March 4, 2021 

##  [UBC researchers attract $25.6m in funding through CIHR Project Grants Fall 2020 Competition](/CIHR-PG-Fall2020) 

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have funded 354 research grants for a total investment of approximately $274m through the Project Grants: Fall 2020 competition.

In addition, 97 priority announcement grants were funded to a total amount of $9,575,000 and 11 supplemental prizes were awarded for a total of $296,500.

[SEE THE CIHR SUMMARY](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52355.html)

**UBC researchers attracted a total of $25.6m for 41 projects.**

- Thirty-three UBC-led projects received Project Grant funding totaling $24.8m
- Eight UBC-led projects received priority announcement grants totaling $775,000

#### UBC-led Project Grants 

1. [**Materials and Technologies for Highly Sensitive Biomarker Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles Toward Cancer Diagnostics**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433427&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Algar, Walter (Chemistry); Williams, Karla (Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
     CIHR Funding: $367,200 (3 yrs)
2. [**Transcriptional programs of synapse maturation**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433878&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Allan, Douglas (Cellular and Physiological Sciences)  
     CIHR Funding: $856,800 (5 yrs)
3. [**Prostate cancer risk stratification for active surveillance using computer-aided analysis of histopathology and transcriptomics**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433061&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Bashashati, Ali (Biomedical Engineering); Black, Peter (Urologic Sciences); Goldenberg, Larry (Urologic Sciences); Salcudean, Septimiu (Electrical and Computer Engineering)  
     CIHR Funding: $906,525 (5 yrs)
4. [**Uncovering early mediators of lineage plasticity and validation of a metabolic vulnerability in neuroendocrine prostate cancer**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=435097&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Collins, Colin (Urologic Sciences)  
     CIHR Funding: $1,147,500 (5 yrs)
5. [**Correcting early vascular dysfunction to improve cardiovascular outcomes in type 1 diabetes**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433886&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Devlin, Angela (Pediatrics); Bernatchez, Pascal (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics*)*; Panagiotopoulos, Constadina (Pediatrics)  
     CIHR Funding: $841,500 (5 yrs)
6. [**Evaluating the psychometric properties and help-seeking impact of HEARTSMAP-U: a digital psychosocial self-assessment and navigational support application for post-secondary students.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433184&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Doan, Quynh (Pediatrics)  
     CIHR Funding: $554,624 (4 yrs)
7. [**Perinatal Anxiety Disorders Screening Study**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433861&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Fairbrother, Nichole (Psychiatry)  
     CIHR Funding: $684,676 (4 yrs)
8. [**Mechanisms of potassium channel activator action on Kv7.1 ion channel complexes.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433343&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Fedida, David (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics)  
     CIHR Funding: $971,550 (5 yrs)
9. [**Opioid Overdose-Related Cardiac Arrest: What are the Best Interventions?**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433538&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Grunau, Brian (Emergency Medicine); Buxton, Jane (School of Population and Public Health); Christenson, James (Emergency Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $283,051 (3 yrs)
10. [**Protein phase separation: A new mechanism of protein function regulation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433426&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Gsponer, Joerg (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology); Mcintosh, Lawrence (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Chemistry)  
     CIHR Funding: $887,400 (5 yrs)
11. [**Treating Children with Arthritis According to their Individual Probability of Outcomes and Response to Treatments - The PERSON-JIA Trial**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=435304&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Guzman, Jaime (Pediatrics)  
     CIHR Funding: $455,175 (5 yrs)
12. [**Cytokine networks controlling myeloid cell mediated immunosuppression in colon cancer.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=435727&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Harder, Kenneth (Microbiology and Immunology)  
     CIHR Funding: $822,375 (5 yrs)
13. [**Evaluating the impact of a mandatory switching policy for biosimilars**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433433&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Harrison, Mark (Pharmaceutical Sciences); Bansback, Nicholas (School of Population and Public Health)  
     CIHR Funding: $298,350 (3 yrs)
14. [**Dissecting aging associated epigenetic contributions to breast cancer**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=435291&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Hirst, Martin (Microbiology and Immunology)  
     CIHR Funding: $1,059,525 (5 yrs)
15. [**Lentiviral infusion as a universal approach for genetically modified immune effector cell therapies.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=435855&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Holt, Rob (Medical Genetics)  
     CIHR Funding: $642,600 (4 yrs)
16. [**Using Indigenous Land-Based Education And Practices To Improve The Health And Wellness Among Vancouver Urban Indigenous Population.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433435&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Jovel, Eduardo (Land and Food Systems)  
     CIHR Funding: $252,450 (3 yrs)
17. [**Women supporting women using local solutions to improve infant and young child feeding and care practices in Punjab, Pakistan**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=434326&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Kassam, Rosemin (School of Population and Public Health)  
     CIHR Funding: $799,425 (5 yrs)
18. [**Minimally-invasive device and bioabsorbable hemostatic powder for managing non-compressible torso hemorrhage**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433906&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Kastrup, Christian (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology / Michael Smith Laboratories)  
     CIHR Funding: $455,176 (4 yrs)
19. [**Novel Infection Resistant Coating in an Era of Drug Resistant Bacteria for the Treatment and Prevention of Medical Device Infection**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433420&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Kizhakkedathu, Jayachandran (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine); Lange, Dirk (Urologic Sciences)  
     CIHR Funding: $520,199 (3 yrs)
20. [**Identifying the impact of cannabis use on mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minority youth: A mixed-methods study**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433719&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Knight, Rodney (Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $478,126 (3 yrs)
21. [**Targeting CD47 in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433765&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Lim, Chinten James (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $1,028,925 (5 yrs)
22. [**SuPA Mobility: Supporting Physical Activity to Promote Mobility in Mobility-Limited Older Adults**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433108&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Liu-Ambrose, Teresa (Physical Therapy); Davis, Jennifer (Faculty of Management, UBCO); Li, Linda (Physical Therapy)  
     CIHR Funding: $631,128 (6 yrs)
23. [**In silico Design of Precision Electrical Stimuli for Electrical Vestibular Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=435586&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Mckeown, Martin (Medicine/Neurology)  
     CIHR Funding: $841,270 (5 yrs)
24. [**High Resolution Structure of Human ABCA4, an ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) Lipid Importer Associated with Inherited Retinal Degenerative Diseases**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433524&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Molday, Robert (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)  
     CIHR Funding: $918,000 (5 yrs)
25. [**Role of Female Sex Hormones on Aging in Women Living with HIV.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433027&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Murray, Melanie (Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $382,500 (5 yrs)
26. [**Using super-resolution microscopy to define the role of caveolin-1 in cancer**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433430&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Nabi, Ivan (Cellular and Physiological Sciences)  
     CIHR Funding: $910,350 (5 yrs)
27. [**Promoting Health Equity Through Anti-Colonial Health Systems Transformation: The xacqanal itkinil (Many Ways of Working on the Same Thing) Research Project**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=434603&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Shahram, Sana (Nursing)  
     CIHR Funding: $956,250 (5 yrs)
28. [**Novel antibiotic therapies that target bacterial energetic systems**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433902&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Tokuriki, Nobuhiko (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology / Michael Smith Laboratories)  
     CIHR Funding: $956,250 (5 yrs)
29. [**Tissue-resident mesenchymal progenitors and aging**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=433845&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Underhill, Michael (Cellular and Physiological Sciences)  
     CIHR Funding: $971,550 (5 yrs)
30. [**Evaluating the potential of blood biomarkers to improve Alzheimer's Disease risk stratification**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=434184&lang=en)  
     UBC PI(s): Wellington, Cheryl (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine); Brooks-Wilson, Angela (Medical Genetics); Hsiung, Ging-Yuek Robin (Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $1,503,224 (4 yrs)
31. **Somatic mutations in the JAK-STAT and IRF signaling pathways in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma**  
     UBC PI(s): Steidl, Christian (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $1,120,725  (5 yrs)
32. **Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT): arrhythmogenic mechanisms and personalized intervention**  
     UBC PI(s): Tibbits, Glen (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $924,120  (5 yrs)
33. **Phototherapy to modulate regulatory T cells and prevent autoimmune disease**  
     UBC PI(s): Dutz, Jan (Dermatology and Skin Science)  
     CIHR Funding: $382,499  (3 yrs)

[Full list of Project Grant recipients](http://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/main.html?lang=en#fq=%7B!tag=competitioncd%7Dcompetitioncd%3A202010PJT&sort=namesort%20asc&start=0&rows=20)

#### UBC-led Project Grants: Priority Announcements

1. [**Technologies for Home Medication Vigilance and Protection (TEC4Home MVP)**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=437712&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Health Services and Policy Research*  
     UBC PI(s): Ho, Kendall (Emergency Medicine)  
     CIHR Funding: $50,000 / Canadian Medical Association (Ottawa) Funding: $50,000
2. [**Advancing virtual care in stroke rehabilitation: TeleRehabilitation with Aims to Improve Lower Extremity Recovery Post-Stroke (TRAIL)**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=438171&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Health Services and Policy Research*  
     UBC PI(s): Sakakibara, Brodie (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy)  
     CIHR Funding: $50,000 / Canadian Medical Association (Ottawa) Funding: $50,000
3. [**The CART PREG-Epi Study: Pandemic Reproductive health and health Equity- Guidance from Epidemiology to improve reproductive, perinatal, and maternal mental health and substance use care**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=443035&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Population and Public Health - Public Health Systems*  
     UBC PI(s): Norman, Wendy  (Family Practice)  
     CIHR Funding: $100,000
4. [**Toward Equity- and Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice in Global Health Research**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=442942&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Population and Public Health - Global Health Policy*  
     UBC PI: Plamondon, Katrina (School of Nursing UBCO)  
     CIHR Funding: $100,000
5. ['**What Matters' - A digital solution to support person-centered care for people with dementia in care settings**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=437429&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Patient-Oriented Research: Early-Career Investigator*  
     UBC PI: Hung, Lillian (Nursing)  
     CIHR Funding: $100,000
6. [**Teaching by Texting to Promote Healthy Behaviours in Pregnancy**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=437769&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Healthy pregnancy/early child dev. in Indigenous contexts*  
     UBC PI: Janssen, Patricia (School of Population and Public Health)  
     CIHR Funding: $100,000
7. [**Every maternal death counts: understanding driving safety in pregnant and post-partum women**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=437861&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts​*  
     UBC PI: Hutcheon, Jennifer (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)  
     CIHR Funding: $75,000
8. [**Elucidating the novel roles of a gap junction protein in the spatial arrangement of synapses**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=437720&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Genetics*  
     UBC PI: Mizumoto, Kota (Zoology)  
     CIHR Funding: $100,000

[Full list of Institute Priority Announcement grant recipients](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52358.html)



 

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