February 3, 2022 

##  [UBC researchers leading projects awarded $36 million through CIHR Project Grants: Fall 2021 Competition](/CIHR_PG_Fall2021) 

UBC researchers are leading 61 projects awarded a total of $35.9 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants: Fall 2021 competition.

In total, the Project Grants: Fall 2021 competition approved 417 research grants, plus 1 bridge grant, for a total investment of approximately $325 million. In addition, 105 priority announcement grants were funded for a total amount of $12,292,500 and 13 supplemental prizes were awarded for a total of $400,000.

- UBC researchers are leading 48 projects awarded Project Grants totaling $34.7 million.
- A further 13 UBC-led projects were awarded priority announcement grants totaling $1.3 million.

[See CIHR Summary](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52814.html)

#### UBC-led Project Grants

- [**Improving cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with glomerular disease**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452322&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Barbour, Sean** (Medicine)  
     Co-PIs: Fordyce, Christopher B (Cardiology) Canney, Mark (University of Ottawa)  
     Research Institution: Providence Health Care Research Institute
- [**Association between Complement C4 and Synaptic Pathology in Schizophrenia**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=453021&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Beasley, Clare L** (Psychiatry)   
     Research Institution: BC Mental Health and Addiction Services
- [**Placental sex as a biological determinant in trophoblast function and trophoblast-directed immune activity**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450567&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Beristain, Alexander G** (Obstetrics and Gynecology)  
     Co-PIs: Robinson, Wendy P (Medical Genetics)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Upstream determinants of effective COVID-19 response: learning from comparisons across Canada's provinces**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452199&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Berman, Peter** (School of Population and Public Health)  
     Co-PIs: Allin, Sara (University of Toronto) Fierlbeck, Katherine (Dalhousie University)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Evaluating the utility of adult-defined prognostic biomarkers: Are they appropriate in childhood onset primary chronic vasculitis?**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450994&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Brown, Kelly L** (Pediatrics)  
     Co-PIs: Cabral, David Allan (Pediatrics, BCCHR)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**A spatial analysis of inequality in road trauma outcomes in British Columbia.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450499&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Brubacher, Jeffrey R** (Emergency Medicine)  
     Research Institution: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
- [**Assessing the usability and acceptability of iCANPlate, a mobile dietary self-monitoring tool that aligns with Canada's Food Guide: A multi-methods study**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451645&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Cohen, Tamara R** (Food, Nutrition and Health)  
     Co-PIs: Gouin, Jean-Philippe (Concordia University)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Targeting the VPS13 family of lipid transport proteins to membrane contact sites**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451362&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Conibear, Elizabeth** (Medical Genetics)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Multiple social tie transitions and their impact on cardiometabolic risk factors in aging women and men (MORE)**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452494&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Conklin, Annalijn** (Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Glycocalyx plasticity as an adaptive response to AR pathway-inhibition in prostate cancer**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452453&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Daugaard, Mads** (Urologic Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- **Decoding human cis-regulatory logic in development and disease**  
     Principal Investigator: **De Boer, Carl G** (Biomedical Engineering)  
     Research Institution: UBC  
     \*Conditionally funded at time of posting
- **Mixed-methods study investigating the efficacy and acceptance of a seated exercise program delivered virtually to improve mobility in older adults living with stroke**  
     Principal Investigator: **Eng, Janice J** (Physical Therapy)  
     Research Institution: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute  
     \*Conditionally funded at time of posting
- [**The importance of smooth muscle foam cells in atherosclerosis development and treatment**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452555&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Francis, Gordon A** (Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- **[The cellular and molecular mechanisms of lactic acid taste in flies and disease-vectoring mosquitoes](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451190&lang=en).**  
     Principal Investigator: **Gordon, Michael D** (Zoology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**A Phase I first-in-human trial of CLIC-2201, a VHH-CD22 CAR-T cell product for the treatment of relapsed/refractory CD22 positive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=453064&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Hay, Kevin A** (Medicine)  
     Co-PIs: Kekre, Natasha (University of Ottawa)  
     Research Institution: BC Cancer
- [**Teaching by Texting to Promote Health Behaviours in Pregnancy**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452372&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Janssen, Patricia A** (School of Population and Public Health)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Life satisfaction and physical health: Identifying underlying mediators and characterizing key moderators**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452215&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Kim, Eric** (Psychology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Light and Ion Maintenance In Treatment of Depression (LIMIT-D) Trial: Feasibility Study**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=453178&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Lam, Raymond W** (Psychiatry)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**The Molecular Mechanism of the Secretion of the Bacterial Toxin Adenylate Cyclase**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451966&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Li, Hongbin** (Chemistry)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Moving More: Supporting Uptake of Evidence for Physical Activity in Older Adults with Complex Health Care Needs**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451010&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Li, Linda C** (Physical Therapy)  
     Co-PIs: Liu-Ambrose, Teresa Y (Physical Therapy)  
     Research Institution: Arthritis Research Centre Society of Canada
- [**PSMA/CAIX-targeting radioligands to improve the management of clear cell renal cell carcinoma**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450504&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Lin, Kuo-Shyan** (Radiology)  
     Research Institution: BC Cancer
- [**Simultaneously targeting cancer cells and tumor stroma to improve detection sensitivity and therapeutic efficacy of radiopharmaceuticals**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450505&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Lin, Kuo-Shyan** (Radiology)  
     Research Institution: BC Cancer
- [**The interplay of apoptosis proteins, mitochondria and premature senescence in beta-cell fate and diabetes**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450487&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Luciani, Dan S** (Surgery)  
     Research Institution: BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
- [**Discovery of HPV-associated genomic alterations in cervical cancer**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451658&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Marra, Marco A** (UBC Medical Genetics / Genome Sciences Centre)  
     Research Institution: BC Cancer
- [**Regeneration at your fingertips: mechanisms determining mesenchymal tissue repair versus fibrosis**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450738&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Miller, Freda D** (Michael Smith Laboratories / Medical Genetics)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Metabolic manipulation of hypoxia for improved radiotherapy response**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451372&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Minchinton, Andrew I** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     Research Institution: BC Cancer
- [**Elucidating the novel roles of gap junction and Zonula occludens (ZO) proteins as regulators of synapse number and position**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451777&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Mizumoto, Kota** (Zoology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Storytelling about Options and Reproductive access for Youth (The STORY Project): A Pan-Canadian Integrated Knowledge Translation Study to Improve Contraception Health Services**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=453354&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Munro, Sarah B** (Obstetrics and Gynecology)  
     Co-PIs: Di Meglio, Giuseppina (Montreal Children's Hospital) Norman, Wendy V (Family Practice, BCCHR)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**3-dimensional representation of mouse movement and rapid interaction with cortical brain activity to describe and shape behavior to improve outcome from stroke: insights from real and synthetic data approaches.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451251&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Murphy, Timothy H** (Psychiatry)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Subject-Specific Biomechanical Modelling in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients: A Surgical Planning and Failure Prediction Toolkit**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451642&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Oxland, Thomas R** (Orthopedics)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Understanding the requirements of alanine supply and demand in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451838&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Parker, Seth J** (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)  
     Research Institution: BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
- [**Dual Isotope Theranostics for 18F-PET Imaging and Correlated Targeted Radioligand Therapy**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451571&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Perrin, David M** (Chemistry)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Host cell-derived tissue factor as a broad-spectrum basis for viral pathology and infection**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451461&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Pryzdial, Edward L** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Role of VEGFB in the cardiovascular complications of diabetes.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451183&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Rodrigues, Brian B** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Impact of blood transfusion on cerebral blood flow regulation in experimental and pathological brain hypoxia in humans.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=450659&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Sekhon, Mypinder S** (Medicine)  
     Co-PIs: Hoiland, Ryan (VCHRI)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Design and Preclinical Development of First-in-Class Selective T-type Calcium Channel Blockers for Chronic Pain**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452107&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Snutch, Terrance P** (Michael Smith Laboratories / Psychiatry / Zoology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Schizophrenia treatment adherence and driver responsibility for motor vehicle crash**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=452121&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Staples, John A** (Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- **Structure-guided in vitro and in situ analysis of virulence linked secretion systems in drug-resistant bacteria**  
     Principal Investigator: **Strynadka, Natalie C** (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)  
     Research Institution: UBC  
      \*Conditionally funded  at time of posting
- [**Metabolic treatment for chronic spinal cord injury in rodents**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451948&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Tetzlaff, Wolfram G** (Zoology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Opioid tapering: Identifying optimal strategies to reduce adverse events among adults on long-term opioid therapy**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451059&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Ti, Lianping (Mint)** (School of Population and Public Health)  
     Co-PIs: Nolan, Seonaid (Medicine, VCHRI, BCCSU) Slaunwhite, Amanda K (School of Population and Public Health, BCCDC) Johnson, Cheyenne H (Nursing, VCHRI, BCCSU)  
     Research Institution: British Columbia Centre on Substance Use
- [**Using Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Imaging to Improve Stroke Risk Assessment and Management**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=453075&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Tsang, Teresa S** (Medicine)  
     Co-PIs: Abolmaesumi, Purang (Electrical and Computer Engineering)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Self reactivity as a driver of extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma transformation and progression.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451542&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Venturutti, Leandro** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     Research Institution: BC Cancer
- [**Targeting efferocytosis to reduce risk of cardiovascular events**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451017&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Wang, Ying** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Optimization and Validation of MCT4-targeting Small Molecule Inhibitors for Treatment of Advanced Cancers**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451866&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Wang, Yuzhuo** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     Research Institution: Vancouver Prostate Centre
- [**Molecular mechanisms of sensing and repairing dysfunctional mitochondrial protein import**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451669&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Weidberg, Hilla** (Cellular & Physiological Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Molecular and Functional Genomic Characterization of G-quadruplex in Cancers with the Alternate Lengthening of Telomere (ALT) Mechanism**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451090&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Wong, Judy M** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Refining the clinical utility of circulating tumour DNA in metastatic bladder cancer**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=451909&lang=en)  
     Principal Investigator: **Wyatt, Alexander W** (Urological Sciences)  
     Co-PIs: Eigl, Bernhard J (VCHRI)  
     Research Institution: UBC

[Full list of Project Grant recipients](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/main.html?lang=en#fq=%7B!tag=competitioncd%7Dcompetitioncd%3A202109PJT&sort=namesort%20asc&start=0&rows=20)

#### UBC-LED PROJECTS: PRIORITY ANNOUNCEMENT GrantS

- [**Gamifying neuro rehabilitation, can we predict who will benefit?**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456546&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction*  
     Principal Investigator: **Boyd, Lara** (Physical Therapy)  
     Co-PIs: Kraeutner, Sarah (Psychology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Novel mechanisms and therapeutic approach for aging-related pruritus**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=455767&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Aging*  
     Principal Investigator: **Granville, David J** (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing for Neurological Disorders.**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456004&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Genetics* (Bridge Funding: Research Priorities)  
     Principal Investigator: **Leavitt, Blair R** (Medical Genetics)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Imaging, Molecular, and Clinical Biomarkers of Accelerated Lung Aging in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AGE-HIV)**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456163&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: HIV/AIDS and STBBI*  
     Principal Investigator: **Leung, Janice** (Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**A Study of Reduced Dosing of the Nonavalent HPV Vaccine in Women Living with HIV**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456168&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: HIV/AIDS and STBBI*  
     Principal Investigator: **Money, Deborah M** (Obstetrics and Gynecology)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Regulation of Periodontal Disease Pathogenesis by the Effects of Novel Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456415&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and IMHA Mandate Areas*  
     Principal Investigator: **Putnins, Edward E** (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- **A bioengineering platform to promote safe cell therapies**  
     *Priority Announcement: Genetics*  
     Principal Investigator: **Shakiba, Nika** (Biomedical Engineering)  
     Co-PIs: Goyal, Sidhartha (University of Toronto)  
     Research Institution: UBC  
     \*Conditionally funded at time of posting
- [**Exploring the potential of type-1 regulatory T cells in treatment and recovery from intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456324&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement:Infection and Immunity*  
     Principal Investigator: **Steiner, Theodore S** (Medicine)  
     Research Institution: BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
- [**Digital self-tracking for early detection and prevention of endometrial cancer during reproductive aging**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=455983&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Equity in Cancer Prevention and Control*  
     Principal Investigator: **Talhouk, Aline** (Obstetrics and Gynecology)  
     Co-PIs: Money, Deborah M (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) Anglesio, Michael S (Obstetrics & Gynaecology, BCCHR) Hill, Janet E (University of Saskatchewan) Tinker, Anna (Department of Medicine)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Patient Treatment Preferences and Decisional Needs for Heart Failure Medications**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456829&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Patient-Oriented Research:* : Early-Career Investigator  
     Principal Investigator: **Turgeon, Ricky D** (Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
     Co-PIs: Harrison, Mark (Pharmaceutical Sciences)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Systematic characterization of glyco-immune signaling networks with high-throughput functional genomics**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456351&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Infection and Immunity*  
     Principal Investigator: **Wisnovsky, Simon** (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)   
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Clinical-biomarker predictors of outcome after endometriosis surgery**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=456767&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Patient-Oriented Research*  
     Principal Investigator: **Yong, Paul** (Obstetrics & Gynecology)  
     Co-PIs: Talhouk, Aline (Obstetrics & Gynecology) Anglesio, Michael S (Obstetrics & Gynaecology, BCCHR) Howard, Amanda F (Nursing) Mohamed, Ali Bedaiwy (Obstetrics and Gynecology, BCCHR)  
     Research Institution: UBC
- [**Examining Prenatal and Perinatal Factors associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder in a Canadian Birth Cohort**](https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=455894&lang=en)  
     *Priority Announcement: Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts*  
     Principal Investigator: **Zwicker, Jill G** (Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy)  
     Research Institution: UBC

[Full list of Priority Announcement grant recipients](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52816.html)



 

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