2021 Research Trainee award recipients

The Research Trainee Program supports health researchers in the training phase of their research career to enable career development and the long-term success of the BC health research landscape.

We are pleased to name 54 exceptional BC health researchers as 2021 Research Trainee award recipients in areas that range from advancing the health and wellness of Indigenous peoples, developing patient-centered social robotics for pediatric mental health, and the increasing prevalence of spinal cord injury among older adults.

Ana Hernandez Cordero

Partners: St. Paul's Foundation and Centre for Heart Lung Innovation

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Centre for Heart Lung Innovation
St. Paul's Foundation

Project title

Understanding the link between lung genomics, transcriptomics, and sex differences in COPD

Anibal Chertcoff

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Psychiatric morbidity in multiple sclerosis during the prodromal period (Psych-MS)

Anna Gottschlich

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Addressing emerging health system priorities in cervical cancer prevention: determining optimal strategies for human papillomavirus test-based primary screening

Anna Herrmann

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Multifunctional immunomodulating conjugates for targeting and treating glycocalyx dysfunction in inflammatory conditions

Bahaa Abu-Raya

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Optimizing protection against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infancy

Catriona Hippman

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

An iKT, interpretivist, feminist, multi-method study examining the experience of, and models of treatment for, acute postpartum mental illness

Daniel Manson

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Housing, homelessness, and care trajectories among young people who use drugs in Vancouver

Daniele Agostinelli

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

The role of mechanics in EMT and cancer metastasis

Davide Cina

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

T-cell repertoire analysis for immune monitoring in renal transplantation

Dawn Hoogeveen

Diana Hunter

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Project title

Examination of Long QT Syndrome causing variants in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to evaluate novel therapeutic treatments

Dominic Boardman

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Developing the next generation of therapeutic regulatory T cells using CRISPR/Cas9

Dongsheng Xiao

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Mapping chronic social isolation-induced brain activation in mice with machine learning-based phenotyping of behavioral deficits to pilot translational assessment of psychomotor disturbance

Emma Davison

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Project title

Structural exploration of locked nucleic acids (LNAs) for incorporation into anticancer oligonucleotides

Felipe Eltit

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Impact of prostate cancer subtypes on bone remodeling and microarchitecture in metastatic lesions of the spine: A combined cellular, genetic and mineralization study

Gary Cole

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Role of SASH1 in generation of hematopoietic stem cells

Guilherme Moraes Balbim

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Physical exercise to mitigate the effects of physical inactivity on brain health

Hanwen Liu

Partners: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Project title

Portable MRI for multiple sclerosis: Feasibility establishment and technical development for clinical and research applications

Hashim Islam

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Anti-inflammatory cytokine function in individuals with type 2 diabetes: Impact of hyperglycemia and the restorative effects of exercise

Heather Palis

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Evaluating the impact of pharmaceutical interventions to reduce overdose among people with criminal justice system involvement in British Columbia

James Crispo

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Paediatric spinal cord injury in Canada: Using administrative claims data to examine long-term health outcomes and healthcare utilization

Team members

Jessica Bourne

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Let's ride! Supporting individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes who self-identify as an ethnic minority in a community-based diabetes prevention program using electrically assisted bicycles

Jill Dosso

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Developing a method to implement patient-centered social robotics for pediatric mental health within the BC healthcare system

Jordan Sang

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Linking administrative and survey data to examine substance use related diagnoses, hospitalization and mortality among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Metro Vancouver

Juan Sanchez-Arias

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

The impact of the loss-of-function ankyrin-B p.S646F variant on cardiomyocyte and neuronal excitability: Implications for diagnosis and treatment of heart disease

Julia Arebro

Host institution

BC Cancer

Project title

Evaluation of SMPD3 as a quarterback for extracellular vesicle-mediated metastasis in oral carcinoma

Julyanne Brassard

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

The influence of podocalyxin expression on immune response to ovarian cancer and the efficacy of an antibody-drug conjugate in immunotherapy

Kate Jongbloed

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Honouring all our relations: Advancing health and wellness of uncounted Indigenous peoples in BC through addressing gaps in population health and wellness reporting

Katerina Rnic

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

A randomized controlled trial of a cognitive control intervention for major depressive disorder

Katherine Badior

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Engineering Platelets using therapeutic mRNA

Katherine Dixon

Host institution

BC Cancer

Project title

Defining the landscape of genetic variation underlying rare human disease using nanopore long-read sequencing

Kathryn Milne

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Investigating sex differences in dyspnea across the spectrum of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity

Kaveri Mayra

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Mapping the Continuum of Respectful Experiences (CORE) in perinatal care among historically marginalised women and people in British Columbia

Kirsten Marchand

Partner: Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences

Project title

Investigating what matters to youth: A mixed-methods study of youth-centred opioid treatments and their outcomes

Krista Glowacki

Partner: Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences

Project title

Movement and young minds: Co-designing and integrating physical activity programming into health services for young people experiencing mental health and substance use challenges

Madelaine Gierc

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Walking away from depression: Leveraging physical activity to treat symptoms and improve well-being in individuals with major depressive disorder

Mahin Delara

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Evaluating the safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and immunogenicity of meningococcal vaccines across the age spectrum

Megan Muller

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Building on the strengths of first responders as a critical first point of contact: Improving emergency care in remote Indigenous communities

Michael Paris

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Neural and muscular mechanisms of age- and sex-related impairments in muscle function and fatigue in old and very old adults

Numaira Obaid

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Project title

Effect of age-related spinal degeneration on older adult spinal cord injuries

Patrick Reeson

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Endothelial calcium dynamics regulating cerebrovascular function and capillary stalling in the healthy and diabetic brain

Paul Mackie

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

The effect of a telehealth chair-based exercise intervention on motor function in stroke survivors with a mobility impairment

Rafal Skiba

Partner: BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation

Project title

Counteracting the "Jumping to Conclusion" bias in schizophrenia with a combination of neuromodulation and metacognitive training

Ross Jones

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Synthetic feedback control of TCR signaling to guide T cell development in vitro

Ryan Falck

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Can we identify dementia risk from 24-hour wrist-worn actigraphy? Using machine learning to identify risk factors for dementia during the 24-hour day

Sander Lambo

Host institution

BC Cancer

Project title

Comprehensive dissection of tumor evolution in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia using single cell methylation sequencing

Sarah Crowe

Host institution

Fraser Health Authority

Project title

Understanding critical care nurses' prioritization of patient care

Shekooh Behroozian

Partner: Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Project title

Development of a non-invasive diagnostic to detect bacterial pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis

Sonja Senthanar

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Immigrants, work and health: Evaluation of services to reduce inequities

Tara Horrill

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Advancing health equity in the cancer care sector: Identifying organizational and contextual factors impacting the integration of equity-oriented healthcare for marginalized populations

Travis Gibbons

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

The effect of temperature on brain bioenergetic stress in hypoxia

Vincent Gosselin Boucher

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Using a mobile health aerobic exercise program to improve psychological distress in healthcare professionals: A randomised controlled trial

Yasmine Mohamed

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Programming bordetella pertussis to produce novel vaccines