Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is where great minds make a difference. The Faculty enjoys an international reputation for outstanding pharmaceutical sciences research. Across a broad base of collaborative, paradigm-shaping pilot projects, our world-leading researchers generate relevant results that address the pressing health needs of society. In short, our work improves lives.

If you are passionate about health sciences research that makes a difference in people's lives, you're in good hands. We offer award-wining graduate programs led by world-class researchers. You'll have access to top-tier facilities and be working alongside the best and brightest in the field, conducting research that addresses real life problems. Our paradigm-changing approach is collaborative, innovative, and results-driven.

We're tackling diseases like asthma / chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. We're developing better ways to deliver drugs and prevent adverse drug reactions. And we're conducting clinical and economic research in pharmaceutical outcomes. 

Our reputation as a top research centre attracts some of the brightest and most productive minds in the field. Our faculty includes Canada Research Chairs, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholars and Senior Scholars, and Distinguished University Scholars.

Purpose

We are innovators in pharmacy education, research and practice, with the goal of supporting the optimization of drug therapy in the pursuit of improved patient outcomes.

Commitments

  • We support our people, creating a community that enables excellence through collective action.
  • We seek novel ideas, putting into practice those with the greatest scope for sustained impact.
  • We search for relevant connections, fostering meaningful collaborations that provide mutual benefit.
Mission
To be a catalyst for change in pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical sciences.
 

Research Centres

adMare BioInnovations is located in our building. It is an independent, non-profit organization with a focus on bridging the gap between academic discoveries in the health sciences and the development of new medicines to treat human disease. The Faculty partners with adMare BioInnovations to provide unique research and mentoring opportunities for MSc and PhD students. 

We are also home to several sophisticated research centres that specialize in the areas of human genome and exome sequencing, and health outcomes research.

Research Facilities

Opened in 2012, the Pharmaceutical Sciences Building at UBC is a state-of-the-art learning and research facility. The building houses modern, modular labs designed specifically for the type of research intended for the space. Our classroom facilities are fitted with advanced technology to facilitate new modes of learning.

Measuring 246,000 square feet, it's an eye-catching addition to our campus, and has drawn attention and admiration from around the world—including 15 awards of excellence. 

Research Highlights

As a leading research faculty, we conduct ground-breaking research in the pharmaceutical sciences – all with the goal of addressing the pressing health needs of society and improving lives. Our research activities centre around four areas of focus.

Epidemiology & Health Outcomes

This theme covers our activities in epidemiological analysis, health outcomes and health economics research seeking solutions for the predictive enhancement of intervention strategies for practical and preventive healthcare. The impact of this work is used to shape policy to optimize the allocation of health care resources as well as defining the efficacy of healthcare interventions and strategy.

Molecular & Systems Pharmacology

This highly interdisciplinary theme embodies research directed at the interactions of therapeutic agents with human cells, and covers fundamental questions of the mechanisms of the drug action through to the behaviour of drugs in human systems. These studies are used to inform and optimize the development and delivery of drug intervention regimes for clinical practice and the pharmaceutical industry.

Nanomedicine & Chemical Biology

This theme applies our expertise in the chemical biology of the fabrication and handling of nanoscopic materials to drug discovery and delivery. Sensing and screening technologies are also an important focus.

Pharmacy Education

Our research in this theme addresses the issue of scholarship in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences with a view to augment our educational research capacity and enhance the methodologies of teaching practice, student learning and curriculum decision-making.

Explore Research Themes

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

Name Research Interests
Burt, Helen Mary Nanotechnology, non-sized drug carriers, nanoparticulte drug delivery
Cairns, Brian Neuropharmacology, Oro-Facial Pain, Pain, Electrophysiology, pain mechanisms, headache, temporomandibular disorders, sex-related differences, peripheral analgesics
Chang, Thomas Drug Metabolism, Pharmacology, Nuclear Receptor, Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes, Cytochrome P450, Gene Expression, Gene regulation
Collier, Abby Drugs in children, Drugs in pregnancy, Developmental pharmacology, Drug metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, primarily of the phase II (conjugation) enzymes, focused on pregnancy and pediatrics
Conklin, Annalijn Chronic Diseases in Elderly, Gender Epidemiology, Health Policies, Professional Practices, Obesity, Social Determinants of Dietary and Metabolic Disorders, Community Health / Public Health, healthy ageing, social nutritional epidemiology, obesity & CVD risk factors, food and nutrition policy, Indigenous health, gender and health equity, healthcare quality improvement, disease management evaluation
Coughtrie, Michael Drug metabolizing enzymes
Cragg, Jacquelyn Drug Effectiveness, Drug Safety, Epidemiology, SCI Progression, neuro-analytics, Neurological diseases, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis
De Vera, Mary examining how eHealth technologies can support new and existing models of care to improve care delivery and patient outcomes; exploring patients' perspectives and experiences with medication taking and adherence; and evaluating the use and impacts of medications among pregnant women, particularly with inflammatory conditions.
Frankel, Adam Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms, Bioactive Molecules, Organic Molecules and Biomolecules, Proteins, Protein Biochemistry, arginine methylation, post-translational modifications, drug discovery, yeast, autophagy, Chemical Biology
Giaever, Guri Model organisms, human therapeutics, high-throughput cell biology, drug synergy, technologies for understanding relationship between chromatic structure and transcriptional regulation
Hafeli, Urs Pharmacokinetics, Imaging, Radiotherapy, Immunotherapy, Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Radiopharmaceuticals, Radioimmunotherapy, Magnetic Targeting, Targeted Drug Delivery, Novel polymers, Nanoparticles, Microspheres, Microneedles, Bioconjugates
Harrison, Mark measurement and valuation of health, health technology and policy assessment, and preferences for healthcare interventions; evaluation/re-evaluation of the type of health care that is provided, the point in the treatment pathway, and the way in which it is delivered
Hedtrich, Sarah Nanotechnologies, Structural Tissue Engineering / Biomaterials, Inflammatory Respiratory Diseases, Skin, Novel therapies for inflammatory and genetic diseases of human epithelia, Tissue Regeneration and Wound Healing, Topical drug delivery and Nanomedicine, New Biomedical Approaches - Alternatives to Animal Testing
Jarvis-Selinger, Sandra Ann Education, human learning, development, and instruction, education innovation, konwledge translation, teaching excellence, curriculum design, technology
Kumar, Ujendra Somatostatin hormone, molecular pharmacology, Somatostatin, , Hormones, somatostatin, locomotor and cognitive function, neurodegenerative diseases, drugs
Lalji, Fawziah Pharmacoepidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Vaccination, Antibiotics and Resistance, Tuberculosis
Li, Shyh-dar drug delivery, pharmaceutics, nanomedicine, biopharmaceutics
Loewen, Peter Cardiovascular Diseases, Arrhythmia, Thrombosis and Embolism, Heart Failure, Pharmacoepidemiology, Stroke, Health Care Technologies, Professional Practices, Hematology, Decision Making, atrial fibrillation, stroke prevention therapy, adherence to medication, Shared decision-making, pharmacy practice, knowledge translation of evidence to patient care, patient education, clinical prediction rules, prediction of stroke and bleeding in atrial fibrillation patients, patient decision aids, patient complexiometry, healthcare communication technologies, use of mobile technology for clinical decision-making, hospital pharmacy practice, quality of care, quality drug therapy
Lynd, Larry health economics, orphan drugs, pharmaceutical policy, respiratory medicine, epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, rare diseases
McCormack, James Knowledge translation and evidence-based practice
Nislow, Corey genomics and develops biotechnology tools to address both fundamental and applied biological questions; Parallel genome-wide chemical genomic screens; High throughput cell-based screens; Next Generation Sequencing
Page, Brent Cell Signaling and Cancer, drug discovery, Drug development, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Cancer, Target Engagement, Cell signaling
Rodrigues, Brian Diabetes, Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, Energy Metabolism, Cardiovascular metabolism, Endothelial cell - cardiomyocyte crosstalk, Vascular Endothelial Growth factors
Ross, Colin Biomedical Technologies, Gene Therapy, Drug Metabolism, Transgenic Model, Pharmacogenomics, Gene-based therapeutics, Precision Medicine
Sadatsafavi, Mohsen respiratory medicine with the aim of improving patient outcomes and the efficiency of health care delivery through evidence-informed decision making at all levels of care

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Graduate Student Profiles

Arwa Nemir

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSc)

Exploring What Patients Can Teach Us About Pharmacy Student Skills

Sachi Patel

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSc)

Role of G-Protein Coupled Receptors- Somatostatin and Muscarinic Receptors in Pathophysiology of Huntigton's Disease

Tarique Benbow

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

The CB2 receptor as a potential target for Vascular Headaches

Sumreen Javed

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

Understanding Role of Invadopodia in Breast Tumor metastasis via Lymphatics.

Jennifer Brown

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

Identification and elucidation of the roles of methylarginine-containing proteins in stress and aging in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
All Student Profiles

Alumni on Success

Swamy Yeleswaram

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) [1992]

Job Title
VP

Employer
Incyte Corporation

Gary Lopaschuk

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) [1983]

Job Title
Professor

Employer
University of Alberta
All Alumni Profiles

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.


Loss of function of transcription factor EB remodels lipid metabolism and cell death pathways in the cardiomyocyte
Publication: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease
UBC Author(s): Brian Rodrigues (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 09254439
Volume: 1866
Publication Date: 1 October 2020

View Publication
α<inf>1</inf> adrenergic receptor activation has a dynamic effect on masticatory muscle afferent fibers
Publication: Neuropharmacology
UBC Author(s): Brian Cairns (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 00283908
Volume: 175
Publication Date: 15 September 2020

View Publication
To inhibit TrxR1 is to inactivate STAT3–Inhibition of TrxR1 enzymatic function by STAT3 small molecule inhibitors
Publication: Redox Biology
UBC Author(s): Brent Page (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 22132317
Volume: 36
Publication Date: September 2020

View Publication
The cost-effectiveness of as-needed budesonide/formoterol versus low-dose inhaled corticosteroid maintenance therapy in patients with mild asthma in the UK
Publication: Respiratory Medicine
UBC Author(s): Mohsen Sadatsafavi (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 09546111
Volume: 171
Publication Date: September 2020

View Publication
Performance Characteristics of Spirometry With Negative Bronchodilator Response and Methacholine Challenge Testing and Implications for Asthma Diagnosis
Publication: Chest
UBC Author(s): Mohsen Sadatsafavi (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 00123692
Volume: 158
Page Range: 479-490
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
Validating Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) Protein-Inhibitor Interactions Using Biochemical and Cellular Thermal Shift Assays
Publication: ACS chemical biology
UBC Author(s): Brent Page (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 15
Page Range: 1842-1851
Publication Date: 17 July 2020

View Publication
PEER simplified tool: mask use by the general public and by health care workers
Publication: Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien
UBC Author(s): James McCormack (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 66
Page Range: 505-507
Publication Date: 1 July 2020

View Publication
Food effects on oral drug absorption: Application of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling as a predictive tool
Publication: Pharmaceutics
UBC Author(s): Harvey Wong (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 12
Page Range: 1-18
Publication Date: July 2020

View Publication
Masks for prevention of viral respiratory infections among health care workers and the public: PEER umbrella systematic review
Publication: Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien
UBC Author(s): James McCormack (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 66
Page Range: 509-517
Publication Date: 1 July 2020

View Publication
Outil simplifié de PEER : port du masque par le grand public et par les travailleurs de la santé
Publication: Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien
UBC Author(s): James McCormack (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 66
Page Range: e187-e189
Publication Date: 1 July 2020

View Publication
Quantitative comparison of three widely-used pulmonary administration methods in vivo with radiolabeled inhalable nanoparticles
Publication: European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
UBC Author(s): Urs Hafeli (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 09396411
Volume: 152
Page Range: 108-115
Publication Date: July 2020

View Publication
CRISPR/Cas9 Editing: Sparking Discussion on Safety in Light of the Need for New Therapeutics
Publication: Human gene therapy
UBC Author(s): Colin Ross (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Publication Date: 26 June 2020

View Publication
The composition and capacity of the clinical genetics workforce in high-income countries: a scoping review
Publication: Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics
UBC Author(s): Larry Lynd (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Publication Date: 24 June 2020

View Publication
Monosized Polymeric Microspheres Designed for Passive Lung Targeting: Biodistribution and Pharmacokinetics after Intravenous Administration
Publication: ACS Nano
UBC Author(s): Urs Hafeli (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 19360851
Volume: 14
Page Range: 6693-6706
Publication Date: 23 June 2020

View Publication
Broad-spectrum antifungal activities and mechanism of drimane sesquiterpenoids
Publication: Microbial Cell
UBC Author(s): Corey Nislow (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Guri Giaever (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 7
Page Range: 146-159
Publication Date: June 2020

View Publication
Telomerase biogenesis and activities from the perspective of its direct interacting partners
Publication: Cancers
UBC Author(s): Judy Wong (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 12
Page Range: 1-17
Publication Date: June 2020

View Publication
Response
Publication: Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien
UBC Author(s): James McCormack (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 66
Page Range: 393-396
Publication Date: 1 June 2020

View Publication
Rapid review of COVID-19
Publication: Canadian Family Physician
UBC Author(s): James McCormack (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 0008350X
Volume: 66
Page Range: 429
Publication Date: 1 June 2020

View Publication
Law, Culture, and Fear: A Qualitative Study of Health Professionals' Perceptions of Narcotic Use Related to Cancer Pain
Publication: Journal of pain &amp; palliative care pharmacotherapy
UBC Author(s): Kerry Wilbur (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 34
Page Range: 55-62
Publication Date: 1 June 2020

View Publication
Effects of long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment on fragility fractures in older women: the Manitoba BMD registry study
Publication: Osteoporosis International
UBC Author(s): Mohsen Sadatsafavi (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 0937941X
Volume: 31
Page Range: 1155-1162
Publication Date: 1 June 2020

View Publication
Could interprofessional education assessment in workplace learning be streamlined?
Publication: Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice
UBC Author(s): Kerry Wilbur (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Volume: 19
Publication Date: June 2020

View Publication
Coexpression of Human Hepatic Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronosyltransferase Proteins: Implications for Ontogenetic Mechanisms and Isoform Coregulation
Publication: Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): Michael Coughtrie (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Abby Collier (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 00912700
Volume: 60
Page Range: 722-733
Publication Date: 1 June 2020

View Publication
Statin use and lung cancer risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A population-based cohort study
Publication: Respiratory Research
UBC Author(s): Larry Lynd (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Mohsen Sadatsafavi (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 14659921
Volume: 21
Publication Date: 19 May 2020

View Publication
Slow implementation of mifepristone medical termination of pregnancy in Quebec, Canada: a qualitative investigation
Publication: European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
UBC Author(s): Judith Soon (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 13625187
Volume: 25
Page Range: 190-198
Publication Date: 3 May 2020

View Publication
Pharmacists’ perceptions of their working conditions and the factors influencing this: Results from 5 Canadian provinces
Publication: Canadian Pharmacists Journal
UBC Author(s): Larry Lynd (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
ISSN: 17151635
Volume: 153
Page Range: 161-169
Publication Date: 1 May 2020

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
2020 Dr. Atiquzzaman revealed the mediating role of NSAIDs in the increased risk of heart diseases among osteoarthritis patients. He also evaluated the cardiovascular safety of various NSAIDs used to treat osteoarthritis. This will help to understand the link between osteoarthritis and heart disease better and improve the safe treatment of this disease. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2020 Dr. Johnson evaluated strategies for improving the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She found that early detection strategies for COPD are cost-effective, and that the risk of COPD should be assessed regularly at primary care visits. Her research can help to reduce the burden of COPD on patients and the healthcare system. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Current HIV treatment can effectively manage infection, but it is not a cure. Hence, there is a need for new kinds of anti-HIV drugs. Dr. Zamiri discovered two anti-HIV molecules active in both wild and drug resistant HIV strains. Her research suggests a mechanism of action different from the current HIV drugs and may inform future therapies. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Dr. Gorrin constructed a model based on his conversations with people with asthma and measured how participants in two asthma studies reported their medication usage. The integration of his findings helped to understand why some people don't take the medication and how to encourage regular medication usage. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Drug discovery can be lengthy, complicated and requires extensive resources. Working in partnership with the pharmacy and chemistry departments, Dr. Koperniku explored access to pharmaceutically relevant small molecules. Her work advances the optimization of pharmaceuticals and informs improved patient care. Her past and future dedication is to serve humanity. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Dr. Wang found out that heparanase, using its properties to promote cell survival, protect the heart cells against multiple stresses frequently seen in patients with ischemia and diabetes-induced heart diseases, in both cell experiments and animal studies. This research could help devise new strategies to combat heart diseases. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Dr. Lambert investigated causes of pain in fibromyalgia and determined that specialized immune cells in the brain may play a critical role. She also created two novel molecules which act on the endocannabinoid system to reduce the pain-causing actions of these immune cells. Her work may form the basis of a new therapeutic strategy for chronic pain. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Dr. Buchwalder developed a new class of molecules to bind radioactive isotopes and attach them to disease targeting vectors. Specifically, he found that ligand molecules bind zirconium ions particularly strongly. His work contributes to the development of better diagnostic and potentially therapeutic agents for applications in nuclear medicine. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2019 Aberrant telomere length maintenance can lead to premature aging disorders. Dr. Xu studied genetic modifiers of telomere maintenance and revealed their contributions to the variable manifestations in telomere biology disorders. This study will help to build individualized models for the prediction of short telomere-associated disease presentations. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
2018 Many drugs exhibit poor solubility, limiting their absorption and clinical efficacy. Dr. Tang developed a novel approach using nanotechnology to formulate these drugs with improved solubility. His research work demonstrated the utilities of this approach in delivering these drugs more effectively and safely. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)

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Interesting Links

https://phargsubc.wixsite.com/phargsubc
http://stories.pharmsci.ubc.ca/health-outcomes-research-mark-harrison
http://stories.pharmsci.ubc.ca/research-in-focus-understanding-the-g-quadruplex