viruses evade host immunity, with the goal of identifying future avenues for treating and preventing virus infections. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Nierves explored the application of mass spectrometry in the interrogation of pediatric leukemia cells and microenvironment. His study assists in the characterization of leukemic cells and the pursuit of better therapeutic options for children with cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Chen unravelled relationships between diabetes medications and breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer risk, suggesting potential risk variations with common diabetes medications. Her study underscores the significance of understanding the long-term health impacts of prescription medications, advocating more research. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Qi examined associations of widely used classes of antihypertensive medications and their subclasses with overall and site-specific risks of colorectal cancer using advanced statistical methods. His research has addressed a gap in the evidence for safety of widely used antihypertensive medications with respect to colorectal cancer risk. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Yoon studied activity-regulated genes that are crucial in both the brain and pancreas for responding to the body's nutrient levels. Her findings showed the important role of a gene in the proper function of brain cells that control appetite and body weight, which highlighted new potential avenues of study for future obesity therapies. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Lu's investigation looked at oncogenic splice errors in the human MET receptor. This receptor acts like an engine that drives cancer metastasis, and his results uncovered functional dependencies that can be targeted to properly shut it down. These findings can be translated to improve treatments for those battling advanced stages of lung cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2023 Immune responses are crucial for protection against diseases. Dr. Pournia's research showed an unconventional role for a protein in various cellular processes that are important for development and responses of one of the cells of our immune system. These findings could be important for development and fine tuning of novel therapeutic approaches. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Ip studied the development of children assessed for autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Ip found that, regardless of diagnosis, these children all had developmental differences compared to neurotypical children. The findings stress the importance of moving towards needs and function-based funding and services in school and in the community. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Cederberg interrogated the role of myeloid cells in the tumour microenvironment. Her dissertation work enhances our understanding of the interplay between innate and adaptive immune cells in solid tumours and identifies novel intervention points for the treatment of primary and metastatic disease. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Andrade-Rivas studies pollution in globalized food systems. Using systems thinking, planetary health, and geospatial sciences, he evaluated the nationwide risk of pesticide exposure and adverse birth outcomes in Ecuador. He also collaborated with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, co-leading a marine toxicology study of their traditional food systems. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)

Pages