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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
Guenette, Jordan Department of Physical Therapy Respiratory diseases; Other biological sciences; Clinical exercise physiology; Cardiorespiratory physiology; Mechanisms and management of breathlessness and exercise intolerance; Chronic respiratory diseases
Guhn, Martin Developmental psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; social context and child development/well-being; Population health; social determinants of health
Gupta, Neeru Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, School of Population and Public Health
Guy, Pierre Department of Orthopaedics Medical, health and life sciences; Surgery; Surgical Technologies; Hip Fracture Care; Health services research
Haas, Kurt Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, School of Biomedical Engineering Medical and biomedical engineering; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Autism; Brain Circuit Development; Dendritogenesis; Epilepsy; Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neurological diseases; Neuronal Communication and Neurotransmission; Neuronal Computation; Neuronal Modeling; Neuronal Systems; Neuronal and Synaptic Activity; Plasticity / Neuronal Regeneration; Synaptic Plasticity
Hach, Faraz Department of Urologic Sciences Cancer; Algorithms and computational genomics; Computational Genomics; biomolecular sequence analysis
Hacihaliloglu, Ilker Department of Radiology, Department of Medicine Bio-signal processing and analysis; Medical biotechnology; Biomedical signal processing; Image guided surgery systems; Medical and biomedical engineering, n.e.c.; Data analytics and signal processing, n.e.c.; Artificial intelligence (AI); Extraction of relevant information from 3D medical images; Image Guided Surgery; computer assisted diagnosis; Deep Learning; point of care ultrasound; ultrasound image processing; Brain Health; orthopedic surgery; liver disease; lung disease; traumatic Brian injury; neurosurgery; Biomedical Engineering
Hackett, Tillie-Louise Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Molecular determinants of COPD, small airway obstruction, angiotensin signalling, defective airway epithelial differentiation in asthma, human lung cell repository
Haji, Faizal Department of Surgery Health care safety and quality improvement; Surgical Education; Global Surgery; Simulation in Healthcare; Health Professions Education; Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Hanley, Gillian Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Medical, health and life sciences; Gynecologic cancer; Ovarian cancer prevention; Gynecologic cancer survivorship; Perinatal mental health; Population-based administrative data
Hardy, Edward
Harriman, David Department of Urologic Sciences Kidneys and Urinary System
Harris, Kevin Department of Pediatrics Evidence to Innovation; Preventive Cardiology; Cardiovascular Outcomes; Interventional Pediatric Cardiology
Hassan, Eman Population health interventions; Access and quality of palliative and end of life care; Quality of end of life; Population health outcomes
Hatala, Rose Division of General Internal Medicine in-training (such as the mini-cex) and high-stakes assessment methods; clinical reasoning
Hawkes, Michael Department of Pediatrics Pediatric infectious diseases; global pediatric infections
Hayden, Michael Department of Medical Genetics Genetic medicine; Health counselling; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Diabetes; Disease progression; Drug development; Gene Therapy; Genetic Diseases; Huntington disease; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative disorders
Henderson, Julia Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy
Henderson, Sarah School of Population and Public Health Environmental and occupational health and safety; wildfire smoke; air pollution; Extreme weather events; environmental health; radon gas; Food safety; Water quality
Herdman, Anthony School of Audiology and Speech Sciences Auditory System; Visual System; Audiovisual, Visual, Audio and Written Communications; Electrophysiology; Language and Cognitive Processes; Neuroimaging Methods (EEG/MEG); Central auditory processing; Auditory and visual perecptions related to reading acquisition (1st and 2nd languages); Brain computer interface
Hilton, Brett Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; neuroscience; neuroplasticity; Axon regeneration; Spinal cord injury
Hinkle, Molli ,
Hirsch-Reinshagen la, Veronica Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Ho, Kendall Department of Emergency Medicine eHealth, knowledge translation, educational research, continuing professional development, interprofessional education, evidence informed policy, eLearning, global eHealth
Ho, Vincent Department of Dermatology & Skin Science dermatologic therapeutics and oncology

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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 Cancer Survivorship
UBC Author(s): Craig Mitton (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19322259
Volume: 18
Page Range: 318-324
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Current Psychology
UBC Author(s): David Kealy (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10461310
Volume: 43
Page Range: 11904-11913
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
UBC Author(s): William Panenka (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine), Fidel Vila-Rodriguez (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine), Alasdair Barr (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine), Thalia Field (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine), William Honer (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine), Donna Lang (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09401334
Volume: 274
Page Range: 643-653
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Poultry Science
UBC Author(s): Filip Van Petegem (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00325791
Volume: 103
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence
UBC Author(s): Martin McKeown (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 5
Page Range: 1525-1532
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Diabetologia
UBC Author(s): Megan Levings (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0012186X
Volume: 67
Page Range: 611-622
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
UBC Author(s): Tim Lee (Dermatology & Skin Science / Faculty of Medicine), Sunil Kalia (Dermatology & Skin Science / Faculty of Medicine), Harvey Lui (Dermatology & Skin Science / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01909622
Volume: 90
Page Range: 759-766
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
UBC Author(s): Linda Li (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00490172
Volume: 65
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie
UBC Author(s): Maria Socias (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 69
Page Range: 252-263
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

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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: 230
Page Range: 440.e1-440.e13
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Family Relations
UBC Author(s): Mariana Brussoni (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01976664
Volume: 73
Page Range: 1107-1120
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: The Lancet Public Health
UBC Author(s): William Panenka (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 9
Page Range: e212-e213
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Kidney International Reports
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 24680249
Volume: 9
Page Range: 740-742
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Kidney International Reports
UBC Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 24680249
Volume: 9
Page Range: 830-842
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): Ismail Laher (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00281298
Volume: 397
Page Range: 2421-2436
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Transplantation
UBC Author(s): Megan Levings (Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 108
Page Range: e49-e62
Publication Date: 1 April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Chest
UBC Author(s): Christopher Carlsten (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00123692
Volume: 165
Page Range: 836-846
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Journal of Orthopaedic Research
UBC Author(s): Ilker Hacihaliloglu (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 07360266
Volume: 42
Page Range: 729-736
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Quality of Life Research
UBC Author(s): Julia Schmidt (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09629343
Volume: 33
Page Range: 877-901
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Genetics in Medicine
UBC Author(s): Alison Elliott (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine), Sylvia Stockler-Ipsiroglu (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10983600
Volume: 26
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: Arthritis Care and Research
UBC Author(s): Diane Lacaille (Rheumatology Division / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 2151464X
Volume: 76
Page Range: 470-485
Publication Date: April 2024

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Publication: JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1936878X
Volume: 17
Page Range: 396-407
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: 2665-2676
Publication Date: April 2024

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Cancer Survivorship
UBC Author(s): Christine Voss (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19322259
Volume: 18
Page Range: 352-365
Publication Date: April 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
2023 Dr. Nethery explored how we screen for gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Her work showed that changes in screening methods in BC were the primary drivers for a rapid increase in this condition. This points to an ongoing need to balance benefits and burdens of this diagnosis when considering screening changes. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Mei's research examined the mechanisms that control the size of the two daughter cells that result from a cell division. The findings from Dr. Mei's thesis link the loss of daughter cell size control with breast cancer development. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Philippe identified novel neuronal targets involved in adaptive responses to stress. He subsequently demonstrated these to modulate the serotonin subtype 1A receptor. Finally, he set the stage to study the role, connectivity, and effects of this modulation on health-related risk factors (e.g. metabolism, stress hormone, behaviour). Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2023 Dr. Zhao investigated membrane proteins using a membrane mimetic -- peptidiscs. Results showed peptidiscs enables the enrichment of membrane proteins in a water-soluble environment. The study can be beneficial to cancer biologists to discover novel biomarkers and drug targets and to biochemists to study membrane proteins in a native-like state. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2023 Dr. Archibald's research focused on non-invasive neurochemical measurement, yielding a normative database for structural, functional, and biochemical measures of the adult human brain. These findings aid disease comparisons and can benefit individuals with neurological disorders, by advancing scientific understanding. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Mutations have rendered the current therapeutics ineffective against the circulating strains of the pandemic viruses. Dr. Jalily designed and developed a new class of antivirals that can inhibit novel pandemic strains of the influenza virus.His work can aid the development of novel antivirals against mutated variants of influenza and coronaviruses. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Scheu studied how proteins, namely ETS family transcription factors, bind their DNA targets within our cells and thereby turn genes on or off. He identified a molecular mechanism by which some family members regulate a common set of genes. He also showed how the motions of these ETS factors influence their DNA-binding specificity. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Doering discovered a new pathway by which cells can respond to and survive low oxygen stress using the model organism C. elegans. This work will be important for future development of drugs and therapies in diseases where cells are frequently exposed to low oxygen, such as cancer and diabetes. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2022 Dr. Zeitouny assessed key dimensions in access to medicines in Canada and globally. Her research examined primary non-adherence in primary care. It uncovered changes in drug use and costs in British Columbia and investigated global vaccine availability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her findings contributed to constructive health systems research. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Dr. Ferris examined patterns of brain damage in aging and after stroke using a magnetic resonance imaging technique called diffusion tensor imaging. Her work advances the development of novel MRI-based tools to measure brain damage and predict behavioural impairments after brain injury. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)

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