RESEARCH SUPERVISORS
Dr. Samuel Aparicio
Dr. Aparicio’s research programme encompasses the fields of cancer genomics, mouse genetic models, high throughput screens, and translational breast cancer research. His most recent work on the molecular taxonomy of breast cancer led to identification of new genes that could change the way breast cancer is diagnosed, and form the basis of next-generation treatments.
saparicio@bccrc.ca
Dr. Maureen Ashe
Working with health professionals, fitness leaders and older adults themselves, Ashe develops, delivers and tests interventions designed to get older people moving, even those with mobility challenges, such as older adults recovering from hip fracture. Given that many older adults with a fall-related hip fracture have challenges to their mobility, this group is especially vulnerable.
Ashe says her research underlines the need to rethink the high-intensity approach to activity: “We shouldn’t be asking people to run marathons, swim laps or go to the gym in the first instance. There are lots of benefits to simply reducing sedentary time. Sit less and chances are you’ll do more everyday activity. It’s a good place to start toward increasing physical activity—and avoiding that decline in health or that spiral into decreased mobility. My approach is how can we maximize our ability to be out and about in our communities?”
A qualitative study Ashe led with patients who recovered well from hip surgery confirmed the benefits of simply sitting less. It also demonstrated the importance of support in the community and not doing too much, too soon.
Based on the findings, Ashe, her research team, and provincial clinicians created FReSH Start, a landmark, patient-centred toolkit on post-hip surgery care for older adults and their families, which is being distributed province-wide and around the world.
Ashe says a cornerstone of her research is practicality. “It’s not just a matter of telling people there are benefits to something,” she says. “You have to help them set goals and give them practical tools to get them to meet those goals.”
If you are interested in joining any of Dr. Ashe's research teams, please email her with your areas of interest and your current curriculum vitae.
Dr. Yossef Av-Gay
Molecular genetics of tuberculosis; identification of new targets for drug therapy; metabolism of bacterial pathogens inside their hosts; pathogenomics.
yossi@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta
Assistant Professor, Dr. Avina is a Rheumatologist and a Research Scientist at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada. Dr. Avina's current research focuses on the epidemiology of Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (SARDs) that include: systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathies, Sjogren's syndrome and systemic vasculitis. He is assessing the disease burden of SARDs at the population level (incidence, prevalence, costs, risk of comorbidities and mortality). Pharmacoepidemiology studies in this population is also an area of interest.
azubieta@arthritisresearch.ca
Dr. Najib Ayas
His research focuses on the public health and safety consequences of sleep apnea and sleep deprivation.
najib.ayas@vch.ca
Dr. Horacio Bach
1) Pathogenic virulence factors: I am interested in understanding how pathogenic microorganisms successfully infect and multiply in humans, focusing primarily on the genus Mycobacterium, specifically M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of Tuberculosis. In addition, I also have collaborations studying Crohn’s disease/Ulcerative Colitis, malaria, cryptococcosis, and campylobacteriosis.
2) Nanomedicine: I am actively working in this emerging discipline linking Nanotechnology to Medicine. I have also started an interdisciplinary collaboration that has designed novel chemical molecules to serve as carriers of macromolecules (proteins, toxins, radioactive material, etc.) to specific cellular targets.
3) Antibody engineering: a technology-based on the screening and selection of antibodies derived from a naïve human library.
horacio.bach@gmail.com
Dr. Alexander Beristain
Research Focus: Maternal immune cells in pregnancy. Immune cells existing within fetal-maternal tissues in early pregnancy direct proper placenta formation and regulate fetal tolerance. Alterations in the balance of protective and pro-inflammatory/cytotoxic immune cells increase incidences of fetal death and serious pregnancy disorders, and we are currently examining possible cellular mechanisms that may be targetable in high-risk pregnancies. Child & Family Research Institute.
alexander.beristain@ubc.ca
Dr. Pascal Bernatchez
Our laboratory focuses on the changes blood vessels typically undergo in classic blood vessel diseases, such as atherosclerosis and Marfan syndrome, and non-blood vessel diseases, such as muscular dystrophy. We have found that the basic protective properties of the vascular endothelium, such as the as its barrier function against plasma protein or cholesterol leakage, and nitric oxide release, are abnormally low in those conditions. We test various pharmacological approaches in vivo and in culture models to correct vascular defects and trigger therapeutic responses.
pascal.bernatchez@ubc.ca
Dr. Philipp Blanke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia and a cardiac radiologist at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver. He is the Director of the Cardiac CT Core Lab at St. Paul’s Hospital, which supports clinical trials in the field of transcatheter heart valve replacement and repair in regard to CT imaging for screening and follow up. His major research interest is cardiac CT imaging for procedural planning and optimization of transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement, post-procedural imaging and valve thrombosis as well as artificial intelligence for structural heart CT imaging.
Dr. Blanke is currently the Core Laboratory PI for several multi-center clinical in transcatheter aortic, mitral, tricuspid and pulmonic valve replacement. Imaging concepts are being developed and employed to improve patient and device selection as well as to identify averse anatomical risk.
Dr. Blanke’s lab is currently recruiting graduate students. Please contact Dr. Blanke (PBlanke@providencehealth.bc.ca) for further information.
Dr. Blydt-Hansen received his MD, CM from McGill University in 1992. He trained in Pediatrics and Nephrology at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and went on to receive further training in transplantation and research at the University of California, Los Angeles. He started his Nephrology career at the University of Manitoba in 2001 and went on to become Division Head of Nephrology from 2005-2014. Since 2014, he is Director of the Multi Organ Transplant Program at BC Children’s Hospital and a Senior Scientist at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Dr. Blydt-Hansen's clinical and translational research program is focused on characterizing kidney allograft injury using urine metabolite profiling and other biomarkers. He is lead investigator in the PROBE study, a CIHR funded multi-center cohort study to identify non-invasive urine biomarkers of allograft rejection in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. He is also engaged in collaborations to identify urinary biomarkers (metabolomics) associated with chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, type 2 diabetes and cisplatin nephrotoxicity. He is co-investigator on several nationally funded transplant research studies including CKiD, iCARE, CAN-RESTORE and CNTRP.
Tom.BlydtHansen@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Michael Brauer
Environmental lung disease, air pollution.
michael.brauer@ubc.ca
Dr. Liam Brunham
Dr. Brunham is an Assistant Professor in Medicine, UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation - a clinician-scientist whose research focuses on understanding how changes in specific genes contribute to differences in drug-response as well as to alterations in plasma lipid levels and their relationship to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. His laboratory uses a variety of approaches including genetic association studies, next-generation sequencing, and functional genomics to investigate the role of genetic variation in these phenotypes.
liam.brunham@ubc.ca
Dr. Robert C. Brunham
Biology of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
robert.brunham@bccdc.hnet.bc.ca
Dr. Mariana Brussoni
Unintentional injury prevention with a special focus on vulnerable populations, including children, Aboriginal and low income populations. Work spans primary secondary and tertiary prevention, using qualitative and quantitative methods. Current projects include: fathers' injury prevention attitudes and practices, Implementation of community-based injury surveillance in Aboriginal communities; longitudinally assessing the impact of injury on children, their families and society; and exploring the safety perceptions and preventive behaviours of parents with children with disabilities and chronic conditions, and evaluating indicators of child and youth injury.
MBrussoni@cw.bc.ca
Graduate student positions are available in the UBC Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, located at St. Paul's Hospital within the UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation. Dr. Camp's research falls under three main pillars (see below): Indigenous lung health; telerehabilitation; and pulmonary rehabilitation for patients hospitalized with COPD. We are looking for dynamic and highly motivated students who are interested in learning field research, health-service delivery research, mixed methods or epidemiological studies in lung disease, in a diverse learning environment. Student stipends are available. Interested candidates should review the lab website at https://prrl.rehab.med.ubc.ca, and contact Dr. Camp via her lab manager Ashley Kirkham at ashley.kirkham@hli.ubc.ca.
Indigenous lung health. Study 1 is to estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in First Nations communities in north-central BC. We are also identify specific risks related to respiratory symptoms including indoor air quality and occupation. Study 2 is to develop a First Nations pulmonary rehabilitation program, that could include using telehealth to deliver a program. Study 3 aims to develop emergency planning for people with chronic disease living in remote and rural First Nations communities.
Telerehabilitation. We are conducting feasibility studies of wearable devices that support the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation services in low access locations.
Pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of COPD. This research program aims to investigate the health services delivery issues related to providing pulmonary rehabilitation in the hospital setting for patients with COPD who are admitted with an exacerbation of their disease. Research questions will include: current practice patterns related to inpatient exercise and mobility; barriers and facilitators to initiating these programs, key components of programs, program components [including exercise and education], and use of interdisciplinary teams.
Dr. Bruce Carleton
The central theme of my research program, Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Innovations (POPi), is the study of drug therapy with the goal of improving human health and quality of life. I am particularly interested in developing models for evaluating drug effectiveness, medication use models designed to improve patient health, and effective surveillance systems to improve the safe use of medication. I have a particular clinical interest in paediatric medicine, with specific emphases on asthma and the epidemiology and clinical management of adverse drug reactions. Another area of interest is the translation of knowledge to aid evidence-based drug policy development. POPi contributes to solving the international drug policy crisis on two levels: the public policy level (federal and provincial), and the clinical policy level. In this way the needs of government are served to manage drug budgets, the needs of clinicians to improve patient care, and the public need to understand and improve the effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness of drugs.
bcarleton@popi.ubc.ca
Dr. Christopher Carlsten
Dr. Carlsten directs the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease (COERD), the mission of which is to gain new understanding of the mechanisms involved in occupational and environmental lung disease through laboratory and clinical research, and to translate this knowledge into improved diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative tools for the benefit of public health. The centrepiece of COERD, which emphasizes a highly interdisciplinary and team-oriented environment, strong financial support from diverse stakeholders, and a rich network of local and international collaboration, is the Air Pollution Exposure Lab (APEL).
The following are key themes at APEL:
Health effects of toxic inhalants (“air pollution”, diesel exhaust, allergens, phthalates, respiratory, cognitive and immunologic effects)
Controlled inhalation models (humans, ‘in vivo’, experimental approaches to validate epidemiologic models, crossover study design)
Effects of complex inhaled exposures (synergy, adjuvancy, additive and multiplicative effects (statistical, functional), biological plausibility)
Translational research (state-of-the-art lab methods within experiments that concretely address public health concerns)
Understanding effects of genetics on pollutant effect (gene-by-environment analysis, oxidative stress, vulnerability, susceptibility)
Lab Website
carlsten@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Sammy Chan
My lab is focused on mechanistic studies. There are ongoing projects in the following areas: clinical utility of conduit artery endothelial function (brachial artery flow mediated dilation) and microvascular endothelial function (endo-PAT); atherosclerosis progression and regression with carotid ultrasound; exercise training in coronary artery disease; endothelial progenitor cells and angiogenesis in coronary artery disease.
schan@providencehealth.bc.ca
Dr. Jean-Pierre Chanoine
Global Health in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. Special focus on access to essential medicines, training of health professionals and access to clinical care in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.
jchanoine@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Artem Cherkasov
Bioinformatics, proteomics, comparative genomics, computer-aided drug design (antibiotics), structure - function/activity relationships for proteins and drugs, artificial intelligence and data mining.
acherkasov@prostatecentre.com
Dr. Jean Paul Collet
Methodology:
Clinical Research, Health Services Research, Randomized Clinical Trials; Epidemiology. Research interest: Chronic Disease Management, Practice Evaluation, Child and Youth Health Research, Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine.
JCollet@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Edward Conway
The goal of my research is to explore the role of multi-domain vascular endothelial and mesenchymal cell surface glycoproteins that regulate cell proliferation, inflammation, coagulation and innate immune responses in clinically relevant diseases. Investigative approaches utilise a wide range of technologies, including cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, transgenic mouse models and human genetics. Two major research programs, highlighted on my CBR website, are currently ongoing in my group. My lab is located at the Point Grey Campus in the Life Sciences Centre and students are encouraged to contact me if they are interested or have questions.
ed.conway@ubc.ca
Dr. Michael Cox
Prostate cancer, signal transduction, neuroendocrine biology, apoptosis.
mcox@prostatecentre.com
Dr. Denise Daley
Core research interests are in the study of common complex diseases such as cancer, asthma, and heart disease, with a focus on gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Funded research projects include a variety of cutting edge genetic approaches including genome-wide association analyses, epigenetics, and whole genome sequencing. (see www.genapha.ca for more information on asthma studies). Dr. Daley a computational laboratory with a high performance computing cluster and is seeking students with an interest in training in statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics.
Denise.Daley@hli.ubc.ca
Dr. Angela Devlin
My laboratory is focused on investigating: - the interactions of dietary factors with epigenetic processes and development of cardiometabolic risk factors (eg obesity) - the molecular mechanisms contributing to vascular dysfunction associated with obesity, hyperhomocysteinemia - metabolic programming and risk for cardiovascular disease Techniques include: genotyping, gene expression, immunoblots, DNA methylation analysis (Pyrosequencing), chromatin immunoprecipitation, cell culture.
angela.devlin@ubc.ca
Dr. Viviane Dias Lima
My research program focus is on identifying strategies to diminish the gap in the delivery of care to those afflicted by HIV in British Columbia and around the world. Through ongoing national/international collaborations and research grants, we plan to create a unique three-branch program in the field of quantitative research based on different analytical approaches, including: biostatistical methods to analyze health services delivery data and clinical data; disease mapping methods to analyze trends in disease morbidity and mortality; and mathematical models of disease progression and transmission. This program will create great research opportunities and will provide a new setting in BC where trainees will be supported across a variety of disciplinary and methodological backgrounds. In addition, since HIV has become a chronic disease, the methodology that will be developed in this program can be generalized to analyze similar issues in other chronic and infectious diseases. Check Dr. Lima's website for further information.
vlima@cfenet.ubc.ca
Gene Transcription, Steroid Receptor and Coregulator, Prostate/Breast cancer, Pre-mature labour.
xdong@prostatecentre.com
Dr. Delbert Dorscheid
Role of the airway epithelium in the genesis of inflammatory airways diseases, role of glucocorticoid-induced airway epithelial cell apoptosis, novel glycoproteins involved in the repair of an injured epithelium, expression of FasL as an immune barrier for the airway in the changes associated with chronic airways remodeling.
ddorscheid@mrl.ubc.ca
Dr. Doris Doudet
The role and function of the monoaminergic systems, with particular emphasis on dopamine (DA) .
ddoudet@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Caigan Du
Two goals in the lab: 1) To underlie the cellular and molecular mechanisms of ischemia/hypothermia-induced kidney donor tissue injury prior to transplantation, and of generating kidney transplant inflammation and tissue remodeling after transplantation; 2) To develop new therapeutic strategies that enhance long-term kidney transplant survival rate in patients.
caigan.du@ubc.ca
Dr. Vince Duronio
Cytokines and receptors, signal transduction, inflammatory cells.
vduronio@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Jan Dutz
Skin as immune organ, transcutaneous immunization, antigen presentation, cytotoxic T-cells, vaccine design, apoptosis and immunity.
Jan.Dutz@vch.ca
Dr. Connie Eaves
Hematopoietic stem cell biology, clinical applications, chronic myeloid leukemia, animal models of human disease, cancer biology, breast stem cells and breast cancer.
ceaves@bccrc.ca
Dr. Rajavel Elango
Protein and amino acid requirements during key stages of growth and development including, pregnancy, adolescence and during childhood malnutrition (undernutrition in developing countries and overweight/obesity in developed countries). Experiments will be conducted in human subjects using stable isotope methodology to examine amino acid metabolism, indirect calorimetry to examine energy metabolism, and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy to examine body composition.
relango@cfri.ubc.ca
Dr. Janice Eng
My research program is in neurological rehabilitation and includes mechanistic studies to examine physical function (eg, motor control, cardiovascular function), brain activation and cognitive function after a neurological condition, as well as clinical trials to investigate effective rehabilitation treatments.
Janice.Eng@vch.ca
Dr. John Esdaile
Head, Division of Rheumatology, and Scientific Director of the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada. Clinical epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, early osteoarthritis and back disorders.
jesdaile@arthritisresearch.ca
Dr. Mahyar Etminan
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences|Faculty of Medicine; Associate Member, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, The Eye Care Centre, 2550 Willow Street, Vancouver BC. My research is focused in the area of ocular epidemiology using large population based databases. Specifically, I have worked extensively in the last few years examining the effect of prescription drugs on various ocular conditions. I have special interest on design and analysis of case-control and cohort studies, identifying and adjusting for cofounders in epidemiological studies, causal inference and meta-analysis.
etminanm@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Mark Fitzgerald
Dr. FitzGerald has an extensive program of clinical research in asthma, COPD, tuberculosis and health outcomes.
mark.fitzgerald@vch.ca
Dr. John Fleetham
Respiratory sleep disorders.
fleetham@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Nancy Ford
Dr. Nancy Ford, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences and Director of the Centre for High-Througphut Phenogenomics. Her research focuses on x-ray imaging and cone beam computed tomography for preclinical and clinical applications. Clinical projects focus on characterization and optimization of cone beam CT in medicine and dentistry. Preclinical projects include novel techniques and software development for imaging the lungs in models of respiratory disease.
Centre for High-Throughput Phenogenomics - www.phenogenomics.dentistry.ubc.ca
nlford@dentistry.ubc.ca
We study the mechanisms of formation of high density lipoproteins (HDL) in order to develop novel therapies to increase HDL for the treatment and prevention of ischemic vascular disease. Research Interests:HDL, lipoproteins, cholesterol metabolism, cardiovascular risk factors, prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
http://www.hli.ubc.ca/research/PIs/Francis.html
Dr. Soren Gantt
Dr. Gantt’s conducts translational research on the pathogenesis and immunobiology of viral infections during childhood, both in North America and sub-Saharan Africa. This work spans basic immunology and virology, natural history cohort studies, epidemiology, antiviral drug development, and vaccine trials.
sgantt@cfri.ca
Dr. Cathie Garnis
Head and neck malignancies, genetic changes and their relation to clinical behaviours of tumours, DNA and RNA change sin pre-malignant lesions as prognostic biomarkers, targeted therapies.
cgarnis@bccrc.ca
Dr. Alina Gerrie
Dr. Gerrie is a hematologist with the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC and Lymphoma Tumour Group at BC Cancer. She is an Assistant Professor in both the Divisions of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Her research interests included investigating the impact of genetic abnormalities on population-level outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Other academic interests include the investigation of novel therapeutics for CLL and lymphoma, the role of stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and improving long-term outcomes for bone marrow transplant survivors including quality of life and survivorship. Please contact Dr. Alina Gerrie at agerrie@bccancer.bc.ca.
Dr. Aziz Ghahary
The focus of our research interest is : 1) to understand the role of cell-cell interaction in normal and pathologic dermal healing process as well as identifying factors which function as stop signals at the late stage of this process, 2) to develop a shelf ready biological non-rejectable skin substitute to be used not only as a wound coverage bur also as rich source of wound healing promoting factors and 3) to use local immuno-suppressive factors to generate non-rejectable allogenic insulin producing islets in diabetic models.
aghahary@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Cheryl Gregory-Evans
My research is focused on understanding the molecular basis of childhood eye diseases such as ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, aniridia and congenital retinal defects. We use mouse and zebrafish models with genetic defects that mimic the disease characteristics seen in humans. A wide range of therapeutic strategies can be tested in these models in order to find treatments that will be effective in humans. We apply molecular and bioinformatic technologies to study gene regulatory networks of the eye, so we can understand why a defect in one gene affects the regulation of other genes in the eye.
cge30@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Richard Harrigan
The primary goal of the basic research program is to provide novel virological and drug information for HIV-infected British Columbians receiving antiretroviral therapy. Key priorities include understanding and preventing HIV drug resistance, the development, application and evaluation of innovative cost-effective laboratory tests that monitor HIV therapy response and antiretroviral drug toxicities, improving drug adherence through the development and application of laboratory-based tools that accurately detect and report non-adherence, investigation of the relationships between human and viral genetic factors and treatment outcomes, and therapeutic drug monitoring. The research laboratory team includes individuals with expertise in virology, genomics, chemistry, molecular biology and quality assurance systems.
prharrigan@cfenet.ubc.ca
Dr. Kevin Harris
Research Area: Preventive Cardiology; Cardiovascular Outcomes; Interventional Pediatric Cardiology.
As a pediatric cardiologist based at BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, my clinical research program ranges from preventive cardiology – where we evaluate and promote healthy living in children with congenital and non-congenital cardiovascular disease – to interventional pediatric cardiology– where we are interested in optimizing outcomes of interventional cardiac catheterizations and pediatric cardiac surgery.
I am currently seeking a graduate student as part of a large Heart & Stroke Foundation funded research project that investigates the association between vascular health and physical activity in children with complex congenital heart disease. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, contact me via email with a cover letter and curriculum vitae. kharris2@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Keith Humphries
Stem cell regulation, gene transfer, expression gene cloning, cancer biology
khumphri@bccrc.ca
Dr. Kevan Jacobson
Dr Jacobson’s IBD research program is focused on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, understanding the biology of disease, improving diagnostic strategies and enhancing clinical care. His research interests include exploring mechanisms involved in maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in animal models of IBD, the role of diet and enteric neuropeptides in maintenance of and / or enhancing the epithelial interface in animal models of IBD, the epidemiology of pediatric IBD in British Columbia and the role of diagnostic studies in children with IBD.
kjacobson@cw.bc.ca
Dr. William Jia
Virus mediated gene therapy for CNS diseases, oncolytic virotherapy for cancer treatment, drug discovery from natural products
w.jia@ubc.ca
Dr. Xiaoyan Jiang
My research interests are focused on basic and translational leukemia research, particularly human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The ultimate objective is to identify new, rationally designed, molecularly targeted therapies that will be more effective and less toxic than those presently available. Recently, my research group has identified a novel AHI-1-BCR-ABL-JAK2 interaction complex that modulates BCR-ABL transforming activity and imatinib response of CML stem and progenitor cells. Understanding the functions of this new interaction complex could lead to the development of new molecular targeted therapies.
xjiang@bccrc.ca
Dr. Sunil Kalia
My research program has been built around my biostatistics and epidemiology research skills in the area of photodermatology. Photodermatology involves: i) skin diseases caused by electromagnetic radiation such as polymorphous light eruption and skin cancer, ii) utilizing optic devices to diagnose skin conditions such as skin cancer, iii) treatment of skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo, using phototherapy.
kaliaderm@gmail.com
Dr. Aly Karsan
Myelodysplastic syndromes, blood cancers, hematopoiesis, Notch, innate immune signaling.
akarsan@bccrc.ca
Dr. Juergen Kast
Our group studies how different cell types of the human blood and immune system are organized and regulated, and how they communicate and interact with each other. Our current focus is on identifying the mechanisms and factors that lead to inflammatory responses and cause diseases such as arthritis and cardiovascular disease, as this information can then be used to develop possible treatments. In our laboratory, we apply global and targeted proteomic, bioinformatic, chemical and pharmacological as well as molecular and cell biology methods. More information is available on our websites at the Biomedical Research Centre, the Department of Chemistry, and the Centre for Blood Research.
juergen@brc.ubc.ca
Dr. Paul Keown
Immunology, graft rejection, tolerance, transplantation, autoimmunity.
paul.keown@ubc.ca
Dr. Nasreen Khalil
Inhibiting activation of latent TGF-B1
nkhalil@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Karim Khan
Professor Karim Khan is a part of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility - a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment which will be located in the brand new Robert H N Ho building from mid 2011. Karim's research focuses on falls prevention among seniors and he is open to research ideas in the field of 'mobility' broadly - physical activity as the single most important public health activity that persons can adopt! Karim partners with co-supervisors from various disciplines including psychology (behaviour change), health economics and epidemiology.
karim.khan@ubc.ca
Dr. Shannon Kolind
Dr. Kolind earned her PhD in Physics at UBC developing myelin water imaging and its application to the study of multiple sclerosis (MS). She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at FMRIB (University of Oxford) as well as the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. While in the UK, she specialised in developing new methods to image myelin using MRI, and making them more practical for use in research. She then returned to UBC, this time in the Division of Neurology, to become an Assistant Professor. Shannon’s lab is focused on developing a toolbox of tissue-specific imaging techniques. Her multi-disciplinary team employs these multi-modal tools to achieving greater sensitivity and specificity in clinical research; particularly for clinical trials of new therapies.
shannon.kolind@ubc.ca
Dr. Tobias Kollmann
Development of a vaccine system that with only one immunization given at birth will protect from a wide range of specific infectious diseases, as well as from allergies, autoimmune diseases and malignancies, for the entire life.
tkollm@mac.com
Dr. Janel Kopp
Short Research Interests: Identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying development of pancreatic diseases such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Long research interests statement: To examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of pancreatic diseases, we are focused on understanding how specialized cell types of the pancreas are formed and how they contribute to diseases. To do this, we utilize mice to study pancreatic development and model aspects of pancreatic disease. Studies in mice have shown that acinar cells can give rise to ductal adenocarcinoma, but it is unclear what role ductal cells have in the initiation of the disease. Thus far, it has not been possible to address this issue, but we have developed mouse models that induce cancer initiating mutations in each cell type to address this open question and examine how each cell type affects the biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Three different precancerous, or precursor, lesions are thought to precede the formation of pancreatic cancer. Whole genome sequencing of these lesions have provided insights into the mutations that are associated with the disease, but it is unclear what role these mutations have in that initiation and progression of each lesion, particularly the large cystic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia lesions (IPMN). We recently developed a mouse model of IPMN and we will utilize this unique model to examine the impact of these human gene mutations on IPMN development. Pancreatic ductal cells not only provide a conduit for acinar-cell-derived digestive enzymes, but they also create the structural foundation of the entire pancreas. However, it is unclear how proliferation of normal ductal cells are controlled during development to create the proper sized organ. Our initial studies examining the mechanisms regulating proliferation and differentiation in the pancreas will focus on several candidate genes identified by gene expression microarray analysis that may be involved in regulating proliferation and differentiation of ductal cells.
janel.kopp@ubc.ca
Dr. Andrei Krassioukov
Head of the Clinical Autonomic Unit and laboratory at the ICORD/UBC. My laboratory is focusing on evaluation of various autonomic dysfunctions that occur following spinal cord injury. We are specifically interested in elucidation of the mechanisms of the abnormal cardiovascular control. In our research we are using experimental animal models as well as a clinical evaluations of individuals with spinal cord injury.
krassioukov@icord.org
Dr. Michael Krausz
Dr. Krausz’ main interests include the comorbidity of severe mental illness and addiction, especially psychosis and the use of psychotropic substances, and the effective treatment of such conditions.
mkrausz@cheos.ubc.ca
Dr. Gerald Krystal
Growth factors, receptors, signal transduction, cancer biology.
gkrystal@bccrc.ca
Dr. Diane Lacaille
Pharmacoepidemiology and quality of care studies in rheumatoid arthritis; research on evaluating the impact of arthritis on employment and preventing work disability.
dlacaille@arthritisresearch.ca
Dr. Nathan Lack is a Senior Research Scientist at the Vancouver Prostate Centre.
His laboratory works to better understand the molecular underpinnings of prostate cancer to develop more effectively treatments for this common disease. Extensive clinical and basic research has shown that Androgen Receptor (AR)-mediated transcription drives the proliferation and growth of almost all prostate cancers. His group currently studies a diverse group of problems related to AR signaling including:
- Identification of novel small molecule AR inhibitors
- Characterization of non-coding mutations that affect androgen receptor signalling
- Development of novel functional genomic techniques to study AR-mediated transcription
Dr. Stephen Lam
Early detection and chemoprevention of lung cancer.
sclam@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Yvonne Lamers
My enthusiasm for research draws from my interest in the biochemistry and physiology of nutrition-related diseases and in targeted and population-based strategies of chronic disease prevention and optimal health promotion. My research focuses on micronutrients and specifically B-vitamins and their kinetics and functions in human metabolism. B-vitamins are required for normal cell growth and neurological function and thus have an impact on human health from the embryo to the older adult. Low folate and/or vitamin B-12 status may yield pregnancy complications, low birth weight, cancer, and cognitive impairment.
The overarching theme of my research is micronutrient adequacy. My current research projects focus on maternal-fetal nutrient dependency, periconceptional vitamin adequacy, and the role of maternal and infant nutrition on growth and development. In the UBC Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory that I established, my team has set up a wide array of externally validated analytical methods. One of our goals is to identify sensitive nutritional biomarkers for early diagnosis of micronutrient inadequacies. With the use of stable isotope tracer protocols, we are able to investigate metabolic and functional consequences of nutritional inadequacies and micronutrient interactions in various population groups. The studies will help elaborate potential underlying mechanisms responsible for linkages between B-vitamin intake and chronic disease risk and in the evaluation of optimal vitamin intake to maintain biochemical functions.
I am interested in supervising graduate students with strong interests in biochemistry, nutrition, and biomarker analysis. Ideal candidates have strong communication skills for interaction with study participants and have experience or high interest in potential projects with a wet lab component. To read more about our current projects, team members, or highlights, please see: www.vitamins.landfood.ubc.ca
Current opening: 1 PhD position, CIHR-funded project with the goal to develop accessible blood indicators for vitamin B2 (riboflavin) status assessment and identify which most sensitively reflect dietary intakes and food sources of vitamin B2 in adults, using biospecimen and survey data from Canadian and Irish cohort studies. In this international and multidisciplinary project, we will also demonstrate an important health effect of vitamin B2 by investigating its role in modulating blood pressure via a novel gene-nutrient interactive effect.
If interested, please send your resume to yvonne.lamers@ubc.ca.
Dr. Dirk Lange
The research interests in the Lange laboratory are in the area of Endourology, specifically benign urology. Current research interests in the laboratory are: a)Understanding and improving ureteral stent-induced morbidity (biomaterial design to prevent stent-associated urinary tract infections, device encrustation, and patient discomfort. b)Understanding the ureteral response to indwelling stents, kidney stones, and ureteral obstruction. Specifically we are interested in identifying molecular mechanisms that drive ureteral dysfunction associated with indwelling ureteral stents and obstruction, as well as the recovery of normal ureteral function following reversal of the obstruction. c) Understanding the role of the intestinal microbiome in recurrent kidney stone disease.
Current Graduate Student positions available are in the development of novel antifouling coatings for ureteral stents. The position will involve testing the efficacy of novel antifouling coating formulations at preventing fouling of the indwelling device (protein deposition, encrustation, bacterial biofilm formation) in relevant in vitro and in vivo models developed in our laboratory.
Below is some background information regarding the scope of the problem.
Ureteral stenting is one of the most commonly performed procedures in urology to promote urinary drainage from the kidney to the bladder. They are most frequently used in conjunction with procedures to treat kidney stones and for reconstructive surgery of the ureter. Despite their widespread use, ureteral stents are fraught with complications associated with biofouling of the stent material with the most common being infection and encrustation. Studies have shown that up to 90% of stents are colonized with bacteria, despite the use of antibiotics, which is due to pathogenic bacteria being harbored in a protective bacterial biofilm. Encrustation rates rise dramatically with longer indwelling times. As a result, the long-term use of stents is limited, requiring regular stent exchanges and treatment of infections that result in significant patient morbidity and cost to the healthcare system. New materials and coatings to address these complications have not been successful, due to the diversity of bacterial species, significant variability in stent material physical characteristics and the deposition of a urinary conditioning film on the stent surface within minutes of device insertion. This conditioning film is particularly detrimental as it covers any novel material or coating rendering it ineffective, and facilitates bacterial adhesion and encrustation. Therefore, the development of a coating that inhibits a broad spectrum of bacteria in their biofilm state, in addition to overcoming the challenges of conditioning film deposition and encrustation would be a novel approach to prevent stent-associated complications.
dirk.lange@ubc.ca
Dr. Peter Lansdorp
Hemopoietic stem cells, monoclonal antibodies, laser-mediated cell analysis, cancer biology.
plansdor@bccrc.ca
Dr. Pascal Lavoie
Contribution of heritability and inflammation to human neonatal disease. Innate and adaptive neonatal immunity and its impact on chronic lung disease of the prematurely born infant.
plavoie@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Cornelia Laule
Dr. Cornelia (Corree) Laule is a physicist and has been involved with nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research for 20 years. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. Wayne Moore in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine where her research focused on MRI pathology correlation studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue. Dr. Laule was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine in January 2013 and holds a joint appointment between the Department of Radiology and the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
Dr. Laule is interested in understanding the microstructural and pathological determinants which govern T1 and T2 relaxation measures in central nervous system (CNS) tissue. Her primary area of research is multiple sclerosis (MS) and she has extensive experience in imaging both in vivo and post mortem MS brain and spinal cord, with emphasis on characterizing myelin. She also collaborates to study many other CNS applications including schizophrenia, cerebral malaria, bipolar disorder, leukodystrophies, Huntington’s disease, cervical spondylotic myelopathy and spinal cord injury, as well the characterization of normal controls. She is particularly interested in myelin and plans to use biochemical analysis and electron microscopy to understand how variations in myelin composition/structure may influence to MRI measures.
claule@physics.ubc.ca
Dr. Megan Levings
We study interactions between pathogenic and regulatory T cells to understand how immune responses are controlled. We aim to determine how T cells contribute to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and rejection of transplanted cells and tissues, and to devise strategies to restore appropriate immune responses. We conduct translational research with cells from humans in parallel with analysis of T cells in pre-clinical models of transplant rejection and inflammatory bowel disease.
megan.levings@ubc.ca
Dr. Linda Li
Led by Dr. Li, the Arthritis, Joint Health & Knowledge Translation Research Program focuses on optimizing the health of people with arthritis. Current research centers on the help-seeking experience of arthritis patients and the role of digital media for improving the use of effective treatment. Her collaborative work bridges health researchers with computer scientists, designers and visual artist to create and evaluate online tools, such as patient decision aids and interactive programs for coaching people to be physically active. Methods include clinical epidemiology, mixed-methods design, clinical trials and knowledge translation.
lli@arthritisresearch.ca
Dr. Dan Luciani
Diabetes develops when the pancreas does not release enough insulin to lower blood glucose levels after a meal. This happens when the insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas are defective or if the number of β-cells is reduced. Our research group seeks to clarify the mechanisms that link β-cell function, β-cell failure, and various pathways of β-cell death. An area of particular interest to us, is how the cellular machinery that mediates cellular ‘suicide’ may affect normal β-cell function and can control if β-cells adapt or fail during the cellular stress associated with diabetes. We study this from the level of genetic changes to the impact of these on single cell function/failure and the progression of diabetes in mice. In this way we hope to identify and characterize new targets for diabetes prevention and therapy.
dluciani@cfri.ca
Dr. Chinten James Lim
Cell adhesion molecules/integrins, cAMP signaling, protein kinase A. Protein interactions and signal transduction of cell adhesion and migration in physiological and disease states.
cjlim@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose
Defining the role of exercise in promoting healthy aging and preventing cognitive and functional decline among seniors. Currently conducting two randomized controlled trials among seniors at risk for dementia to determine the effect of exercise on cognitive performance, brain function as measured by functional MRI, and physical function. Randomized controlled trials, exercise prescription for seniors, falls prevention, and neuropsychological assessments.
teresa.ambrose@ubc.ca
Dr. Dan Luciani
Diabetes develops when the pancreas does not release enough insulin to lower blood glucose levels after a meal. This happens when the insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas are defective or if the number of β-cells is reduced. Our research group seeks to clarify the mechanisms that link β-cell function, β-cell failure, and various pathways of β-cell death. An area of particular interest to us, is how the cellular machinery that mediates cellular ‘suicide’ may affect normal β-cell function and can control if β-cells adapt or fail during the cellular stress associated with diabetes. We study this from the level of genetic changes to the impact of these on single cell function/failure and the progression of diabetes in mice. In this way we hope to identify and characterize new targets for diabetes prevention and therapy.
dluciani@cfri.ca
Photodynamic therapy, tissue optics, tissue autofluorescence, spectroscropy.
harvey.lui@ubc.ca
Dr. Lucy Marzban
The studies in our research group focus on identifying how pancreatic insulin producing beta cells die in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients and finding new ways to protect beta cells in diabetic patients. In particular, we study the cell death signalling pathways by which non-immune factors such as islet amyloid mediate beta-cell death in type 2 diabetes and in transplanted islets in type 1 diabetic patients.
lucy.marzban@ubc.ca
Dr. Douglas Matsell
The mammalian kidney develops along a complex, predetermined pathway, involving numerous iterative processes, and guided by the recruitment of a number of key genes and their protein products. In general, a number of growth factors, including the insulin-like growth factors, are responsible for both early cell events such as kidney cell determination, and later events such as kidney cell differentiation, development, and survival. We have developed several clinically relevant approaches to study abnormal kidney development, including in vitro experimental models, as well as a mouse and a non-human primate model of obstructive nephropathy.
dmatsell@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Christopher Maxwell
Cell division, chromosomal instability, polarity and differentiation. Our research investigates microtubule organization during cell division and differentiation with translation towards better understanding and treatment of childhood and adult cancers.
cmaxwell@cfri.ubc.ca
Dr. Heather McKay
Dr. McKay is Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Orthopaedics (Divison of Orthopaedic Engineering Research) and Family Practice. Her research targets the relationship between physical activity and bone health across the lifespan including children and older populations of women who are at high risk for osteoporosis, falls and fracture. Current projects include randomized prospective intervention trials that investigate the role of physical activity, other lifestyle factors (diet), genetics and biomechanics on the developing and aging skeleton. Research projects utilize state of the art modalities such as dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, peripheral QCT and magnetic resonance imaging to assess bone health and the bone response to exercise. Her research is currently funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ministry of Health Services and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
heather.mckay@ubc.ca
Dr. Kelly McNagny
Hematopoietic stem cell biology, lineage commitment, transcription factors, adhesion molecules, homing, migration, vertebrate development.
kelly@brc.ubc.ca
Dr. Alice Mui
Signal transduction, gene regulation, transplantation, immunology, immune tolerance.
alice.mui@ubc.ca
Dr. Devki Nandan
Biochemistry and cell biology of host-pathogen interactions, emphasis on cell-signaling associated events in human macrophages.
dnandan@mail.ubc.ca
The primary focus of Dr. Ong's research program is to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern the progression of prostate cancer from a state of androgen sensitivity to hormone independence with the hope of developing novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or delay the progression of prostate cancer to androgen independence. His primary focus has been on the PTEN tumour suppressor gene, which is among the most frequently mutated genes in cancer. Dr. Ong's laboratory is also involved in the development of unique prostate tumour model systems which are used to characterize the function of a number of genes in normal and malignant prostate biology.
chris.ong@ubc.ca
Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs): Signal transduction, structure/function, regulation, and roles in human disease.
cpallen@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos
Dr. Panagiotopoulos is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and an Endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital where she also serves as the Medical Director for both the Type 2 Diabetes/Insulin Resistance Clinic and the Provincial Mental Health Metabolic Program. She completed her medical school training at Queen’s University, Pediatrics Residency at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and Endocrinology fellowship at the University of British Columbia. Her research spans both forms of diabetes. In the area of type 2 diabetes, her research focus is on vulnerable and "at-risk" populations – including Aboriginal youth, and children with mental health challenges. She led the first Canadian studies documenting the high prevalence of metabolic side-effects secondary to second-generation antipsychotic treatment in children and youth with mental illness. These data were so compelling that the Provincial Health Services Authority funded the Provincial Mental Health Metabolic Program at BC Children’s Hospital, the first clinic of its kind in the world where children with mental illness can now receive comprehensive multidisciplinary physical and mental health care. She is the Clinical Core Leader of the CIHR New Emerging Team in Childhood Autoimmunity at BC Children’s Hospital, where she has developed a provincial biobank/ clinical registry for childhood type 1 diabetes. She also serves as the Vancouver Affiliate PI for TrialNet, a multicentre international research effort to understand the natural history of type 1 diabetes.
dpanagiotopoulos@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Steven Pelech
Protein kinase network analyses, phosphoproteomics, protein microarrays, systems biology, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cancer, cell cycle.
spelech@shaw.ca
Dr. Steve Plotkin’s research group does research at the interface of physics and biology. Their interests range from the study of dynamics and disorder in the theory of protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation, to DNA function and dynamics, to studies of pattern formation and symmetry breaking in morphogenesis.
steve@phas.ubc.ca
Dr. Quon’s research program is focused on improving health outcomes in cystic fibrosis. He is developing novel blood biomarkers to improve cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbation outcomes. He is also involved in several national and international clinical trials and epidemiological studies examining novel therapeutics, infections, and health outcomes in cystic fibrosis.
Dr. Simon Rabkin
Cardiac cell culture, cardiac signal transduction, cardiac hypertrophy and necrosis.
rabkin@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Gregor Reid
Our research aims to define the interactions between the immune system and cancer cells and to use this knowledge to design effective new immune-based treatments. Our primary focus is pediatric leukemia and we use a variety of in vitro and in vivo approaches to identify the components of a protective immune response against disease progression and to design strategies to induce such activity in patients.
grogreid@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Neil Reiner
Macrophage cell regulation, molecular microbial pathogenesis (leishmania, mycobacteria and salmonella) and macrophage host defense mechanisms.
nreiner@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Jeremy Road
Clinical and basic studies in respiratory muscle injury; clinical studies and trials in respiratory neuromuscular disease and inhaled nitric oxide.
Jeremy.Road@vch.ca
Dr. Chris Ryerson
Dr. Ryerson is a clinician researcher in the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at UBC and St. Paul's Hospital. Dr. Ryerson's research interests include prognostication and non-pharmacologic management of interstitial lung disease. His research is primarily aimed at identifying management strategies to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with interstitial lung disease.
Publications: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=ryerson+cj.
chris.ryerson@hli.ubc.ca
Dr. Manish Sadarangani
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics,UBC. Director, Vaccine Evaluation Center, BCCH
Email: msadarangani@cfri.ca
Research Areas
- Vaccines and immunization including vaccine development, clinical trials and epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases
- Meningococcal disease
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- The influence of the human microbiota on infection and immunity
Summary
The aim of our research at the Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC) is to lower the burden of childhood infectious disease through vaccination by building an evidence base for local, national and international vaccine policy. My research program includes laboratory studies to develop new and better vaccines, clinical trials to identify how best to utilize new and approved vaccines, and population-based investigations to identify targets for new vaccines and demonstrate vaccine impact.
Dr. Bill Salh
Gastrointestinal cancer biology, signaling, cell-cycle.
bill.salh@ubc.ca
Dr. Andrew Sandford
Genetic basis of obstructive lung disease, infants at high risk for developing allergic diseases, genetic risk factors, genetic factors that affect the rate of decline of lung function, genetic factors that modulate pulmonary disease severity in cystic fibrosis.
andrew.sandford@hli.ubc.ca
Christian G. Schütz, MD, PhD, MPH, FRCPC is Professor of Psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, UBC in Canada. Trained in Medicine (MD at Freiburg University, Germany), Humanities (PhD at Munich University, Germany), and Public Health (MPH at Johns Hopkins University, USA) he further completed a Fogarty-Fellowship at NIDA/NIH and a DISCA-Fellowship at Yale University. He has published more than 150 peer reviewed articles, and more than a dozen book chapters, mainly on substance use and concurrent disorders. His works clinically at Red Fish Healing Centre and conducts research on treatment infrastructure, clinical interventions (clinical trials, cohorts), and neurobiological mechanism underlying transdiagnostic mechanism such as cognitive control (fMRI and EEG). A recent focus has been psychedelic assisted psychotherapy for substance use disorders.
Dr. Alexander Scott
Musculoskeletal biology.
ascott@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Chun Seow
Smooth and striated muscle physiology and pathophysiology, actomyosin crossbridge interaction, mechanical function and ultrastructure, biochemistry and energetics of muscle contraction, airway smooth muscle plasticity, asthma.
CSeow@mrl.ubc.ca
Dr. Jerry Shapiro
Molecular mechanisms controlling normal and disordered follicular growth, autoimmunity and endocrine effects within the hair follicle.
shapiro@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Christopher A. Shaw
Environmental toxicity and neurological diseases - gene-toxin interactions -ALS-PDC as a model neurological disease cluster - early phase therapeutics to prevent neurodegeneration. My laboratory's key focus over the last few years has been on the unusual neurological disease of Guam and the Western Pacific, ALS-parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS-PDC).
cashawlab@gmail.com
Dr. Joanie Sims-Gould
Dr. Sims-Gould is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice at UBC. She is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar. Dr. Sims-Gould works with diverse stakeholders to ensure that her research reflects real needs (and questions) and that the findings are ‘brought back’ in a format that is usable. She has a strong commitment to knowledge mobilization. The research questions that she addresses can be captured within 3 broad themes; 1. Experiences of marginalized frail older adults within the Canadian health care system, their families and those health care practitioners who work with them; 2. Delivery of home/community based health care and the experiences of unregulated workers who provide the bulk of this care; 3. Intersection between older adult health, socio-economic status and the built environment. Joanie is a registered social worker in British Columbia.If you are interested in joining any of Dr. Sims-Gould's research teams, please email her with your areas of interest and your current curriculum vitae.
Dr. Sims-Gould webpage.
Dr. Donald Sin
Understanding the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and developing novel blood biomarkers to track disease progression and prognosis and to assess therapeutic efficacy of novel drugs
don.sin@hli.ubc.ca
Dr. Laura Sly
Inflammatory bowel disease, macrophage, the innate immune system and inflammation.
laurasly@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Terrance Snutch
Molecular and physiological basis of signaling in both normal and diseased nervous systems.
snutch@msl.ubc.ca
Dr. Alan I. So
Senior Research Scientist, Vancouver Prostate Centre, Associate Professor, Department of Urologic Sciences, UBC.
Dr. Alan So's research focuses on the study of development of novel therapeutics for bladder cancer. He has characterized the functional role of different survival genes (including clusterin and Hsp27) in different tumor models (prostate, breast, lung, and bladder) in cancer progression. His current research projects focuses on: 1)discovery and development of novel agents to treat bladder cancer; 2) development of the mechanisms of treatment resistance in renal cell carcinoma and most recent project 3) 3D bioprinting of bladder cancer tumors as a platform for personalized medicine, involving tissue engineering and regeneration. He is active in clinical trials across Canada and is a member of National Cancer Institute of Canada GU Clinical Trials Group and Canadian Uro-Oncology Group. Currently, he leads the Clinical Trials Unit at the Vancouver Prostate Cancer and is the Chair of the Urology Surgical Tumour Group at the BC Cancer Agency.
Contact information: The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Robert H.N.Ho Research Building Rm 265 - 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H 3Z6 - 604-874-5681 Fax: 604-875-5654
dralanso@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Syam Somasekharan is an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a senior research scientist at the Vancouver Prostate Centre. Graduating with a PhD in biochemistry at the Indian Institute of Science, Dr. Somasekharan proceeded to do his post-doctoral fellowships at the Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva and the Department of Pathology, UBC, investigating the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and mRNA translation. After his post-doctoral research, Dr. Somasekharan received the Early Career Research Award from the Government of India and served as a Ramanujan Fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology.
Dr. Somasekharan’s laboratory is located at the Vancouver Prostate Centre and focuses on RNA biology. The laboratory is particularly interested in interdisciplinary research to understand the molecular mechanism of regulation of RNA in health and disease. Current research programs in the Somasekharan laboratory include:
(1) the relationship between RNA granule machinery and prostate cancer treatment resistance,
(2) the role of epitranscriptomic (m6A) RNA modifications in the translational regulation of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA,
(3) the mechanism of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of intrinsically disordered proteins - G3BP1, FMRP and YTHDF3- and RNA,
(4) molecular mechanisms of the control of gene expression at multiple levels - mRNA synthesis, transport, translation, localisation and degradation, and
(5) multiomics approach to profile RNA granules and define selective mRNA translation.
Dr. Sian Spacey
The genetics of neurological disease.
spacey@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Theodore Steiner
Diarrheal diseases and intestinal inflammation, with specific focus on the inflammatory responses to bacterial flagellin through toll-like receptor 5.
tsteiner@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Jon Stoessl
Experimental neuropharmacology, basal ganglia, Parkinson’s, movement disorders.
jstoessl@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Heather Sutherland
Acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, hematopoietic stem cell assays, bone marrow transplantation.
HSutherl@bccancer.bc.ca
Dr. Isabella Tai
Molecular pathogenesis of gastrointestinal malignancies and mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance, with a specific focus on key genes identified by microarray gene expression analysis; cancer genomics.
itai@bcgsc.ca
Dr. Tricia S. Tang
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology; 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room #10211, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
My research is focused diabetes prevention and control in high-risk and medically underserved communities. Currently, I have research studies investigating peer support models in improving and sustaining diabetes self-management efforts among South Asian adults with type 2 diabetes in a community-based setting as well as ethnically diverse patients with type 2 diabetes presenting to a specialty care setting. I am also involved in a project designing a virtual fitness center that provide culturally and linguistically-specific tools and resources for Punjabi and Hindi speaking South Asian adults at risk or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Tricia.tang@vch.ca
Dr. Scott Tebbutt
Dr. Tebbutt’s research program is focused on the genomics of complex respiratory disease, including the early and late reactions in allergic asthma. He also leads a multidisciplinary collaboration to investigate interactions between fungal spores and human airway cells. His research combines hypothesis-driven study of biological mechanisms with the development of advanced tools and technology (including bioinformatics and microfluidics-based systems) to better facilitate basic and translational research. Dr. Tebbutt is also Chief Scientific Officer for the Prevention of Organ Failure (PROOF) Centre of Excellence. The PROOF Centre a not-for-profit society established in 2008, which discovers, validates, qualifies and implements biomarkers for prediction, diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic guidance for patients with organ failure (http://www.proofcentre.ca/).
scott.tebbutt@hli.ubc.ca
Research interests: epidemiology; health services research; methodology; substance use disorders; viral hepatitis; HIV; human syndemics
Lianping (Mint) Ti, PhD
Research Scientist & Health Administrative Data Lead
BC Centre on Substance Use
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar
Email: lianping.ti@bccsu.ubc.ca
Dr. Cindy Toze
Research Interests:
- Allogeneic Transplantation for Lymphoid Malignancies
- Cytomegalovirus in allogeneic HSCT
- Decision and cost analysis
- Epidemiologic Issues
- Follicular and indolent lymphoma and transformed NHL
- Hematologic malignancies
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
- Long-Term Outcomes of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Email: Dr. Cindy Toze
Dr. Helen Tremlett
Multiple sclerosis, pharmacoepidemiology, epidemiology, natural history, predictors of disease, adverse drug reactions, safety, health outcomes.
helen.tremlett@ubc.ca
Dr. Joseph Tsui
Dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders.
jtsui@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Stuart Turvey
My research program is translational, interdisciplinary and unique in its focus on understanding the role of innate immunity in infectious and inflammatory diseases of childhood. Starting with a population of children with a defined infectious or inflammatory disease phenotype (e.g. undue susceptibility to infection, juvenile idiopathic arthritis), I aim to determine the underlying cellular, molecular and genetic abnormalities responsible for the disease through detailed immunological, genomic and proteomic analysis. The new knowledge generated by this approach will aid diagnosis, elucidate mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and, ultimately, identify novel targets for anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious therapeutic agents.
sturvey@cw.bc.ca
Dr. T. Michael Underhill
Dr. Underhill's research interests involve understanding how changes at themolecular level influence cell fate decisions and the subsequent series of events that are involved in establishment of a skeleton. The initial focus of his research was on understanding the importance of retinoic acid receptor-mediated signaling in chondrogenesis. Its scope has now broadened to include analysis of numerous factors in skeletal development. These studies involve extensive use of microarray-based strategies coupled with functioning profiling to delineate the genetic programs underlying chondrogenesis. Similar strategies are also being employed to identify the transcriptional networks operating within the osteogenic program. Knowledge gained from these studies will determine the molecular basis of human congenital skeletal defects and potentially lead to novel therapeutic avenues to promote bone and cartilage formation for the treatment of skeletal diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis.
tunderhi@brc.ubc.ca
Dr. Bruce Vallance
Innate immune responses against mucosal bacterial pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract, role of intestinal epithelial cells and dendritic cells in intestinal host defense, role of bacteria in causing chronic intestinal inflammation, Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
bvallance@cw.bc.ca
Dr. Peter van den Elzen
Immunology, T cells, B cells, autoimmunity, lipid antigens, apolipoproteins, atherosclerosis, antigen presentation, flow cytometry.
pvde@mail.ubc.ca
Dr. Clara Van Karnebeek
In the TIDE-BC program (www.tidebc.org), I integrate my clinical work as certified pediatrician-biochemical geneticist with research as scientist at the CMMT, to promote early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment of neurometabolic diseases in children presenting with intellectual developmental disorders. I am the medical director of the TIDE Complex Diagnostic Clinic and the CAUSES genomics Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital. Furthermore, my international team applies genomic and metabolomics technologies to discover novel genetic conditions (e.g. carbonic anhydrase VA deficiency). I have a special interest in the treatment of pyridoxine dependent epilepsy, and the use of digital tools to enhance rare disease care, including the Metabolic Diet App suite (www.mdapp.org).
cvankarnebeek@cw.bc.ca
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UBC. As a Clinician-Scientist, I have a strong interest in conducting translational research that bridges our understanding on the neurobiology of psychiatric illnesses with the clinical applications of this knowledge. I am particularly interested in applying this strategy to severe psychiatric disorders such as refractory psychosis and treatment resistant depression. My clinical practice is actively focused in those most severely afflicted by such conditions, and my research interests are directed at finding novel therapeutic interventions within Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies (NINETs) that can help mitigate the suffering of those with severe and refractory forms of psychosis and depression. I strongly believe that understanding NINETs’ mechanism(s) of action is a critical step towards translating this knowledge to clinical practice. More important, translating that knowledge to clinical practice will have a direct, immediate, and positive impact on the life’s of those who struggle and suffer the most devastating forms of mental illness and their families.
In the lab we actively investigate on ECT, TMS, tDCS as well as utilize EEG, fNIRS, TMS-EEG, and MRI imaging spanning from sMRI, fMRI, MRS, and DTI. The lab is also the only centre in Canada to host both simultaneous TMS-fMRI and tDCS-fMRI capability.
The lab has received support from CIHR and Brain Canada for investigator-initiated research projects on the use of Non-Invasive neurotsimulation therapies."
Dr. Keith Walley
Cardiac respiratory physiopathology.
kwalley@mrl.ubc.ca
Dr. Yu Tian Wang
Intracellular trafficking and plasma membrane expression of ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors, synaptic plasticity and neurotoxicity in stroke and epilepsy.
ytwang@brain.ubc.ca
Dr. Darren Warburton
Cardiovascular Physiology, Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation, Childhood Health, Sports Medicine, Health Status in High Risk Populations.
darren.warburton@ubc.ca
Dr. West is a translational research scientist who investigates the autonomic and cardiorespiratory consequences of SCI. His research traverses the discovery science-clinical spectrum: at the discovery science level, he investigates the mechanisms that underpin cardiac and vascular adaptations to exercise, and at the clinical level, he works with Paralympic athletes to investigate the limitations to exercise performance. Major techniques in his basic science laboratory include direct in vivo cardiac catheterization, nerve recordings, and high-frequency ultrasound. Major techniques in his clinical research laboratory include exercise stress testing, autonomic testing, cardiac and vascular ultrasound.
west@icord.org
Dr. Mark Wilkinson
The Wilkinson Laboratory is investigating ways to bridge the "usability gap" between clinical and molecular health researchers, and the data and bioinformatics analysis tools that they require day-by-day that enable discovery of causes, cures, preventions, and interventions.
markw@illuminae.com
Dr. Alexander Wyatt
Computational Cancer Biology
The Wyatt laboratory studies the genomics of lethal prostate cancer, performing a variety of innovative next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics techniques on clinical specimens including tissue and liquid biopsies. Research is closely integrated with the clinic through several ongoing clinical trials with heavy correlative components and Canada’s first precision medicine trial for advanced prostate cancer. Ultimately, our research will facilitate development of a suite of predictive biomarkers to allow selection of the best therapy for each patient. Available projects are focused on bioinformatics interpretation of deep sequencing data obtained from patients in real-time. Read more: http://blogs.ubc.ca/wyattlab/
Dr. Sonia Yeung
My research interest is in the characterization of ocular surface limbal stem cells for treatment of ocular surface diseases, and also the transformation of ocular surface limbal stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. My research also involves characterizing corneal endothelial cells to better understand the pathology of corneal endothelial diseases such as Fuchs dystrophy.
sonia.y@gmail.com
Dr. Haishan Zeng
Biomedical optics, photobiology, photomedicine, optical spectroscopy and imaging for early cancer detection.
hzeng@bccrc.ca
Dr. Youwen Zhou
The Molecular Medicine Lab aims to translate the latest advances in biomarker research into clinical applications. The experimental approaches used include expression genomics, next generation sequencing, molecular genetics techniques, and retroviral mediated gene transfer.
youwen.zhou@ubc.ca
Dr. Amina Zoubeidi
Dr. Amina Zoubeidi's ongoing research efforts focus on signal transduction mediated regulation of prostate cancer progression, with emphasis on the importance of heat shock protein and kinases, and applying that research to develop and investigate novel therapeutic strategies to fight advanced prostate cancer.
azoubeidi@prostatecentre.com