UBC researchers leading projects awarded $36 million through CIHR Project Grants: Fall 2021 Competition

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

UBC-led Project Grants

• Improving cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with glomerular disease
  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
  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
  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
  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?
  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.
  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
  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
  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)
  Principal Investigator: Conklin, Annalijn (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Glycocalyx plasticity as an adaptive response to AR pathway-inhibition in prostate cancer
  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
  Principal Investigator: Francis, Gordon A (Medicine)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• The cellular and molecular mechanisms of lactic acid taste in flies and disease-vectoring mosquitoes.
  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
  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
  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
  Principal Investigator: Kim, Eric (Psychology)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Light and Ion Maintenance In Treatment of Depression (LIMIT-D) Trial: Feasibility Study
  Principal Investigator: Lam, Raymond W (Psychiatry)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• The Molecular Mechanism of the Secretion of the Bacterial Toxin Adenylate Cyclase
  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
  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
  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
  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
  Principal Investigator: Luciani, Dan S (Surgery)
  Research Institution: BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
   
• Discovery of HPV-associated genomic alterations in cervical cancer
  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
  Principal Investigator: Miller, Freda D (Michael Smith Laboratories / Medical Genetics)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Metabolic manipulation of hypoxia for improved radiotherapy response
  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
  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
  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.
  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
  Principal Investigator: Oxland, Thomas R (Orthopedics)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Understanding the requirements of alanine supply and demand in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
  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
  Principal Investigator: Perrin, David M (Chemistry)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Host cell-derived tissue factor as a broad-spectrum basis for viral pathology and infection
  Principal Investigator: Pryzdial, Edward L (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Role of VEGFB in the cardiovascular complications of diabetes.
  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.
  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
  Principal Investigator: Snutch, Terrance P (Michael Smith Laboratories / Psychiatry / Zoology)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Schizophrenia treatment adherence and driver responsibility for motor vehicle crash
  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
  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
  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
  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.
  Principal Investigator: Venturutti, Leandro (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
  Research Institution: BC Cancer
   
• Targeting efferocytosis to reduce risk of cardiovascular events
  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
  Principal Investigator: Wang, Yuzhuo (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
  Research Institution: Vancouver Prostate Centre
   
• Molecular mechanisms of sensing and repairing dysfunctional mitochondrial protein import
  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
  Principal Investigator: Wong, Judy M (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Refining the clinical utility of circulating tumour DNA in metastatic bladder cancer
  Principal Investigator: Wyatt, Alexander W (Urological Sciences)
  Co-PIs: Eigl, Bernhard J (VCHRI)
  Research Institution: UBC
   

Full list of Project Grant recipients

UBC-LED PROJECTS: PRIORITY ANNOUNCEMENT GrantS

• Gamifying neuro rehabilitation, can we predict who will benefit?
  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
  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.
  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)
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  Priority Announcement: Infection and Immunity
  Principal Investigator: Wisnovsky, Simon (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences) 
  Research Institution: UBC
   
• Clinical-biomarker predictors of outcome after endometriosis surgery
  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
  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