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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
Abdelrahman, Khaled Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Basic pharmacology; G protein-coupled receptor pharmacology; Neuropharmacology; Molecular Neuroscience
Abu-Laban, Riyad Department of Emergency Medicine Emergency medicine, epidemiology, research education
Accili, Eric Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences molecular mechanisms responsible for cellular pacemaking behavior
Afshar, Kourosh Department of Urologic Sciences Genital reconstruction and pediatric renal transplant
Ajjawi, Rola learning environments that support health professional trainees to succeed, workplace learning
Allan, Douglas Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences Nervous system
Allard, Michael Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Control of energy metabolism in normal and pathologic hearts; Physiologic and Pathologic Cardiac hypertrophy; Contribution of Metabolism to myocardial dysfunction after ischemia and reperfusion, especially in the setting of cardiac hypertrophy; Cardiovascular Pathology
Ambasta, Anshula Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Reduction of low-value services in health systems
Amri, Michelle School of Population and Public Health Global Health Ethics; normative nature of health equity; Health Equity; Public Policy; Governance; Global Health; International health
Anglesio, Michael Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Obstetrics and gynecology; Premalignant disease (precursors); Cancer molecular targets; Cancer of the Reproductive System; Host-Tumour Interaction; Endometriosis; Cancer Diagnosis and Detection; animal models of endometriosis and cancer; Cancer prevention; early detection biomarkers; endometriosis associated cancers; gene-expression and transcriptomics; genomics; Immunology; microenvironment; ovarian cancer etiology
Anis, Aslam School of Population and Public Health cost effectiveness of AIDS treatments; drug assessments – pharmacoeconomics; health care economics; health regulations, Health economics, rhematoid arthritis, biologic therapies
Ansermino, John Mark Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics Other clinical medicine; Sepsis in children; Health information systems; Physiological Monitoring; Technological Innovations; Artificial Intellegence; Automation in healthcare; Global Health; Mobile Health; Outcome prediction
Aparicio, Samuel Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Breast cancer, genome sequencing
Arbour, Laura Department of Medical Genetics northern and aboriginal health issues as they pertain to genetics
Ardern, Clare Department of Physical Therapy Electronic health (e-Health); Mobile health (mHealth); Patient and citizen engagement research; Health equity; Physical therapy; Sports medicine; Knowledge translation and implementation science in health; Orthopedics; Sex and gender-based analysis; musculoskeletal conditions; Digital health; eHealth; orthopaedics; sports medicine; rehabilitation; meta-science; peer review; research impact
Ashe, Maureen Department of Family Practice Mobile health (mHealth); Knowledge translation and implementation science in health; Patient and citizen engagement research; Physical therapy
Atiquzzaman, Mohammad Division of Nephrology pharmacoepidemiologic studies
Austin, Jehannine Department of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Genetics Clinical genetics (except cancer genetics); genetic counseling; genetics services; mental health
Av-Gay, Yossef Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology & Immunology Tuberculosis
Avina, Antonio Division of Rheumatology Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (SARDs); Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA); Long term effectiveness; Multivariate analyses; Outcomes assessment; Pharmaco-epidemiology
Ayas, Najib Critical Care Medicine public health and safety consequences of sleep apnea and sleep deprivation
Bally, Marcel Bertran Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Pancreas centre
Bamji, Shernaz 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; neurodevelopmental disease; primary neuronal cultures; synapse biology; transgenic mouse models
Bansback, Nick School of Population and Public Health inform policies and practices in health through the application of
Barbic, Skye Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; assessment; community integration; health and well-being; Implementation Science; Individual Placement Support; measurement; Mental Health and Society; mental health; metrology; Patient Engagement; Rasch Measurement Theory; recovery; Supported Employment; youth

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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 Affective Disorders
UBC Author(s): Teresa Yeong Lih Liu (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01650327
Volume: 367
Page Range: 58-66
Publication Date: 15 December 2024

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Publication: European Psychiatry
UBC Author(s): Sophia Frangou (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09249338
Volume: 67
Publication Date: 5 December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Vaccine
UBC Author(s): Julie Bettinger (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0264410X
Volume: 42
Publication Date: 2 December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Vaccine
UBC Author(s): Manish Sadarangani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0264410X
Volume: 42
Publication Date: 2 December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Anesthesiology Clinics
UBC Author(s): A Jonathan Stoessl (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 19322275
Volume: 42
Page Range: 631-645
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Pediatric Cardiology
UBC Author(s): Shubhayan Sanatani (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01720643
Volume: 45
Page Range: 1692-1701
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: BMC Primary Care
UBC Author(s): Morgan Price (Family Practice / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 25
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
UBC Author(s): Richard Lester (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Communications Biology
UBC Author(s): Colin Collins (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 7
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Substance Abuse: Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
UBC Author(s): Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 19
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Stem Cell Research and Therapy
UBC Author(s): Tim Kieffer (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Implementation Science Communications
UBC Author(s): Josie Geller (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: BMC Health Services Research
UBC Author(s): Kristin Campbell (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Martin Gleave (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: npj Breast Cancer
UBC Author(s): Samuel Aparicio (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Scott Tebbutt (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: BMC Psychiatry
UBC Author(s): Fidel Vila-Rodriguez (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Scott Tebbutt (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Linda Li (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine), Teresa Yeong Lih Liu (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Harm Reduction Journal
UBC Author(s): Kate Shannon (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Kathleen Deering (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 21
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology
UBC Author(s): Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 17101484
Volume: 20
Publication Date: December 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
2024 Dr. Stephan directed stem cells into liver and studied how the cells changed their identity. She found a specific protein in newly forming liver cells, TBX3, that may be responsible for pushing cells towards using liver genes. Knowing how cells turn into liver cells can be used to produce lab-grown livers replacing conventional organ transplants. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Gill examined how different types of childhood poverty experience affect children's development, health, and school success from kindergarten to high school graduation in British Columbia, and how these relationships differ by the child's immigration background. This work can inform intervention and policy to reduce harms related to poverty. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2024 Dr. Alemzadeh Mehrizi investigated roles of 5 proteins in the deadliest subtype of uterine cancer. She discovered that the elevated levels of these proteins are reducing patients' survival, and increasing the invasiveness of the cancer cells. Her findings provide novel insights into new ways of treating this deadly subtype of uterine cancer. Doctor of Philosophy in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (PhD)
2024 Dr. Tabrizian's research identified ROR2 as a key receptor promoting cellular plasticity in prostate cancer. Her findings suggest ROR2 as a therapeutic target to combat aggressive AR-independent tumor phenotypes. This could enhance responses to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors and prevent lineage plasticity. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Foo's research aimed to develop novel drugs that target the drivers of prostate and breast cancers. By screening hundreds of compounds, Dr. Foo characterized the activity of new molecules that effectively inhibit cancer growth. This work will provide new therapeutic avenues to address the needs of patients who no longer respond to current treatments. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Kreyenmeier studied human eye movements to understand how the brain transforms sensory signals into motor actions. He showed that eye movements can be used as a model system to reveal how humans perceive and interact with their complex and dynamic environment. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2024 Dr. Macdonald examined how patients with chronic illness participate in civic organizations that help bring the patient perspective to health research. His work contributes to our knowledge on how to create institutions of research that are responsive and able to integrate input from patients and the public. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2024 Dr. Han's research delves into the ingenious strategies employed by our intestinal cells to detect and combat the food-borne pathogen Salmonella. These tactics include promoting mucus secretion to expel the pathogen, releasing signals to enlist immune cell reinforcements, and, remarkably, self-sacrifice to eliminate the invading bacteria. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Tai combined addiction psychiatry and machine learning to address the opioid crisis. His models predict overdose risk, enhancing early intervention and treatment. Dr. Tai's research aims to improve understanding of addiction and prevent overdose deaths, demonstrating his commitment to public health. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2024 Should patients with coronary artery disease consider stenting if they must wait for bypass surgery? Dr. Hardiman compared treatment results of delayed surgery and readily available stenting, finding that patients who underwent surgery fared better. His study will inform future treatment decisions and policy in cardiac care. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)

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