2024 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 44 exceptional BC-based health researchers as this year’s award recipients.

Aki Gormezano

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Novel STI Care and Prevention for Group Sex Communities

Alexis Marcotte-Chénard

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Integrating Exercise Snacks into Type 2 Diabetes Care: feasibility and management of cardiovascular risk factors

Ania Bogoslowski

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

How do neurons in breast cancer tumours control anti-tumour immune responses?

Ariel Buchler

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Matriptase-Selective Radiotheranostics for Metastatic Carcinoma

Ava Mehdipour-Ataei

Host institution

Trinity Western University

Project title

Equitable health measurements to inform age-friendly community initiatives in diverse populations

Cameron McRae

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Project title

From Data to Dinner Plates: Empowering Equitable Transitions to Healthy and Sustainable Diets through Behavioural and Data Sciences

Claire Liu

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Surgical, oncologic, and patient reported outcomes following breast conserving surgery versus mastectomy: a longitudinal study

Clement Quintard

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Advancing Cardiovascular Research: Developing Vascularized Heart Organoids-on-Chips Integrating Immume Cells

Daljeet Chahal

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Project title

Cerebrovascular physiology of circulatory death in patients undergoing medical assistance in dying (MAiD)

Elise Wiley

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke

Fernando González Ibáñez

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Impact of TSC2-deficient neural cells on microglial structure and function in an induced human pluripotent stem cell model of tuberous sclerosis complex

Ihoghosa Iyamu

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Promoting the sustainability of digital interventions for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Canda: A multi-methods study

Ingrid Jarvis

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Investigating the influence of residential green space on cognitive decline and dementia

Isabelle Hardy

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Consequences of preconception bariatric surgery for fetal size and pathological growth restriction: a linked population registry study.

Jack Solomon

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Partner(s)

Alzheimer Society of B.C.

Project title

Addressing inter-individual variability in aging: linking lifestyle factors to the brain and behaviour

Jai Mahto

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Structure-function relationship of retinal guanylyl cyclase, a key enzyme in phototransduction

Jelena Komanchuk

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Caregiver-Child Sleep and Relationships in Canadian Foster and Kinship Families

Jennifer Lavalley

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Co-creation of culturally-safe drug checking practices for Indigenous Peoples who use illicit drugs

Jerry Leung

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Engineering Transfusable Platelets for Improved Hemorrhage Control

Jordyn Rice

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

SuPA Mobility: Supporting Physical Activity for Mobility in Older Adults with Mobility Limitations

Joseph Monaghan

Host institution

Vancouver Island University

Project title

Uncovering metabolic mechanisms for tumor-driven immunosuppression with mass spectrometry imaging

Justine Magnuson

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

A personalized approach to non-physical practice after stroke

Kaitlin Winter

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Addressing antimicrobial resistance through the design and preclinical evaluation of a Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccine

Karoliina Tuomela

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Developing novel strategies to enhance CAR Treg manufacture and testing in transplantation

Lanlan Fang

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Investigating oncogenic mechanisms in DICER1 syndrome-associated ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors

Laura Labonté

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Risk factors for cognitive impairment and substance-induced psychosis in people living in precarious housing or homelessness.

Mai-Lei Kinshella

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Gender equity through strengthening maternal nutrition and health in resource-limited settings

Manjurul Haque

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Use of CAR Tregs to induce transplantation tolerance

Maryam Asadi Aghbolaghi

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

AI-based Platform for Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Refinement

Mehwish Anwer

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Using unbiased whole brain methods to understand how impact direction affects the neuropathology of traumatic brain injury in mice

Nicholas See

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Partner(s)

Pacific Parkinson's Research Institute
Parkinson Society British Columbia

Project title

A chemical biology approach to uncovering modulators of a Parkinson’s disease-linked protein

Richard Morrow

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care services for hepatitis B

Sanne Janssen

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Elucidating how the Sotos Syndrome gene NSD1 controls gene expression during neuronal differentiation.

Santanu Sasidharan

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Development of mutation-robust vaccines and antibodies, and their implications for the evolution of SARS-CoV-2

Sarah Robinson

Host institution

Simon Fraser University

Project title

Enhancing Canada’s Capacity to Respond to Complex One Health Issues Through Communications and Collaboration

Sheila Novek

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Partner(s)

Alzheimer Society of B.C.

Project title

Engagement and citizenship in long-term care: An exploration of resident and family councils

Sing-Young Chen

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Understanding sex differences in beta-cell resilience to stresses in type 1 diabetes

Sofie Tolmeijer

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Accelerating the implementation of blood-based genomic testing for people living with metastatic prostate cancer in British Columbia

Taqdir Ali

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Advancing Orthopaedics Diagnostic Intelligence: Deep Learning and Generative AI models for Fracture Identification and Dialogue-driven documentation and Decision Making

Taylor Fleming

Host institution

University of Victoria

Project title

Understanding the health and social harms of drug re-criminalization within the context of homelessness

Wassim Elkhatib

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Structural and Functional Investigation of Neuronal Calcium Channel Modulation

Yan Mei

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Triggered release of anti-cancer drugs using hybrid lipid nanoparticle technology

Yao Sun

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Sensorimotor interactions between the lower limb and pelvic floor: neuroplasticity and implications for management of urinary dysfunction after spinal cord injury

Zhen Jin

Host institution

University of British Columbia

Project title

Uncovering the role of long non-coding RNA PAN3-AS1 in acute myeloid leukemia