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Every day across British Columbia, trainees and researchers at the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Faculty of Medicine are turning skills into jobs, investments into discoveries, and discoveries into solutions that are transforming health for everyone.

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors, health care professionals, and medical researchers, making remarkable discoveries to help create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Faculty of Medicine offers a diverse array of training opportunities including cutting-edge research experiences in the biosciences, globally recognized population health education, quality health professional training, as well as several certificate and online training options. The Faculty of Medicine is home to more than 1,700 graduate students housed in 20 graduate programs (14 of which offer doctoral research options). Year after year, research excellence in the Faculty of Medicine is supported by investment from funding sources here at home and around the globe, receiving approximately more than $1.8B in total research funding since 2016.

We value our trainees and the creative input they have to scholarly activities at ÑÇÖÞÌìÌÃ. Our priority is to enable their maximum potential through flexible opportunities that provide a breadth of experiences tailored to their own individual career objectives. We maintain high standards of excellence, and work to create a community of intellectually and socially engaged scholars that work collaboratively with each other, the university, and the world, with the overarching goal of promoting the health of individuals and communities.

Mission
To transform health for everyone.
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  • 1348
    Master's Students
  • 634
    Doctoral Students
  • 479
    Graduate Degrees Awarded
  • 548
    Full-Time Faculty
  • 477.9
    million in Research Awards

Research Centres

Most Faculty research is conducted under the auspices of that are part of ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà or affiliated with it, in collaboration with our health partners.

Centres &ÌýInstitutes
  • Institute of Mental Health
Research Groups
  • OVCARE (BC’s Ovarian Cancer Research Team)

Research Facilities

ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Faculty of Medicine provides innovative educational and research programs in the areas of health and life sciences through an integrated and province-wide delivery model in facilities at locations .

The Life Sciences Centre is the largest building on the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Vancouver campus. Completed in 2004, the $125 million, 52,165 sq metres building was built to accommodate the distributed medical educational program and the .

The (DMCBH), a partnership between the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health, unites under one roof research and clinical expertise in neuroscience, psychiatry and neurology in order to accelerate discovery and translate new knowledge into better treatment and prevention strategies. DMCBH has both laboratory and clinical research areas within the Centre proper and in the ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Hospital Koerner Pavilion. Our core facilities are essential to ongoing collaboration, teaching, and research.

The Ìýis it the largest research institute of its kind in Western Canada in terms of people, productivity, funding and size. With more than 350,000 square feet of space, the Institute has both 'wet bench' laboratory and 'dry lab' clinical research areas, and other areas to facilitate particular areas of research and training.

Research Highlights

New knowledge and innovation are crucial to successfully identifying, addressing and overcoming the increasingly complex health-related challenges that influence the lives of all of us – in British Columbia, in Canada, and in countries and communities around the globe.

The ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Faculty of Medicine is recognized nationally and internationally for research innovation that advances knowledge and translates new discoveries to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Research opportunities feature extensive collaborations across other faculties, health institutions and health partners across British Columbia, Canada and internationally.

The Faculty provides and fosters research excellence across the full continuum, from basic science to applied science and then to knowledge implementation, with a focus on ; ; ; ; ; and .

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.
Name Academic Unit(s) Research Interests
Masri, Bas Department of Orthopaedics Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction and Replacement and to Musculoskeletal Oncology
Masse, Louise School of Population and Public Health Health care administration; Health sciences; Public and population health; Childhood obesity with specific interests in prevention and treatment using lifestyle modification; Films, Membranes and Multiphase Polymers; Health Promotion; Nutrition; Obesity; Physical Activity
Matsell, Douglas Department of Pediatrics Childhood kidney disease, Congenital urinary tract obstruction
Matsubara, Joanne Aiko Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Sensory systems, visual; Cellular interactions (including adhesion, matrix and cell wall); Gene and molecular therapy; Cellular neuroscience; neuroscience; vision; cell and development; cell death pathways; innate immune response; eye disease, retinal degenerations; Alzheimer's disease; neurodegeneration
Mawson, John Department of Radiology Quality improvement/quality assurance issues; Pediatric medical imaging services; Anatomy; Congenital Heart Defects
Maxwell, Christopher Department of Pediatrics Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; Cell differentiation, proliferation and death; Pediatric cancer; Cancer progression and metastasis; Hereditary Cancer; Cell division; Cell migration; Differentiation; Cell polarity
Mayor, Thibault Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories Biochemistry; Genomics; Aging; Cell Biology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Proteasome; Protein Degradation; Protein Folding; Proteomics; Proteostasis; Ubiquitin; Yeast Genetics
McAlpine, Jessica Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology subtypes of ovarian and endometrial cancers, and prevention
McCracken, Rita Department of Family Practice Audit and feedback to improve primary care prescribing; Health human resources; Polypharmacy and deprescribing; Frailty, aging; Patient-oriented research outcomes; Primary care research; Health services evaluation
McGrail, Kimberlyn School of Population and Public Health aging and health care services use; health care costs; health care financing; primary care; health care policy, Variations in health care services use across patients, providers and regions, and their relationship to population health, Aging and the use of health and social services, Personal, economic, and social factors that produce health at an individual and population level, and the role of the health care system in that process
McKay, Heather Department of Family Practice, Department of Orthopaedics Population health interventions; Aging process; Social and biological determinants of aging; Health promotion and disease prevention; Prevention, treatment and support of youth health; Medical, health and life sciences; Knowledge translation and implementation science in health; Health and community services; Aging Process; Public and Population Health
McKeown, Martin Division of Neurology Neurology; novel treatments for Parkinson's; Video Monitoring Parkinson's; Brain Stimulation; Biomedical Engineering; Machine Learning; fMRI; EEG
McLeod, Christopher School of Population and Public Health occupational heath and the social epidemiology of the working life course.
McMaster, W Robert Department of Medical Genetics Molecular Immunology
McNagny, Kelly Marshall School of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medical Genetics Cellular immunology; Regenerative medicine (including stem cells and tissue engineering); Stem Cells; Immunology; Inflammation; Mouse models of human disease; Tissue degeneration/regeneration; Cancer; innate immune response; kidney function; Biologics and therapeutics
Meckler, Garth Department of Pediatrics Evidence to Innovation; Pediatric Simulation; Continuing Medical Education; Pediatric Headache
Meneghetti, Adam Department of Surgery Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery; oncology; Education and Curriculum Development
Meneilly, Graydon Division of Geriatric Medicine diabetes and carbohydrate metabolism in the elderly
Michalak, Erin Department of Psychiatry bipolar disorder; quality of life; stigma, community based research; depression; mental health; ehealth; self-management, Bipolar disorder, quality of life, stigma, community based research, depression, mental health, ehealth, self-management
Miller, William Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy
Miller, Steven Department of Pediatrics Birth defects, Concussion, Preterm labor, Steroids
Milloy, Michael-John Division of Social Medicine Infectious diseases; Clinical sciences, n.e.c.; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; medical cannabis; overdose; HIV disease; people who use drugs; Substance use disorder
Miran-Khan, Karim Department of Family Practice, School of Kinesiology Exercise is Medicine; Health promotion via Exercise; Type 2 DM prevention
Mitton, Craig School of Population and Public Health Health care administration; Health sciences; Public and population health; Health Policies; Health care resource allocation
Moe, Jessica Department of Emergency Medicine Clinical medicine; Substance Use; Addictions; Identifying, characterizing and developing interventions for high risk emergency department patients; Evaluating optimal naloxone dosing in ultra-potent opioid overdoses; Developing approaches to emergency department screening for opioid use disorder; Evaluating buprenorphine/naloxone standard dosing and microdosing interventions; Overdose prevention

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Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Medicine.

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Publication: International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Jessica McAlpine (Obstetrics & Gynaecology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 1048891X
Volume: 35
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Jacqueline Whittaker (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10634584
Volume: 33
Page Range: 771-772
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Lianping Ti (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03768716
Volume: 271
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): David Wilson (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine), Kishore Mulpuri (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 7
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Materials Science and Engineering R: Reports
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Karim Miran-Khan (Family Practice / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0927796X
Volume: 164
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Current Opinion in Immunology
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09527915
Volume: 94
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): David Wilson (Orthopaedics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 17516161
Volume: 166
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Physiotherapy (United Kingdom)
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Kristin Campbell (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine), Kendall Ho (Emergency Medicine / Faculty of Medicine), Patricia Camp (Physical Therapy / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00319406
Volume: 127
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Addictive Behaviors Reports
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Brittany Dennis (Division of Social Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
Volume: 21
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Breast
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Stephen K.L. Chia (Division of Medical Oncology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09609776
Volume: 81
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Journal of Pediatrics
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Steven Miller (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine), Ruth V Grunau (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00223476
Volume: 281
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Nutrition Reviews
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Rachel Murphy (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 00296643
Volume: 83
Page Range: 1047-1060
Publication Date: 1 June 2025

Publication: Environment International
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Martin Guhn (Human Early Learning Partnership / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01604120
Volume: 200
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Journal of Genetic Counseling
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Jehannine Austin (Medical Genetics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 10597700
Volume: 34
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Medical Education
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Kevin Eva (Division of General Internal Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03080110
Volume: 59
Page Range: 606-614
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Clinical Biomechanics
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Peter Cripton (School of Biomedical Engineering / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 02680033
Volume: 126
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: NMR in Biomedicine
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Liisa Holsti (Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Faculty of Medicine), Ruth V Grunau (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09523480
Volume: 38
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Quynh Doan (Pediatrics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 14818035
Volume: 27
Page Range: 460-464
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: NMR in Biomedicine
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Rachel Eddy (Radiology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 09523480
Volume: 38
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Deborah Giaschi (Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01497634
Volume: 173
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Paediatric Anaesthesia
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Matthias Goerges (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 11555645
Volume: 35
Page Range: 485-486
Publication Date: June 2025

Publication: Vaccine
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Annalee Yassi (School of Population and Public Health / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 0264410X
Volume: 57
Publication Date: 31 May 2025

Publication: Cell Reports
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Samuel Aparicio (Pathology & Laboratory Medicine / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 26391856
Volume: 44
Publication Date: 27 May 2025

Publication: The Lancet
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Adeera Levin (Division of Nephrology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 01406736
Volume: 405
Page Range: 1809-1810
Publication Date: 24 May 2025

Publication: Nucleic Acids Research
ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Author(s): Sheila Teves (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Faculty of Medicine)
ISSN: 03051048
Volume: 53
Publication Date: 22 May 2025

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Recent Thesis Submissions

  • (MEDX - PHD)
  • (MDP9 - MDPHD)
  • (NRSC - PHD)
  • (NRSC - PHD)
  • (NRSC - PHD)
  • (MEDG - PHD)
  • (SPPH - MSC)
  • (MEDX - PHD)
  • (BIMB - PHD)
  • (BIMB - PHD)
  • (MEDG - MSC)
  • (MDP9 - MDPHD)
  • (MEDX - MSC)
  • (MEDG - MSC)
  • (MEDX - MSC)
  • (RPDS - PHD)
  • (MEDX - MSC)
  • (MEDX - MSC)
  • (MEDX - MSC)
  • (NRSC - PHD)
  • (NRSC - PHD)
  • (ONCO - PHD)
  • (SPPH - PHD)
  • (PALM - MSC)
  • (CELL - PHD)
  • (SPPH - MSC)
  • (SPPH - PHD)
  • (CELL - MSC)
  • (MEDX - PHD)
  • (CELL - PHD)

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2024 Dr. Nguyen studied the molecular machines responsible for the transcription of RNA using cutting-edge techniques like super resolution microscopy and next-generation sequencing. His work not only unraveled novel perspectives of transcription mechanisms, but also challenged previous paradigms to provide a better understanding of gene regulation. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Kumar studied the mechanisms underlying protein quality control in cells exposed to DNA damage. His work focused on post-translational modifications and their role in regulating the dynamics of protein sequestration. Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Genetics (PhD)
2024 Dr. Bell investigated the role of the surface glycoprotein, podocalyxin, in breast and pancreatic cancer and showed that the molecule's sugar-rich, extracellular domain contributes to tumour cell collective invasion. This work provides insight into mechanisms of early metastasis and highlights the potential of podocalyxin-targeted therapeutics. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Randall explored long-term patient satisfaction with total knee replacement. She found that 12% of participants were dissatisfied, particularly those with ongoing symptoms and unmet expectations. The main concern for patients was how well their new knee supported their daily lives. These findings have both clinical and research implications. Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
2024 Dr. Li conducted research on the association between TNF inhibitors and multiple sclerosis in four Canadian provinces. An increased risk of multiple sclerosis was found in users of TNF inhibitors. This finding is vital for healthcare practitioners to weigh the benefits and risks of TNF inhibitors, ultimately guiding safer medical decisions. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Around the world people breathe in polluted air that irritates their lungs and causes inflammation. Dr. Huff's research demonstrated that current anti-inflammatory asthma medications increase common cold infections in human lung cells exposed to pollution, and identified three new medicines that reduce air pollution induced inflammation. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Hrelja examined how decision-making was bidirectionally influenced by self-administered drugs of abuse in rodent models. This preclinical research illuminates considerations and refinements that can be made to the treatment of addiction. Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD)
2024 Dr. Tophkhane studied the functional effects of mutations in WNT pathway genes associated with Robinow syndrome using the chicken embryo model. She found that the mutant proteins disturb development of the facial skeleton and cell signaling. Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD)
2024 Dr. Orach investigated the dose-response to controlled air pollution exposure in a clinical trial. He identified blood proteins, breath measurements and symptoms that are closely related to diesel exhaust levels. This research facilitates health monitoring and improves our ability to assess and mitigate the harmful impacts of air pollution. Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD)
2024 Dr. Fournier uncovered a new role for ARID1A, a gene lost in about 7% of all cancers, in the maintenance of genome integrity. Using CRISPR screening, he also identified vulnerabilities of cancer cells that lose ARID1A. This work expands our understanding of how these tumours develop and provides potential new avenues for treatment. Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

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Interesting Links

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