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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
Tremlett, Helen Division of Neurology Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); multiple sclerosis; Neuroepidemiology; Pharmacoepidemiology; prodrome,; Drug safety and effectiveness; Pharmacogenomics; comorbidities; health administrative data; Gut microbiome; prodromes
Tsang, Teresa Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery Epidemiology and pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation; application of advanced echocardiographic techniques for prediction of pre-clinical cardiovascular disease
Turvey, Stuart Department of Pediatrics Immunology; Microbiology; Asthma; Immune System; Immunodeficiencies; Microbiome cohort studies; Precision Medicine; Primary Immune Deficiencies
Underhill, Michael Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering Musculoskeletal diseases, transcription factors, growth, cytokines, retinoid signalling pathway in chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, phenotype
Ur, Ehud Division of Endocrinology Diabetes; Lipids; Obesity; Pituitary/Neuroendocrine
Vallance, Bruce Department of Pediatrics Enteric bacterial pathogens, innate immunity, instestinal inflammation, host defense, inflammatory bowel disease, immunity in health and disease
Van Petegem, Filip Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biochemistry; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Genetic Diseases; Calcium signaling; Cardiac arrhythmia; electrical signaling; electrophysiology; Epilepsy; Ion channels; Structural Biology
Van Raamsdonk, Catherine Department of Medical Genetics Genetic medicine; Health counselling; cancer genetics; Developmental Genetics; Human Cancer Genetics; Melanocytes; Melanoma; Molecular Genetics; Mouse Genetics and Transgenesis; Oncogenesis; Pigmentation
Vanderwal, Tamara Department of Psychiatry Functional Neuroimaging; child psychiatric disorders; depression in youth
Vedam, Saraswathi Midwifery Program Gestation / Parturition; Human Rights and Liberties, Collective Rights; Right and Access to Information; Home Care Services; Law and Health; Social Contract and Social Justice; Community Health / Public Health; Breast Feeding and Infant Nutrition; Family and Child Services; Home Birth; Place of Birth; Provider Attitudes; Respectful Maternity Care; Midwifery; Interprofessional relationships; Person-Centered Care; Patient Autonomy; Institutional Racism in Maternity Care; Maternal and Newborn Outcomes; Maternity care for diverse populations; Transdisciplinary engagement in health care; Mistreatment
Verchere, Bruce Department of Surgery, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Diabetes research, pediatrics, Beta cell survival and function
Viau, Victor Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences Basic medicine and life sciences; Sex differences; Stress responses; Glucocorticoids; Inflammation; Behavior; Central Nervous System; Endocrinology
Vidler, Marianne Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Health sciences; Childbirth; Global Health; High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy; Infections and Pregnancy; Postpartum Care; Pregnancy
Vigo, Daniel Department of Psychiatry Burden of disease estimation; Service improvement; Health systems assessment; global mental health; Psychiatric epidemiology; Psychopharmacology; Psychotherapy; E-mental health
Vila-Rodriguez, Fidel Department of Psychiatry Brain stimulation Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Theta-bust stimulation (TBS) Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) Depression Psychosis Schizophrenia
Vilarino-Guell, Carles Department of Medical Genetics Genetic medicine; Health counselling; Genetic Diseases; multiple sclerosis; Neurological disorders; Neuromyelitis optica
Virji-Babul, Naznin Department of Physical Therapy Concussion/mild traumatic brain injury, Developmental disabilities (Down’s syndrome), Developmental neuroscience (mirror neurons, perception-action coupling)
Voss, Christine Department of Pediatrics Pediatrics; Physical Activity; Children and youth; Health behaviours; Diabetes; congenital heart disease
Walley, Keith Critical Care Medicine Organ failure during sepsis
Wang, Yu Tian Division of Neurology Learning and memory, stroke
Wang, Yuzhuo Department of Urologic Sciences Clinical oncology; Prostate Cancer; Modeling the Progression of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer; Tumor dormancy; Anti-Cancer Drug Development
Wang, Ying Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Cardiology and circulatory sciences (including cardiovascular disease); Cell differentiation, proliferation and death; Drug discovery, design and delivery; atherosclerosis; Diabetic cardiomyopathy; Vascular biology; Spatial 'Omics'; Drug repurposing and therapeutic design; Disease modeling; Digital Pathology
Wasserman, Wyeth Department of Medical Genetics Medical, health and life sciences; Medical and biomedical engineering; Creation of computational methods for the analysis of genome sequences (bioinformatics); Study of cis-regulatory elements controlling gene transcription; Applied analyses of genome sequences (genomics); Indigenous genomics
Watson, Peter Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Pathology (except oral pathology); Breast Cancer; Pathology; biomarker
Webb, John Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery Transcatheter interventional management of structural heart disease

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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: Canadian Journal of Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Zachary Laksman (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine), Roger Tam (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0828282X
Volume: 40
Page Range: 1322-1325
Publication Date: July 2024

View Publication
Publication: European Journal of Cancer
UBC Author(s): Sharlene Gill (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09598049
Volume: 206
Publication Date: July 2024

View Publication
Publication: International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
UBC Author(s): Juanita Crook (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03603016
Volume: 119
Page Range: 803-812
Publication Date: 1 July 2024

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Publication: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
UBC Author(s): Steven Miller (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Thiviya Selvanathan (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00121622
Volume: 66
Page Range: 882-891
Publication Date: July 2024

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Publication: Science (New York, N.Y.)
UBC Author(s): Corinna Schindler (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 384
Page Range: 1468-1476
Publication Date: 28 June 2024

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Publication: Nature communications
UBC Author(s): Laura Evgin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Page Range: 5442
Publication Date: 27 June 2024

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Publication: Biochemical Society transactions
UBC Author(s): Franck Duong Van Hoa (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 52
Page Range: 1253-1263
Publication Date: 26 June 2024

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Publication: Nature communications
UBC Author(s): Amy Jamieson (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Aline Talhouk (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), David Huntsman (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Ali Bashashati Saghezchi (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Page Range: 4973
Publication Date: 26 June 2024

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Publication: Cell Reports
UBC Author(s): Timothy Murphy (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 43
Publication Date: 25 June 2024

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Publication: JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions
UBC Author(s): John Webb (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19368798
Volume: 17
Page Range: 1485-1495
Publication Date: 24 June 2024

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Publication: JCI insight
UBC Author(s): Brian MacVicar (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 9
Publication Date: 24 June 2024

View Publication

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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. 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)
2022 Dr. Ganguly used Drosophila as a model system to systematically classify ~100 variants of the PTEN gene, which have been found in cancer and ASD patients, as pathogenic or benign, using simple, robust experimental assays and examined the effect of these variants on protein function. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Yu measured the climate vulnerability and health of neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver and examined the effects of densification on health. Overall, her dissertation reveales stark health and climate inequalities across neighbourhoods and provides evidence to support policies that prepare for the threats of urbanisation and climate change. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Dr. Saberi studied HIV Antiretroviral Therapy at the cellular level in HIV+ pregnant women and cell culture models. She found that most treatments increased mitochondrial DNA content and reflect cellular metabolism dysregulation. Her research advanced our knowledge of cellular aging and cytotoxicity that could affect fetal development and growth. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Laugen conducted research in Indonesia to demonstrate that achievement of maternal and newborn care meeting professional standards in hospitals is related to organizational readiness for change in low- and middle-income countries. His work will be used to assess readiness in health care organizations to facilitate successful practice change. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)

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