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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
Miller, Steven Department of Pediatrics Birth defects, Concussion, Preterm labor, Steroids
Miller, William Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy
Milloy, Michael-John Division of Social Medicine Infectious diseases; Clinical sciences, n.e.c.; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; medical cannabis; overdose; HIV disease; people who use drugs; Substance use disorder

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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: Modern Pathology
UBC Author(s): David Scott (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08933952
Volume: 38
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Neurobiology of Disease
UBC Author(s): Lynn Raymond (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09699961
Volume: 205
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
UBC Author(s): Nadia Fairbairn (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Michael-John Milloy (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03768716
Volume: 267
Publication Date: 1 February 2025

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Publication: American Journal of Kidney Diseases
UBC Author(s): John Gill (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02726386
Volume: 85
Page Range: 205-214.e1
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: British Journal of Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): David Fedida (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00071188
Volume: 182
Page Range: 1075-1089
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Journal of Advanced Nursing
UBC Author(s): Wendy Norman (Family Practice / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03092402
Volume: 81
Page Range: 1019-1037
Publication Date: February 2025

View Publication
Publication: Journal of Genetic Counseling
UBC Author(s): Laura Arbour (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10597700
Volume: 34
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Social Science and Medicine
UBC Author(s): Thomas Kerr (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Mark Gilbert (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02779536
Volume: 366
Publication Date: February 2025

View Publication
Publication: Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal
UBC Author(s): Savvakis Nicolaou (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 08465371
Volume: 76
Page Range: 68-75
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
UBC Author(s): Alison Elliott (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine), Tom Blydt-Hansen (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 13561294
Volume: 31
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Experimental Neurology
UBC Author(s): Christopher West (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00144886
Volume: 384
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America
UBC Author(s): Andrei Krassioukov (Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10479651
Volume: 36
Page Range: 17-32
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy
UBC Author(s): Jacqueline Whittaker (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 55
Page Range: 1-11
Publication Date: 1 February 2025

View Publication
Publication: Diabetes
UBC Author(s): Anna Michelle Lehman (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 74
Page Range: 153-163
Publication Date: 1 February 2025

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Publication: VideoGIE
UBC Author(s): Neal Shahidi (Division of Gastroenterology / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Page Range: 67-80
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
UBC Author(s): Thalia Field (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10530770
Volume: 39
Page Range: 470-478
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Clinical Teacher
UBC Author(s): Rola Ajjawi (Medicine, Dean's Office / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 17434971
Volume: 22
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: The Lancet Neurology
UBC Author(s): Thalia Field (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14744422
Volume: 24
Page Range: 140-151
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Clinical Teacher
UBC Author(s): Rola Ajjawi (Medicine, Dean's Office / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 17434971
Volume: 22
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: The Lancet Neurology
UBC Author(s): Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung (Division of Neurology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14744422
Volume: 24
Page Range: 128-139
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1936878X
Volume: 18
Page Range: 195-206
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology
UBC Author(s): Sonia Yeung (Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00084182
Volume: 60
Page Range: e163-e165
Publication Date: February 2025

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Publication: Placenta
UBC Author(s): Michael Kobor (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01434004
Volume: 160
Page Range: 29-38
Publication Date: February 2025

View Publication
Publication: Experimental Eye Research
UBC Author(s): Catherine Van Raamsdonk (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00144835
Volume: 251
Publication Date: February 2025

View Publication
Publication: Psychiatry Research
UBC Author(s): Raymond Lam (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine), Erin Michalak (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01651781
Volume: 344
Publication Date: February 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
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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