Canadian Immigration Updates

Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more

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
Bowie, William Division of Infectious Diseases Immune System
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 Epigenetics and epigenomics; Other basic medicine and life sciences; Gene regulation and expression; Genomics; Developmental genetics (including sex determination); 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
Brumme, Chanson Division of Infectious Diseases Infectious diseases; Antiviral resistance; Personalized medicine; HIV Antiretroviral Drug Resistance
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
Capon, Francesca Department of Medical Genetics Basic medicine and life sciences; Autoimmune Diseases; Pericardial Disorders; Rare diseases; Skin Conditions; Skin inflammation; Bioinformatics
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.
Cembrowski, Mark Steven Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences Molecular neuroscience; Mathematical modelling and simulation; Mechanisms of memory in the brain; Anxiety; Big Data; Bioinformatics; Cell types; Computation; Fear; Genetics; modeling; Neural circuits; neuroscience; Neuroscience of memory; PTSD; RNAseq
Chakrabarty, Trisha Department of Psychiatry Cognitive dsyfunction; Virtual reality cognitive retraining; Bipolarity; Psychotherapy approaches for mood disorders
Cheifetz, Rona Department of Surgery Surgical oncology; Education
Chen, Carol Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Pediatric cancer; Epigenetics and epigenomics; Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; Brain Cancer; Brain development; Epigenetics; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Developmental biology

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: 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
Publication: Canadian Urological Association Journal
UBC Author(s): Connor Forbes (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19116470
Volume: 19
Page Range: E75-E79
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Annals of Thoracic Surgery
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine), John Webb (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine), Philipp Blanke (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00034975
Volume: 119
Page Range: 555-566
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Global Health
UBC Author(s): Niranjan Kissoon (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 2572116X
Volume: 13
Page Range: e528-e584
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
UBC Author(s): Kishore Mulpuri (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02716798
Volume: 45
Page Range: 158-163
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
UBC Author(s): Jeffrey Brubacher (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 30
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Respiratory Medicine
UBC Author(s): Christopher Ryerson (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09546111
Volume: 238
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Current Opinion in Urology
UBC Author(s): Ryan Flannigan (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09630643
Volume: 35
Page Range: 127-134
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
UBC Author(s): Sophia Frangou (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 24519022
Volume: 10
Page Range: 278-285
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Drug Safety
UBC Author(s): Bruce Carleton (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01145916
Volume: 48
Page Range: 305-309
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Aging and Health Research
UBC Author(s): Graydon Meneilly (Division of Geriatric Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Kenneth Madden (Division of Geriatric Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas
UBC Author(s): Thomas Kerr (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 43
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: JACC: Heart Failure
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 22131779
Volume: 13
Page Range: 480-482
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Hypertension
UBC Author(s): Graziano Oldani (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02636352
Volume: 43
Page Range: 397-404
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Publication: AIDS
UBC Author(s): Julio Sergio Gonzalez-Montaner (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02699370
Volume: 39
Page Range: 328-330
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Public Health
UBC Author(s): Kate Salters (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine), Julio Sergio Gonzalez-Montaner (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Page Range: e228-e236
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Resuscitation
UBC Author(s): Brian Grunau (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03009572
Volume: 208
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Adolescent Health
UBC Author(s): Skye Barbic (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1054139X
Volume: 76
Page Range: 348-360
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Neurology
UBC Author(s): Thalia Field (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14744422
Volume: 24
Page Range: 180-181
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Neurology
UBC Author(s): James Christenson (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14744422
Volume: 24
Page Range: 208-217
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
UBC Author(s): Marianne Vidler (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00207292
Volume: 168
Page Range: 857-874
Publication Date: March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
UBC Author(s): Najib Ayas (Critical Care Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15509389
Volume: 21
Page Range: 457-466
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

View Publication
Publication: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
UBC Author(s): Susan Homewood (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10795642
Volume: 45
Page Range: 424-442
Publication Date: 1 March 2025

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
2024 Dr. Ho created an imaging technique to observe real-time communication between blood cells and their microenvironment. He provided fundamental insights of how intercellular signals synchronize blood cell behavior, regulate blood cell production, and maintain blood system homeostasis. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Turgu explored the link between HACE1 gene, and mTOR, a key growth regulator in cancers. Her findings revealed that HACE1 significantly reduces mTOR activity, revealing a novel mechanism to control growth in tumor cells. Targeting this mechanism pathway can inhibit cancer cells' growth, and survival, leading the way for new therapeutic approaches. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2024 Using epidemiological and implementation science methods, Dr. Romanowski explored the long-term impact of tuberculosis and what we can do to support tuberculosis survivors. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Parlow investigated how corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) regulates the effects of glucocorticoids on development, metabolism, stress, and inflammation. Her findings reveal a novel role for CBG in shaping sex differences in organ development in rats, providing insight into the basis for sex differences in humans. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Cassidy-Matthews explored how Indigenous People who use drugs in BC experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and examined influences on vaccine uptake and acceptability. She found that a few relational principles underpinned most health decisions and experiences. These included emotional and spiritual connection, environmental stability, and equity. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2024 Dr. Yuchi studied air pollution, green space and dementia risk in Canada. Her work underscores the importance of further improvements to the built environment and air quality to reduce the burden of dementia in settings where air pollution levels are relatively low. Urban planning to incorporate greenery and parks may help to reduce dementia risk Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2024 Dr. Davies explored the communication needs of individuals living with primary progressive aphasia, a language led dementia, and their families. The findings of this research provide guidance for the provision of evidence-based care and for further research in this area investigating avenues of meeting the communication needs of this underserved population. Doctor of Philosophy in Audiology and Speech Sciences (PhD)
2024 Dr. Porter studied the genome sequences of cervical cancers to unravel the molecular alterations associated with human papillomavirus. Employing cutting-edge technologies and bioinformatics methods, she explored the varied ways in which different forms and types of HPV dysregulate the genome to contribute to the progression of cervical cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2024 Around 50% of premature infants still suffer from neurological problems, despite dramatic improvements in survival and a significant reduction in severe brain injury. Dr. Tremblay's research has shown that reducing innate immune responses after cerebellar injury prevents cerebellar atrophy and white matter injury in a translational mouse model. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2024 Dr. Baker worked on developing an in-house pre-clinical trial assay for incorporating genetic diversity into vaccine candidate selection. The immune system is the most genetically diverse part of the human genome and must be accounted for when creating vaccines with widespread immunity. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)

Pages