Health Research BC funds 34 UBC early-career health researchers

October 29, 2024

Michael Smith Health Research BC is funding 44 emerging researchers from across BC through the 2024 Research Trainee competition.  

These awards support talented postdoctoral or health professional researchers to build their careers in British Columbia.

Funding includes 34 awards to UBC research trainees, supporting health research at UBC and its affiliated health research institutions.

Award recipients are investigating important and diverse topics including: the effects of the environment on health; controlling bleeding in trauma patients; and using artificial intelligence to improve how fractures are diagnosed.

The Research Trainee Program supports the long-term success of the BC health-research landscape by attracting and retaining BC’s best and brightest health researchers in training. Since 2001, Health Research BC has granted more than 1,400 Research Trainee awards, supporting the launch of successful careers in research, biotech, health policy, and other sectors. 

Read the Health Research BC announcement

UBC Funding recipients

Health Research BC Research Trainees

  • Maryam Asadi Aghbolaghi
    AI-based Platform for Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Refinement
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
     
  • Taqdir Ali
    Advancing Orthopaedics Diagnostic Intelligence: Deep Learning and Generative AI models for Fracture Identification and Dialogue-driven documentation and Decision Making
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Children's Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
     
  • Mehwish Anwer
    Using unbiased whole brain methods to understand how impact direction affects the neuropathology of traumatic brain injury in mice
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
     
  • Ania Bogoslowski
    How do neurons in breast cancer tumours control anti-tumour immune responses?
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
     
  • Ariel Buchler
    Matriptase-Selective Radiotheranostics for Metastatic Carcinoma
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Cancer
     
  • Daljeet Chahal
    Cerebrovascular physiology of circulatory death in patients undergoing medical assistance in dying (MAiD)
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Transplant, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver General Hospital
    Partners: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
     
  • Sing-Young Chen
    Understanding sex differences in beta-cell resilience to stresses in type 1 diabetes
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
     
  • Wassim Elkhatib
    Structural and Functional Investigation of Neuronal Calcium Channel Modulation
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
     
  • Lanlan Fang
    Investigating oncogenic mechanisms in DICER1 syndrome-associated ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Jack Bell Research Centre
     
  • Manjurul Haque
    Use of CAR Tregs to induce transplantation
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
     
  • Isabelle Hardy
    Consequences of preconception bariatric surgery for fetal size and pathological growth restriction: a linked population registry study.
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
     
  • Ihoghosa Iyamu
    Promoting the sustainability of digital interventions for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Canda: A multi-methods study
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Centre for Disease Control
     
  • Sanne Janssen
    Elucidating how the Sotos Syndrome gene NSD1 controls gene expression during neuronal differentiation
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Life Sciences Institute
     
  • Ingrid Jarvis
    Investigating the influence of residential green space on cognitive decline and dementia
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
     
  • Zhen Jin
    Uncovering the role of long non-coding RNA PAN3-AS1 in acute myeloid leukemia
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Cancer Research Centre
     
  • Mai-Lei Kinshella
    Gender equity through strengthening maternal nutrition and health in resource-limited settings
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
     
  • Jelena Komanchuk
    Caregiver-Child Sleep and Relationships in Canadian Foster and Kinship Families
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
     
  • Laura Labonté
    Risk factors for cognitive impairment and substance-induced psychosis in people living in precarious housing or homelessness
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Mental Health & Addiction Research Institute (BCMHARI)
     
  • Jerry Leung
    Engineering Transfusable Platelets for Improved Hemorrhage Control
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Life Sciences Institute
     
  • Claire Liu
    Surgical, oncologic, and patient reported outcomes following breast conserving surgery versus mastectomy: a longitudinal study
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Providence Health Care, UBC School of Population and Public Health
     
  • Justine Magnuson
    A personalized approach to non-physical practice after stroke
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
     
  • Jai Mahto
    Structure-function relationship of retinal guanylyl cyclase, a key enzyme in phototransduction
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
     
  • Alexis Marcotte-Chénard
    Integrating Exercise Snacks into Type 2 Diabetes Care: feasibility and management of cardiovascular risk factors
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
     
  • Yan Mei
    Triggered release of anti-cancer drugs using hybrid lipid nanoparticle technology
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Life Sciences Institute
     
  • Richard Morrow
    Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care services for hepatitis B
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Centre for Disease Control
     
  • Sheila Novek
    Engagement and citizenship in long-term care: An exploration of resident and family councils
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus
    Partner: Alzheimer Society of B.C.
     
  • Clement Quintard
    Advancing Cardiovascular Research: Developing Vascularized Heart Organoids-on-Chips Integrating Immume Cells
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Life Sciences Institute
     
  • Jordyn Rice
    SuPA Mobility: Supporting Physical Activity for Mobility in Older Adults with Mobility Limitations
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Centre for Hip Health and Mobility
     
  • Santanu Sasidharan
    Development of mutation-robust vaccines and antibodies, and their implications for the evolution of SARS-CoV-2
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Michael Smith Laboratories
     
  • Yao Sun
    Sensorimotor interactions between the lower limb and pelvic floor: neuroplasticity and implications for management of urinary dysfunction after spinal cord injury
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)
     
  • Sofie Tolmeijer
    Accelerating the implementation of blood-based genomic testing for people living with metastatic prostate cancer in British Columbia
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus, Vancouver Prostate Centre
     
  • Karoliina Tuomela
    Developing novel strategies to enhance CAR Treg manufacture and testing in transplantation
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
     
  • Elise Wiley
    Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
     
  • Kaitlin Winter
    Addressing antimicrobial resistance through the design and preclinical evaluation of a Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccine
    Host Institution/Research Location(s): University of British Columbia/BC Children's Hospital Vaccine Evaluation Centre

See full list of 2024 Research Trainee award recipients