July 19, 2024 

##  [UBC researchers leading projects awarded $34.2 million through CIHR Project Grants Spring 2024 Competition](/CIHR-PG-Spring24) 

July 18, 2024

A total of 52 projects led by UBC researchers were awarded $34.2 million in combined funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant: Spring 2024 competition.

- UBC researchers are leading 39 projects awarded Project Grants totaling $32.9 million
- 13 projects led by UBC researchers were awarded Priority Announcement Grants totaling $1.3 million

On a national level, CIHR approved a total of 373 research grants, for a total investment of approximately $325 million. In addition, 68 priority announcement grants were funded for a total amount of $7,600,000 and 5 supplemental prizes were awarded for a total of $210,000

   
[CIHR PROJECT GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53975.html)

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#### UBC-Led Project Grants

1. **Abdelrahman, Khaled**  (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics)  
    [The contribution of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 to cerebral blood flow homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500374&lang=en)
2. **Altshuler, Douglas** (Zoology)  
    [Visual control of complex locomotion by the cerebellum](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501549&lang=en)
3. **Bally, Marcel** (Experimental Therapeutics)  
    Co-PI(s): **Evgin, Laura**  (Medical Genetics)  
    [Copper Associated Immunogenic Cell Death: Improving the Therapeutic Potential of Immune Check Point Inhibitors for the Treatment of Metastatic Bladder Cancer](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=502112&lang=en)
4. **Bashashati, Ali** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
    Co-PI(s): **Black, Peter**  (Urological Sceinces); **Wang, Gang** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
    [aRtificial intelligence-driven computational pathology platform for blAdder Cancer subTyping (REACT)](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=499749&lang=en)
5. **Bergstrom, Kirk** (Biology, UBC Okanagan)  
    [Mechanisms and therapeutic potential of microbial-driven mucus production by proximal colon goblet cells in colitis](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501975&lang=en)
6. **Brubacher, Jeffrey** (Emergency Medicine)  
    [The impact of 12-hour overnight shifts on nurses' driving safety: A high-fidelity driver simulator study.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=499797&lang=en)
7. **Brubacher, Jeffrey** (Emergency Medicine)  
    [The impact of medical cannabis on driving safety: A driving simulation study.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=498990&lang=en)
8. **Daugaard, Mads** (Urologic Sciences)  
    [An integrated AI-powered platform for cell analytics](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501604&lang=en)
9. **De Boer, Carl** (School of Biomedical Engineering)   
    [Identifying altered gene regulatory network states and underlying mechanisms in atrial fibrillation, a model polygenic disease](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501542&lang=en)
10. **Dong, Xuesen** (Urologic Sciences)  
    [Lin28b as a therapeutic target for prostate cancer progression](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500423&lang=en)
11. **Eng, Janice** (Physical Therapy)  
    Co-PI(s): **Manyanga, Taru** (Physical Therapy); **Pollock, Courtney** (Physical Therapy); **Sakakibara, Brodie** (Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy / Southern Medical Program,  UBC Okanagan)  
    [Implementation research to improve scale-up of the delivery of evidence-based community exercise programs for stroke](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500245&lang=en)
12. **Fedida, David** (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics)  
    [Mechanisms of potassium channel arrhythmias](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500073&lang=en)
13. **Francis, Gordon** (Medicine)  
    [Arterial smooth muscle cell lysosomal acid lipase as a novel target for atherosclerosis treatment and prevention](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501379&lang=en)
14. **Frangou, Sophia** (Psychiatry)  
    [Network-Brain Age: Enhancing spatial precision of accelerated aging](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501144&lang=en)
15. **Gill, John** (Nephrology)  
    Co-PI(s): **Lan, James** (Nephrology); Suri, Rita (McGill University)  
    [A prospective interventional study to prevent allosensitization in patients who have failed a first kidney transplant](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500172&lang=en)
16. **Hackett, Tillie-Louise** (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics)  
    Co-PI(s): **Ryerson, Christopher** (Medicine)  
    [Integration of multi-resolution imaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of fibrotic interstitial lung diseases](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500597&lang=en)
17. **Hanley, Gillian** (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)  
    [Long term development in children exposed in utero to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and stimulant medication](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500076&lang=en)
18. **Huntsman, David** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
    [DICER1 tumour predisposition syndrome: dissecting the oncogenic mechanisms with a novel lineage-trackable genetically engineered mouse model](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500247&lang=en)
19. **Ibrahim, Mohamed** (School of Social Work)  
    [Strengthening mental health services through enhancing the capacity of health workers in Somalia (MH Care-Somalia)](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500586&lang=en)
20. **Jamieson, Amy** (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)  
    Co-PI(s): **McAlpine, Jessica** (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)  
    [STRIVE Study: STRatIfication of Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma by HPV and p53 status to guide Excision](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500847&lang=en)
21. **Karim, Mohammad** (School of Population and Public Health)  
    [Developing an Epidemiological Tool for Early Detection: A Risk Prediction Algorithm for Prodromal Multiple Sclerosis](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500107&lang=en)
22. **Kizhakkedathu, Jayachandran** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
    Co-PI(s): **Withers, Stephen** (Chemistry)  
    [Transfusion Without Blood Typing: Enzymatic Glycoengineering Towards 'True' Universal Blood](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500194&lang=en)
23. **Li, Hongbin** (Chemistry)  
    [Molecular Mechanism for the Regulation of Titin Elasticity and Myocardial Stiffness by Oxidative Stress](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=499623&lang=en)
24. **Lima, Viviane** (Medicine)  
    Co-PI(s): Brumme, Zabrina (Simon Fraser University)  
    [Persistent Low-Level HIV Viremia During Antiretroviral Therapy: Origins and Clinical Consequences](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500012&lang=en)
25. **McNagny, Kelly** (Medical Genetics / School of Biomedical Engineering)  
    [Neonatal ILCs Sculpt Long-term Adult Immune Response](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500240&lang=en)
26. **Michalak, Erin** (Psychiatry)  
    Co-PI(s): **Barnes, Steven** (Psychology)  
    [Evaluating the efficacy of the PolarUs app on quality of life outcomes in people with bipolar disorder](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501059&lang=en)
27. **Moritz, Orson** (Ophthalmology)  
    [Genetic and environmental modulators of disease mechanisms in retinitis pigmentosa.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500938&lang=en)
28. **Pesut, Barbara** (School of Nursing, UBC Okanagan)  
    Co-PI(s): **Hassan, Eman** (Medicine); Seow, Hsien-Yeang (McMaster University)  
    [Evaluating a Compassionate Community Volunteer Navigation Approach to Supporting Older Persons Living with Life-Limiting Illness and Frailty in Rural Communities.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500135&lang=en)
29. **Pouladi, Mahmoud** (Medical Genetics)  
    [Probing the Role of Claudin-11 Mutations in Hypomyelinating Leukodystrophy](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501654&lang=en)
30. **Rankin, Catharine** (Psychology)  
    [In vivo functional characterization of Parkinson's disease linked genes and identification of the best candidate genes of Parkinson's Disease GWAS loci using Caenorhabditis elegans.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501524&lang=en)
31. **Reid, Gregor** (Pediatrics)  
    [Harnessing infection-associated modifiers of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia progression for therapeutic benefit](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500163&lang=en)
32. **Saewyc, Elizabeth** (School of Nursing)  
    [Fifteen year trends in racism, enacted stigma, and mental health among South Asian LGBQ+ adolescents: The impact of inclusive schools in British Columbia](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=502425&lang=en)
33. **Silverberg, Noah** (Psychology)  
    [REhabilitation of MEMory symptoms after BRain concussion (REMEMBR trial)](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=499759&lang=en)
34. **Sly, Laura** (Pediatrics)  
    Co-PI(s): **Brumer, Harry** (Michael Smith Laboratories / Chemistry)  
    [Bespoke plant glycoconjugates to improve Inflammatory Bowel Disease treatment through gut-microbiota-mediated drug targeting](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500649&lang=en)
35. **Stirling, Peter** (Medical Genetics / Terry Fox Laboratory)  
    [Development and application of novel FEN1 endonuclease inhibitors](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500444&lang=en)
36. **Velenosi, Thomas** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
    [Characterizing diacetylspermine as a biomarker of drug response and precision treatment in triple-negative breast cancer](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=502153&lang=en)
37. **Wisnovsky, Simon** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
    Co-PI(s): **Williams, Karla** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
    [T-cell glyco-immune checkpoints as next-generation targets for cancer immunotherapy](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501581&lang=en)
38. **Zandstra, Peter** (Michael Smith Laboratories / School of Biomedical Engineering)  
    [Gastruloid Engineering: Precision Organoid Design for Developmental and Disease Modeling](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=501695&lang=en)
39. **Zoubeidi, Amina** (Urologic Sciences)  
    [Interplay between ASCL1 and chromatin remodeling complex in prostate cancer lineage plasticity](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=500601&lang=en)

[FULL LIST OF PROJECT GRANT AWARDEES](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/main.html?lang=en#fq=%7B!tag=competitioncd%7Dcompetitioncd%3A202403PJT&sort=namesort%20asc&start=0&rows=20)

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#### UBC Led-Priority Announcements

1. **Foster, Leonard** (Michael Smith Laboratories)  
    [Development and Commercialization of a Safe and Effective Mpox Subunit Vaccine with Global Impact](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504823&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies Research
2. **Hohl, Corinne** (Emergency Medicine)  
    Co-PI(s): Archambault, Patrick (Université Laval); Brooks, Steven (Queen’s University); Chandra, Kavish (Dalhousie University); Daoust, Raoul (Université de Montréal);  Dong, Kathryn (University of Alberta); Fok, Patrick (Dalhousie University); **Grunau, Brian** (Emergency Medicine); Jelic, Tomislav (University of Manitoba); **Kestler, Andrew** (Emergency Medicine); Lock, Kurt (BCCDC); **Lysyshyn, Mark** (School of Population and Public Health / Vancouver Coastal Health); McRae, Andrew (University of Calgary); **Moe, Jessica** (Emergency Medicine); Morrison, Laurie (University of Toronto); Olszynski, Paul (University of Saskatchewan); Orkin, Aaron (University of Toronto); Perry, Jeffrey (University of Ottawa); Rosychuk, Rhonda (University of Alberta); Stone-McLean, Jordan (Memorial University of Newfoundland)  
    [Optimizing outcomes for patients presenting to emergency departments with opioid poisoning](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504817&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies Research
3. **Kim, Hugh** (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences)  
    [Pro-inflammatory platelet signaling: identifying novel therapeutic targets for periodontitis](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504637&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: IMHA: Oral Health
4. **Lynn, Francis** (Surgery / School of Biomedical Engineering)  
    Co-PI(s): **Verchere, Bruce** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), **Levings, Megan** (Surgery / School of Biomedical Engineering)  
    [Building better beta cells in order to improve stem cell-derived islet transplantation outcomes](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504787&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
5. **Maxwell, Christopher** (Pediatrics)  
    [Elucidate the targetable mechanisms underpinning the development of a pregnancy-associated breast cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=503628&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Breast Cancer Prevention & Early Detection
6. **McKevitt, Elaine** (Surgery)  
    [Oncologic, surgical, and patient reported outcomes following breast conserving surgery versus mastectomy in breast cancer patients: a prospective study.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=503711&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Breast Cancer Survivorship
7. **Nacul, Luis** (Family Practice)  
    [Epidemiology and impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in Canada: A multi-centre population-based study](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504834&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies Research
8. **Ryan, Katherine** (Chemistry)  
    [Assembly of a pseudo-peptide active against Gram-negative bacteria](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=503613&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Antimicrobial Resistance (Bridge Grant)
9. **Schummers, Laura** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
    Co-PI(s): Clement, Fiona (University of Calgary); **Henry, Bonnie** (School of Population and Public Health); **Law, Michael** (School of Population and Public Health); Nickel, Nathan (University of Manitoba)  
    [Effect of Canada's first universal contraception subsidy on access, pregnancy outcomes, and costs: a population-based controlled interrupted time series study](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=505001&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Sex and Gender in Health Research (Bridge funding)
10. **Thiessen, Kellie** (Family Practice)  
    Co-PI(s): Gulbransen, Kristen (University of Manitoba); **Price, Roberta** (School of Nursing); Skiber, Darci (BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre); Watson, Heather (University of Manitoba)  
    [Through the Cracks: Development of a Psychosocial Perinatal Mentorship Framework, to address escalating maternal mortality rates for pregnant persons with psychosocial comorbidities](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504918&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Research in First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Health
11. **Tocheva, Elitza** (Microbiology and Immunology)  
    [Structural and functional characterization of the type VII secretion system in Mycobacteria](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=503567&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Antimicrobial Resistance (Bridge Grant)
12. **Viau, Victor** (Cellular and Physiological Sciences)  
    [Sex differences in inflammatory, neuroendocrine and behavioural responses: Impact of corticosteroid-binding globulin deficiency.](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=504997&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area: Sex and Gender in Health Research (Bridge funding)
13. **Whittaker, Jacqueline** (Physical Therapy)  
    [The Stop Osteoarthritis (SOAR) Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Type 1 Randomized Controlled Trial for Young People at-High-Risk of Early Onset Knee Osteoarthritis](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=503836&lang=en)  
    Priority Announcement Area:  Female Athlete Health

[FULL LIST OF PRIORITY ANNOUNCEMENT GRANT AWARDEES](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53978.html)



 

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