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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
Mannas, Miles Department of Urologic Sciences prostate cancer, novel techniques for real-time pathologic tissue analysis utilizing artificial intelligence
Marinova-Todd, Stefka School of Audiology and Speech Sciences bilingualism, second language acquisition, language development, literacy, ESL children, children at risk of language difficulties, language disorders in bilingual children and adults, Second language acquisition; language development and language learning difficulties of bilingual children
Marra, Marco Department of Medical Genetics, Michael Smith Laboratories Genomics; Bioinformatics, n.e.c.; Epigenetics and epigenomics; Genetics, n.e.c.; Cancer genetics; Genetics; Epigenomics; Cancer biology
Masri, Bas Department of Orthopaedics Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction and Replacement and to Musculoskeletal Oncology
Masse, Louise School of Population and Public Health Health care administration; Health sciences; Public and population health; Childhood obesity with specific interests in prevention and treatment using lifestyle modification; Films, Membranes and Multiphase Polymers; Health Promotion; Nutrition; Obesity; Physical Activity
Matsell, Douglas Department of Pediatrics Childhood kidney disease, Congenital urinary tract obstruction
Matsubara, Joanne Aiko Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Sensory systems, visual; Cellular interactions (including adhesion, matrix and cell wall); Gene and molecular therapy; Cellular neuroscience; neuroscience; vision; cell and development; cell death pathways; innate immune response; eye disease, retinal degenerations; Alzheimer's disease; neurodegeneration
Mawson, John Department of Radiology Quality improvement/quality assurance issues; Pediatric medical imaging services; Anatomy; Congenital Heart Defects
Maxwell, Christopher Department of Pediatrics Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; Cell differentiation, proliferation and death; Pediatric cancer; Cancer progression and metastasis; Hereditary Cancer; Cell division; Cell migration; Differentiation; Cell polarity
Mayor, Thibault Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories Biochemistry; Genomics; Aging; Cell Biology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Proteasome; Protein Degradation; Protein Folding; Proteomics; Proteostasis; Ubiquitin; Yeast Genetics
McAlpine, Jessica Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology subtypes of ovarian and endometrial cancers, and prevention
McCracken, Rita Department of Family Practice Audit and feedback to improve primary care prescribing; Health human resources; Polypharmacy and deprescribing; Frailty, aging; Patient-oriented research outcomes; Primary care research; Health services evaluation
McGrail, Kimberlyn School of Population and Public Health aging and health care services use; health care costs; health care financing; primary care; health care policy, Variations in health care services use across patients, providers and regions, and their relationship to population health, Aging and the use of health and social services, Personal, economic, and social factors that produce health at an individual and population level, and the role of the health care system in that process
McKay, Heather Department of Family Practice, Department of Orthopaedics Population health interventions; Aging process; Social and biological determinants of aging; Health promotion and disease prevention; Prevention, treatment and support of youth health; Medical, health and life sciences; Knowledge translation and implementation science in health; Health and community services; Aging Process; Public and Population Health
McKeown, Martin Division of Neurology Neurology; novel treatments for Parkinson's; Video Monitoring Parkinson's; Brain Stimulation; Biomedical Engineering; Machine Learning; fMRI; EEG
McLeod, Christopher School of Population and Public Health occupational heath and the social epidemiology of the working life course.
McMaster, W Robert Department of Medical Genetics Molecular Immunology
McNagny, Kelly Marshall School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medical Genetics Cellular immunology; Regenerative medicine (including stem cells and tissue engineering); Stem Cells; Immunology; Inflammation; Mouse models of human disease; Tissue degeneration/regeneration; Cancer; innate immune response; kidney function; Biologics and therapeutics
Meckler, Garth Department of Pediatrics Evidence to Innovation; Pediatric Simulation; Continuing Medical Education; Pediatric Headache
Meneghetti, Adam Department of Surgery Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery; oncology; Education and Curriculum Development
Meneilly, Graydon Division of Geriatric Medicine diabetes and carbohydrate metabolism in the elderly
Michalak, Erin Department of Psychiatry bipolar disorder; quality of life; stigma, community based research; depression; mental health; ehealth; self-management, Bipolar disorder, quality of life, stigma, community based research, depression, mental health, ehealth, self-management
Mikelberg, Frederick Samuel Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Other clinical medicine; Glaucoma
Miller, Steven Department of Pediatrics Birth defects, Concussion, Preterm labor, Steroids
Miller, William Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy

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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: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Poul Sorensen (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Gerald Krystal (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Critical Care
UBC Author(s): Donald E Griesdale (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine), Keith Walley (Critical Care Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), David Patrick (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine), James Russell (Critical Care Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 13648535
Volume: 28
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Human Resources for Health
UBC Author(s): Rita McCracken (Family Practice / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 22
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Martin McKeown (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: International Journal of Mental Health Systems
UBC Author(s): Daniel Vigo (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 18
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: BMC Public Health
UBC Author(s): Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Theodore Steiner (Division of Infectious Diseases / Faculty of Medicine), Sriram Subramaniam (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Urolithiasis
UBC Author(s): Dirk Lange (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine), Amee Manges (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 21947228
Volume: 52
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: BMC Infectious Diseases
UBC Author(s): David Patrick (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
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

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Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Lucia Nappi (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine), Kim Nguyen Chi (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine), Alexander Wyatt (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Biology of Sex Differences
UBC Author(s): Elizabeth Rideout (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Translational Psychiatry
UBC Author(s): William Honer (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Substance Abuse: Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
UBC Author(s): Jessica Moe (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), James Christenson (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Seonaid Nolan (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 19
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: Harm Reduction Journal
UBC Author(s): Jessica Moe (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Roy Purssell (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 21
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Josef Penninger (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: World Journal of Urology
UBC Author(s): Andrei Krassioukov (Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 07244983
Volume: 42
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Ian Mackenzie (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

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Publication: BMC Health Services Research
UBC Author(s): Jessica Moe (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: npj Aging
UBC Author(s): Daniel Vigo (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Anthony Traboulsee (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Quynh Doan (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 14
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Nature Communications
UBC Author(s): Torsten Nielsen (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Gregg Morin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: December 2024

View Publication
Publication: Cell Death Discovery
UBC Author(s): Gregg Morin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
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
2023 Dr. Sharafian studied T cell development in infants, focusing on the physiological effects of T cells on the intestinal organoid model. She found that T cells induce the proliferation and differentiation of the infant's intestinal epithelial cells. Her work has potential implications for therapeutic advancements in infant intestinal diseases. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Translational approaches to restoring autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MDPhD)
2023 Dr. Virk adapted a self-administered mental health screening instrument for post-secondary students (called HEARTSMAP-U). He applied a user-centred approach and engaged diverse student sub-populations in validating the instrument, to ensure it can be accurately and equitably applied in post-secondary educational settings. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2023 Dr. Tan developed a novel oncogene-induced de novo model of triple negative human breast cancer by forcing the expression of various mutant genes in normal human mammary cells. It offers a powerful platform to analyze the complete sequence of changes that lead to the genesis of aggressive breast cancers and hence test new therapeutic strategies. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2023 Dr. Wang studied the biological process that regulates the cells that give rise to different types of white blood cells in humans. She found these cells proliferate at a faster speed at an early step of their differentiation. In addition, the generation of lymphocytes is dependent on a mechanism that controls how their genomic DNA is organized. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2023 Dr. Wang examined how the drug mefenamic acid affects the delayed cardiac rectifier current revealing a drug binding site. In neuroscience, she identified aberrant forelimb motor behavior and cortical changes in a Huntington Disease mouse model. This research revealed the importance of multiple techniques in therapeutic development. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
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)

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