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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
Davis, Noelle Department of Surgery cancer surgery and surgical oncology, Surgical oncology, Head and neck cancer
de Boer, Carl School of Biomedical Engineering Gene regulation
Dedhar, Shoukat Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology molecular biology, molecular biology as it relates to disease; developing new theraputics for cancer; how brain cells (neurons)make connections, therapeutics for cancer; molecular genetics and cancer; medical research, cancer, inflammatory diseases, cariovascular diseases, Cellular proteins, extracellular martrix, integrins, signal transduction, calreticulin, protein kinase, gene expression, cell differentiation
Deering, Kathleen Division of Social Medicine Medical, health and life sciences
Dell, Sharon Department of Pediatrics Asthma in Children; Bronchial Disorders; Children's Health; Interstitial Lung Diseases; Rare diseases; Primary ciliary dyskinesia
Dennis, Brittany Division of Social Medicine Medical, health and life sciences; Substance Use; Harm reduction; novel treatments for opioid use disorder
Dennis, Jessica Department of Medical Genetics Bioinformatics; Genetic medicine; Complex Trait Genetics; genetic epidemiology; statistical genetics; Psychiatric conditions; neurodegenerative disease; Precision Health; Administrative health data; Electronic health records; Machine Learning
Devlin, Angela Department of Pediatrics Human nutrition and dietetics; Human reproduction and development sciences; Pathology (except oral pathology); cardiovascular disease; Children; developmental programming; Diabetes; Obesity
Diamond, Adele Department of Psychiatry executive functions; prefrontal cortex; dopamine; working memory; self-control; self-regulation; cognition; COMT gene; Sex differences; stress; ACEs (adverse childhood experiences); ELS (early life stress); resilience; social determinants of health; ADHD; depression; PTSD; Physical Activity; the arts; mindfulness
Doan, Quynh Department of Pediatrics Medical, health and life sciences; Health Services; Child and youth mental health; Emergency medicine work load modelling
Dong, Xuesen Department of Urologic Sciences Cancer progression and metastasis; Gene and molecular therapy; Prostate Cancer; Drug development; RNA splicing and Gene Regulation; Hormone Dependent Cancers; Endocrine Regulation
Dormuth, Colin Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Clinical Outcomes and Patient Safety
Drew, Yvette Division of Medical Oncology
Duan, Kevin Division of Respiratory Medicine
Dummer, Trevor School of Population and Public Health health geography, cancer prevention, environmental exposures, health inequalities, geographic information science, obesity, risk factors, Environmental epidemiology and environment and health interactions, with specific emphasis on cancer etiology and cancer prevention
Duong, Franck Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Applied immunology (including antibody engineering, xenotransplantation and t-cell therapies); Medical molecular engineering of nucleic acids and proteins
Dutz, Jan Peter Department of Dermatology & Skin Science Immunity in Health & Disease, diabetes, dermatology
Dvorak, Marcel F S Department of Orthopaedics adult spine surgery; major adult deformity (scoliosis and kyphosis), traumatic injuries of the spine, and spinal cord injury.
Eddy, Rachel Department of Radiology, Department of Pediatrics Cardiorespiratory medicine and hematology; Medical and biomedical engineering; Artificial intelligence (AI); Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Hyperpolarized 129Xe; Computed tomography (CT); Pulmonary imaging; Lung structure-function; Lung health; Respiratory disease
Elango, Rajavel Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health Protein Nutrition, Maternal-Fetal Nutrition, Childhood Malnutrition, Amino Acid Metabolism, Human Nutrition
Elliott, Alison Department of Medical Genetics Other health sciences; rare disease; genomics; Congenital Malformations; Skeletal and limb anomalies; Genetic Counselling; Health services implementation science
Enfield, Katey Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Cancer progression and metastasis; Tumour immunology; Cancer genetics; Lung cancer; tumour microenvironment; B cell responses in cancer; Lung cancer genomics; cancer immunology; Spatial biology
Eng, Janice Department of Physical Therapy Medical, health and life sciences; Stroke Rehabilitation; Implementation Science; Wearable sensors; Recovery of walking after stroke; Recovery of upper extremity function after stroke
Eva, Kevin Division of General Internal Medicine Cognition; Adult Education and Continuing Education; Health Professions Education; Assessment and Selection; clinical reasoning; Implementation Science; Continuing Professional Development; Judgment and Decision-Making
Evgin, Laura Department of Medical Genetics

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Graduate Student Stories

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 Thoracic Oncology
UBC Author(s): Stephen C Lam (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15560864
Volume: 20
Page Range: 871-883
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography
UBC Author(s): Teresa Tsang (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08947317
Volume: 38
Page Range: 537-569
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Pain
UBC Author(s): Stephan Schwarz (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15265900
Volume: 32
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: Plos Global Public Health
UBC Author(s): John Mark Ansermino (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Physiotherapy
UBC Author(s): Linda Li (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 18369553
Volume: 71
Page Range: 208-210
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Trends in Neurosciences
UBC Author(s): Blair Leavitt (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01662236
Volume: 48
Page Range: 523-537
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: Value in Health
UBC Author(s): Jonathan Loree (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10983015
Volume: 28
Page Range: 1001-1008
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: Journal of Clinical Oncology
UBC Author(s): Bruce Carleton (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0732183X
Volume: 43
Page Range: 2173-2183
Publication Date: 1 July 2025

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Publication: Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
UBC Author(s): Manish Sadarangani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08913668
Volume: 44
Page Range: 696-706
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
UBC Author(s): Kate Shannon (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03768716
Volume: 272
Publication Date: 1 July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Spine Journal
UBC Author(s): Marcel F S Dvorak (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15299430
Volume: 25
Page Range: 1494-1507
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Endocrinology United States
UBC Author(s): Francis Lynn (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00137227
Volume: 166
Publication Date: 1 July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Gynecologic Oncology
UBC Author(s): David Huntsman (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00908258
Volume: 198
Page Range: 112-129
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: Jto Clinical and Research Reports
UBC Author(s): Stephen Yip (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 6
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Pathology
UBC Author(s): Paul Yong (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Poul Sorensen (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), David Huntsman (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Gregg Morin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00223417
Volume: 266
Page Range: 352-367
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: Paediatric Anaesthesia
UBC Author(s): Matthias Goerges (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 11555645
Volume: 35
Page Range: 552-561
Publication Date: July 2025

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Publication: American Journal of Health Promotion
UBC Author(s): Skye Barbic (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08901171
Volume: 39
Page Range: 921-935
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Pediatrics
UBC Author(s): Julie Bettinger (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00223476
Volume: 282
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Histopathology
UBC Author(s): Andrew Churg (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03090167
Volume: 87
Page Range: 159-161
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Pain
UBC Author(s): Timothy Oberlander (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15265900
Volume: 32
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
UBC Author(s): Sarka Lisonkova (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine), Joseph Kuruthukulangare (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00029378
Volume: 233
Page Range: 61-61.e15
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Heart Rhythm
UBC Author(s): Andrew Krahn (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15475271
Volume: 22
Page Range: e246-e247
Publication Date: July 2025

View Publication
Publication: Cell Reports
UBC Author(s): Mark Steven Cembrowski (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 26391856
Volume: 44
Publication Date: 24 June 2025

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Publication: Cell Reports
UBC Author(s): Michael Kobor (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 26391856
Volume: 44
Publication Date: 24 June 2025

View Publication
Publication: Nucleic Acids Research
UBC Author(s): Carl de Boer (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03051048
Volume: 53
Publication Date: 24 June 2025

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
2025 Dr. Zhan studied biostatistical methods for improving clinical trial design in SPPH. He developed Bayesian adaptive approaches that allow trials to respond more effectively to accumulating data. His research enhances the efficiency and ethical conduct of trials, benefiting researchers and patients alike. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2025 Dr. Sack studied how electrical activity develops in newly generated neurons as they mature in the brain. She found that critical features of their activity are shaped by proteins called calcium channels at key maturational stages. This provides insights into how calcium channels contribute to processes like memory and disorders like epilepsy. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2025 How do cells stick together and move around within embryos? Dr. Venkatesh used mouse embryos to study the processes that regulate cell adhesion as the embryo develops into an adult. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2025 Dr. Holland studied the effect of electrophilic stress on macrophages. Their work led to the development of a novel compound, its cellular mechanism, and its demonstrated efficacy in a model of neurodegenerative disease. This provides the groundwork for the compound to be clinically translated to in-human use. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2025 Dr. An investigated immune system dysfunction in life-threatening diseases such as sepsis and COVID-19. By analyzing gene expression changes, he developed algorithms that detect sepsis in newborns and risk stratify ICU patients with COVID-19. These tools can enable faster diagnosis and more personalized treatment for our most vulnerable patients. Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD)
2025 Dr. Loewen explored how genetic mutations contribute to the development of retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye disease that results in progressive blindness. His work used novel animal models to uncover a variety of mechanisms associated with the disease and offered new insights for developing targeted treatments. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2025 Dr. Lee’s research revealed that pregnancy history has opposing effects on various biomarkers of brain health depending on genetic risk for late-onset sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Her work advances our understanding of women’s health and underscores the importance of considering within-sex factors in research. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2024 Dr. Ghaffari investigated the properties of a ruthenium photosensitizer embedded in various implantable polymeric biomaterials which showed significant reduction in bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. This is crucial for reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and dental plaque formation that leads to dental caries. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Lauener optimally expanded and comprehensively characterized a rare cellular population of human regulatory natural killer cells. She deciphered multiple methods to obtain clinically relevant numbers, while harnessing their immunosuppressive properties as a novel therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease, and other autoimmune conditions. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2024 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aka COPD, is the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide. Dr. Nwozor studied the interplay between ageing and cigarette smoke in the development and progression of COPD, showed that epithelial barrier function and lung fibroblast repair decrease with age and identified potential therapeutic interventions for COPD. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD)

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