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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
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; CRISPR-Cas9; 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
Chan, Fat-Chung
Charlton, Julia Critical care medicine and emergency medicine; Neonatology; Fetal development and medicine; Neonatal neurology; neurodevelopment; Congenital Anomalies; Neonatal cardiac care
Cheifetz, Rona Department of Surgery Surgical oncology; Education
Chen, Chia-Lu
Cherkasov, Artem Department of Urologic Sciences Drug design; Bioinformatics, Molecular modeling; Proteomics; Artificial intelligence; Antibiotics
Cheung, Karen School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information engineering; Medical and biomedical engineering; additive manufacturing; BioMEMS; Biomedical Technologies; biosensors; microfluidics; neural interfaces; organ-on-chip; Tissue Engineering
Chew, Ben Department of Urologic Sciences how kidney stones form and in particular intestinal absorption of minerals that can form kidney stones (calcium and oxalate); genetically modifying bacteria normally used to make yogurt to express a naturally occurring enzyme that breaks down oxalate, thus preventing its absorption into the body where it can combine with calcium to form kidney stones.
Chi, Kim Nguyen Division of Medical Oncology Thrombosis in cancer patients, methemoglobinemia, hemolysis, anticancer drugs, prostate cancer, chemotherapy, cell cancer, breast cancer
Chia, Stephen K.L. Division of Medical Oncology Cancer; translational research in breast cancer
Chin, Chris ,
Choi, Peter Tsz Lung Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Anesthesiology, peroperative medicine, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, research education
Christenson, James Department of Emergency Medicine Other clinical medicine; sudden cardiac death; chain of survival; out of hospital cardiac arrest; emergency medical services; resuscitation science
Churg, Andrew Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Lung disease
Cibere, Jolanda Division of Rheumatology Rheumatology; early osteoarthritis; magnetic resonance imaging in osteoarthritis; biomarkers in osteoarthritis; progression of early osteoarthritis; clinical detection of early osteoarthritis
Ciernia, Annie Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biochemistry; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Autism; Brain development; Epigenetics; Gene-Environment Interactions; Neurodevelopmental disorders
Cimolai, Nevio Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Infection control, ethics in hospital administration and public medical institutions
Ciocca, Valter School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Auditory System; Perception and Representation; Recognition of Speech; Speech and Language Development Disorders; Auditory grouping of speech and non-speech sounds, also known as "auditory scene analysis"; perception and production of normal and disordered speech
Collet, Jean-Paul Clinical sciences, n.e.c.; Stress measurement - stress management -; Child development - children with neurodevelopment disability
Collins, Colin Department of Urologic Sciences translational genomics where mathematics, genomics, computer science, and clinical science converge in diagnostics and therapeutics
Colozzo, Paola School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Developmental language disorders; language and cognition; discourse, assessment and intervention for children with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
Conibear, Elizabeth Department of Medical Genetics Other basic medicine and life sciences; Protein trafficking in cell biology; Molecular genetics; Functional genomics; Membranes; Enzymes and Proteins; Vesicle Trafficking; Molecular Genetics; Neurodegenerative diseases; Protein Palmitoylation; Cell Signaling and Cancer
Conway, Edward Division of Hematology Basic medicine and life sciences; coagulation; Innate immunity; Inflammation; vascular biologh
Cook, Laura Cellular immunology; Regulatory T cells; CD4+ T cells; Immunology; Infectious disease; Immune memory; Immune tolerance

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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: Journal of the American College of Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Steven Miller (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Thiviya Selvanathan (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 07351097
Volume: 83
Page Range: 1225-1239
Publication Date: 2 April 2024

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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
2023 Dr. Thomson studied the mechanisms that regulate expression of the HTT gene that causes the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease, and developed a method for improving the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids to neurons. Her research informed the design of a new strategy for Huntington's disease treatment that targets its genetic origin. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Schaffner studied the role of epigenetics in Parkinson's disease. She found that rare and common genetic variation, lifestyle, and pesticide exposure were associated with DNA modifications in blood and brain. Her work highlights how molecular pathways to Parkinson's disease may differ between individuals. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Kamensek's research examined the reciprocal relationship between social interest, visual experience, and face recognition abilities in autism spectrum disorder. His findings challenge the notion of a singular cause for face recognition challenges in autism and may pave the way for potential interventions aimed at improving these abilities. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2023 Dr. Bellwood developed a novel method to document current medical practices aimed at changing human behaviour and inform strategies to improve such practices using the example of prescribing physical activity in primary care. This method has a potential application beyond physical activity prescribing and beyond primary care in future research. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Cui delved into the escalating drug overdose epidemic involving opioid and methamphetamine use. Her research emphasizes the crucial need for comprehensive and integrated treatment and harm reduction strategies to address both opioid and methamphetamine use. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Shortill explored mechanisms of intracellular protein sorting using a budding yeast model. His work led to the identification of the VINE complex, a previously unknown endosomal assembly with similarity to the neurodegeneration-linked retromer complex. These results pave the way for a more complete understanding of endosomal function. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Mohanna worked towards developing a CRISPR gene therapy for the childhood blindness aniridia. She created a mouse model for this disease and subsequently tested two delivery systems. She showed that a non-pathogenic virus successfully targets the affected cells in the eye and can be used for developing a gene therapy for aniridia in the future. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Farivar has designed a laser device that can deploy the heat to the tumor precisely, kill cancer cells and activate immune system minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.She tested the device in a bladder cancer model in mouse and showed that the heat combined with immune stimulating drugs can decrease tumor growth and increase survival. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Akinlaja adapted proteomics methods towards understanding the infectious processes of a pathogen of the honey bee midgut. Her work provides new insight into how host protein expression and interactions are altered by pathogen infection, and identifies candidate proteins that could be potential therapeutic targets in the resulting disease. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2023 Using lipid nanoparticle technology, Dr. Leung uncovered novel methods to genetically modify platelets and discovered strategies to improve the efficacy of nanoparticles. His research brings us one step closer to better transfusion products while advancing our understanding of lipid nanoparticles. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)

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