Faculty of Medicine

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
Penninger, Josef Department of Medical Genetics Genetic medicine; Medical and biomedical engineering; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; BH4; Blood vessel engineering; Bone Remodeling; Cancer; Cardiovascular Regeneration; Glycoproteomics in cancer; Haploid stem cells; Immunopathology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Tissue Engineering
Perrone, Lucy Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Improving health outcomes through improved diagnostic testing quality, Improving capacity through strengthening health and laboratory systems, Using effective quality improvement tools and approaches to improve diagnostic service delivery
Petrella, Robert Department of Family Practice Aging; rehabilitation; Geriatrics; Chronic Disease prevention, management and control; Physical Activity; Lifestyle management
Pettersen, Jacqueline Division of Neurology memory; impact of small vessel disease on cognition; role of cerebrovascular disease in Alzheimer
Phang, P Terence Department of Surgery Colorectal cancer surgery, clinical research, diagnostic imaging, laparoscopy, sphicter-preserving resection, transanal microsurgery, medical education
Phillips, Anthony Department of Psychiatry Addictions Psychiatry, Basic Neurosciences
Pike, Ian Department of Pediatrics Health promotion and disease prevention; Child and Youth Injury Prevention; Safety-oriented culture; Indigenous child injury prevention; Social Marketing; Child Passenger Safety; Risky play; Drowning prevention
Pollock, Courtney Department of Physical Therapy Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; impact of neurological changes associated with aging, disease and injury on motor control; motor control of walking balance and balance reactions
Poon, Brenda School of Population and Public Health Population-level early identification and early intervention for children with special needs; Complex systems of coordinated service delivery and supports; Family-centered services; Integrated child health information systems; Community-based research regarding social determinants of children
Pouladi, Mahmoud Department of Medical Genetics Genetic medicine; Fragile X syndrome; Huntington disease; Neurodegenerative diseases
Preston, Roanne Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics obstetric anesthesia
Price, Morgan Department of Family Practice Health Information Systems; Design; family medicine; eHealth Adoption; eHealth Requirements Engineering; eHealth Ux/UI Design; software engineering; decision support systems; Treatment Adherence; Consumer eHealth; Health System Improvement; primary care; Team-based care
Prior, Jerilynn Division of Endocrinology Menstruation, ovulation, osteoporosis, perimenopause, menopause, hot flushes, progesterone, estrogen dominance, women’s health, menopause, birth control pills, breast health, calcium, vitamin D, insulin resistance, eating attitudes/eating restraint, premenstrual symptoms, anovulatory androgen excess (PCOS)
Purssell, Roy Department of Emergency Medicine Emergency medicine, impaired driving, substance abuse, laboratory testing, adverse drug reactions
Puyat, Joseph School of Population and Public Health Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); Epidemiology; Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; Psychopharmacoepidemiology; mental health; Mental Health Services
Qayumi, Abdul Karim Department of Surgery Device development and testing; Long-term survival of donor organs; Interactive teaching program development
Quandt, Jacqueline Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Neuroinflammation in damage and repair relevant to multiple sclerosis and other nervous system disorders
Quon, Bradley Division of Respiratory Medicine Cystic Fibrosis; Epidemiology; Respiratory System; Proteomics; Immune Mediators: Cytokines and Chemokines; biomarker discovery and development; clinical epidemiology; health care economics; medication adherence
Rabkin, Simon Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery Hypertension
Rahmim, Arman Department of Radiology, Department of Physics & Astronomy Clinical oncology; Medical physics; Physical sciences; Image Reconstruction; Machine learning and radiomics; medical physics; Molecular imaging; Quantitative Imaging; Theranostics
Rauscher, Alexander Department of Pediatrics Other physical sciences; Medical and biomedical engineering; magnetic resonance imaging; physics; quantitative susceptibility mapping; myelin water imaging; brain; maschine learning
Raymond, Lynn Department of Psychiatry Huntington's Disease
Razack, Saleem Department of Pediatrics Models of Care for Children with Medical Complexity in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Anti-Racism in Medical Education, Professional Socialization for Greater Social Justice
Redekop, Gary Department of Surgery Clinical trials in stroke and cerebrovascular disease, neurosurgery
Regier, Dean School of Population and Public Health theories of behavioral economics, personalized medicine, deliberative public engagement methods to inform healthcare priority setting

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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 Structural Biology
UBC Author(s): Natalie Strynadka (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10478477
Volume: 216
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: Heart Rhythm
UBC Author(s): Andrew Krahn (Divisions of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 15475271
Volume: 21
Page Range: 978-989
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: Anesthesia and Analgesia
UBC Author(s): Peter Tsz Lung Choi (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00032999
Volume: 138
Page Range: 1337-1341
Publication Date: 1 June 2024

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Publication: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
UBC Author(s): Jennifer Tomek (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00029165
Volume: 119
Page Range: 1465-1474
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: Chest
UBC Author(s): Christopher Ryerson (Division of Respiratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00123692
Volume: 165
Page Range: 1435-1443
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: Medical Physics
UBC Author(s): Francois Benard (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine), Arman Rahmim (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00942405
Volume: 51
Page Range: 4311-4323
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
UBC Author(s): Shernaz Bamji (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14710072
Volume: 25
Page Range: 488-509
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
UBC Author(s): Francois Benard (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine), Arman Rahmim (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine), Christian Steidl (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Kerry Savage (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 16197070
Volume: 51
Page Range: 1937-1954
Publication Date: June 2024

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Publication: Spinal cord series and cases
UBC Author(s): Andrei Krassioukov (Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 10
Page Range: 39
Publication Date: 31 May 2024

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Publication: Neurology
UBC Author(s): Lara Boyd (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 102
Page Range: e209387
Publication Date: 28 May 2024

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Publication: Nature communications
UBC Author(s): Samuel Aparicio (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 15
Page Range: 4533
Publication Date: 28 May 2024

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Publication: eLife
UBC Author(s): Guy Tanentzapf (Cellular & Physiological Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 12
Publication Date: 28 May 2024

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Publication: CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
UBC Author(s): Aslam Anis (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 196
Page Range: E691-E701
Publication Date: 26 May 2024

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Publication: Archives of dermatological research
UBC Author(s): Jan Peter Dutz (Dermatology & Skin Science / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 316
Page Range: 268
Publication Date: 25 May 2024

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Publication: Science immunology
UBC Author(s): Nozomu Yachie (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 9
Page Range: eade3814
Publication Date: 24 May 2024

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Publication: ACS Sensors
UBC Author(s): Joanne Aiko Matsubara (Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 9
Page Range: 2605-2613
Publication Date: 24 May 2024

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Publication: BMC cardiovascular disorders
UBC Author(s): Jason Sutherland (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 24
Page Range: 274
Publication Date: 24 May 2024

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Publication: BMC biology
UBC Author(s): Timothy Murphy (Psychiatry / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 22
Page Range: 121
Publication Date: 23 May 2024

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Publication: Advanced Materials Technologies
UBC Author(s): Zu-Hua Gao (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 9
Publication Date: 22 May 2024

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Publication: European Heart Journal
UBC Author(s): Jonathon Leipsic (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0195668X
Volume: 45
Page Range: 1804-1815
Publication Date: 21 May 2024

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Publication: Oncogene
UBC Author(s): Xuesen Dong (Urologic Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09509232
Volume: 43
Page Range: 1631-1643
Publication Date: 21 May 2024

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Publication: JAMA Network Open
UBC Author(s): Brian Grunau (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 7
Page Range: E2411641
Publication Date: 20 May 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
2022 Dr. Zhao explored storing platelets in the cold versus at room temperature. He showed that cold-stored platelets are more effective at stopping bleeds and have preserved metabolomic parameters than the currently in-use room-temperature stored platelets. His work contributes to and accelerated the clinical investigation of cold-stored platelets in cardiothoracic patients. Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD)
2022 Dr. Vanderkruk showed how the identity and function of insulin-producing beta cells is enforced by a system of cellular memory centred on methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 proteins. These studies provide novel insight into how beta cell identity is stabilized during the long period of adulthood in mammals and destabilized during diabetes. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Kenny investigated heading in female varsity soccer players and provided important details on the frequency and magnitude of these repetitive head impacts. Using the substantial video data and comprehensive data collection over 3-years, she demonstrated a potential dose response to the number of headers and both brain physiology and function. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2022 Dr. Juang uncovered novel mechanisms of blood clotting and developed reagents that modulate clotting to decrease both bleeding and the formation obstructive clots. In the short-term, these reagents are useful as research tool to study blood clotting. In the long-term, these reagents will hopefully be translated into the clinic as therapeutics. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Simkin examined differences in cancer risk by geography in British Columbia, Canada, using various methods that leverage locational information. In doing so, he revealed new insights on the geographical distributions of cancer, and developed analytic approaches and tools that provide localized information to support regional health planning. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2022 Dr. Arostegui discovered the embryonic origin of a unique cell population responsible for the development of tendon-bone attachment sites and various stromal lineages in the limb. This work represents the foundation for future studies involving the role of this unique cell population in tissue repair and regeneration. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Chen used a high-throughput method to explore 2 Metallo-beta-lactamases enzymes present in the clinics, generating largescale datasets on their resistance behaviors. He gained deeper understanding of MBLs, such as how antibiotic concentrations affect bacteria containing MBLs, and how and why behaviours may differ between MBLs. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. De Silva studied how the platelet's structural framework, termed the actin cytoskeleton, and the supporting actin-binding proteins, regulate platelet cell death and shape change. Dr. De Silva's findings identify the actin-binding protein filamin A as a critical player in multiple aspects of platelet function. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Charlton applied novel wearable technology to measure how people walk in everyday life, and to develop new ways to use physical activity to treat joint disease. His work contributes to the understanding of how people with musculoskeletal disease move, and their capacity to integrate movement-based rehabilitation into daily walking practices. Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)
2022 Dr. Nouruzi's research provides insight into the role of the proneuronal transcription factor ASCL1 in early drug induced epigenetic plasticity that supports the reprogramming of prostate cancer towards aggressive disease. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)

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