UBC Faculty of Medicine | 2013-2014 Research Annual Report by UBC Faculty of Medicine

Office of the Executive Associate Dean, Research

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014

Table of Contents Message from the Executive Associate Dean, Research ...................................................................................................................... 2 Research Excellence by the Numbers ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Overview .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 External Comparators to UBC Faculty of Medicine ........................................................................................................................ 5 Faculty of Medicine within UBC Scope of Research ....................................................................................................................... 7 Distribution of Research within the Faculty of Medicine ............................................................................................................... 8 Building Our Research Community .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Canada Research Chairs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11 MSFHR Scholar Awards ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16 CIHR-PHAC Applied Public Health Chairs .......................................................................................................................................17 Donor-Funded Chairs and Professorships ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Fostering Research Innovation .................................................................................................................................................................23 Canada Foundation for Innovation ....................................................................................................................................................23 Grant Funding Highlights .....................................................................................................................................................................24 Faculty of Medicine Internal Awards ................................................................................................................................................25 Recognizing Research Excellence ............................................................................................................................................................27 Highlights .................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Highly Cited Researchers .....................................................................................................................................................................28 National Prizes Awarded by the Faculty of Medicine ...................................................................................................................36 Educating our Students in Research........................................................................................................................................................39 Graduate, Postgraduate, and Postdoctoral Research Programs ................................................................................................39 Internal Awards for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows ...........................................................................................42 Summer Student Research Program ................................................................................................................................................ 44 Vancouver Summer Program in Medicine ...................................................................................................................................... 46 Building UBC’s Global Partnerships ........................................................................................................................................................49 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................................................52 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Appendices...................................................................................................................................................................................................54 Appendix A – UBC Faculty of Medicine Graduate Program Students......................................................................................54 Appendix B – UBC Faculty of Medicine International Agreements ..........................................................................................56 Appendix C – UBC Faculty of Medicine Research Committees .................................................................................................58 Appendix D - UBC Faculty of Medicine, Research - Organizational Chart .............................................................................62 Appendix E - High Impact Publications........................................................................................................................................... 64

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from the Executive Associate Dean, Research Through Our Strategic Direction, the Faculty of Medicine has made a deep commitment to fostering research innovation and excellence with the aim of creating knowledge to advance health. In considering our strengths as a Faculty, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate the interface between basic and clinical research to ultimately impact health in a positive way.

Howard Feldman, Executive Associate Dean, Research

The past year served to underscore considerable accomplishment within this space. Our deliberate focus on translational research from bench to clinic and into community was rewarded with a number of prestigious accolades, and we made considerable progress in creating the conditions to support bench to bedside collaborations. We were extremely pleased that nine of our faculty members earned the distinction of Highly Cited Researchers in 2014, a ranking compiled by Thomson Reuters of “the world’s most influential scientific minds” based on a list of researchers with the highest number of exceptionally impactful publications (i.e., those ranking in the top 1% in terms of citations) in their field for the period spanning 2002-2012. Their exceptional contributions span a range of fields—clinical medicine, computer science, molecular biology/genetics, neuroscience, psychiatry, and population health—and, not surprisingly, reflect the Faculty’s three research areas of pre-eminence: heart & lung health, cancer, and neuroscience & mental health. This significant designation led us to look into the origins of those influential publications, asking “what made these individuals stand out?” We came to understand that the publications deemed most impactful are based on research that moves from the lab in translation to the clinic and community—knowledge creation that transforms health care policy with potential to influence health. These exemplars of success universally embrace an ethos of collaboration that is undoubtedly a key factor in their extraordinary accomplishment. As Highly Cited Researcher Dr. Randy Gascoyne put it, “science is not done with the silo mentality of the old days where you hid in your laboratory and tried to do good work without anybody knowing about it until you were ready to publish.” Indeed, collaboration is the new paradigm of science, where the collective

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

works together to solve complex problems. Interdisciplinary approaches are vital to supporting research that bridges gaps and answers questions more fully, which is especially important for our mission of translating discovery to improve health. The interface between basic and clinical research is one model of success that brings together different perspectives for the benefit of patients. Larger teams that incorporate nontraditional medical disciplines, such as biomedical engineering or communitybased participatory research, help to build better, more comprehensive programs of research. In considering the major milestones of the Faculty over the last year, this message couldn’t be more fitting. In February 2014 we celebrated the opening of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, marking a new era of research and care characterized by the full integration of all brain health-related disciplines. The integration of thematic programs all under one roof is our attempt to scale up an established model of success, and the building serves as a physical reminder of this new ethos of collaboration. This bold approach attracted the attention of one of the world’s most influential journals, Lancet Neurology, which profiled the centre in its October 2014 issue, calling on other centres to follow our lead.

“

Collaboration is the new paradigm of science, where the collective works together to solve complex problems.

My hope is that this report will provide you with a sense of our collective accomplishment over the past year as a leading research university. We share this report with pride and with the anticipation that as the era of interdisciplinary team science unfolds our Faculty’s research efforts will be at the leading edge. We welcome your contributions to this mission. Howard Feldman, MD, FRCP(C) Executive Associate Dean, Research Professor, Division of Neurology UBC Faculty of Medicine

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DEAN, RESEARCH

Research Excellence by the Numbers

Evica Rajcan-Separovic, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

$307M Research

Research Excellence by the Numbers Overview According to the UBC Office of Research Services Researcher Information Services database (RISe), the total amount of research funding received by the Faculty of Medicine (FoM) in FY 2013-14 was $307M, an increase of $10M over the previous year. This is the highest level of research funding achieved by the Faculty of Medicine over the past five years.

Funding Highest Level in 5 Years

External Comparators to UBC Faculty of Medicine Key National and International Rankings ěũ

University Global Health Impact Report Card: UBC ranked #1

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Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities 2013 (RE$EARCH Infosource Inc.): UBC ranked #2

ěũ

Canada’s Research University of the Year2 (RE$EARCH Infosource Inc.): UBC ranked #3 in the Medical⁄Doctoral category

ĦŴ

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013–2014:

ěũ

UBC ranked #23 worldwide (#1 overall in Canada) in the Life Sciences

ěũ

UBC ranked #30 in the world in the area of Clinical, Pre-Clinical, and Health

QS World University Rankings 2013-14: UBC ranked #49

Numbers presented in this section reflect total research funding from all sources based on departments/schools/centres within the Faculty of Medicine as of April 1, 2014. 2 Three universities gain RE$EARCH Infosource’s designation of Research University of the Year in their category for their performance on a balanced set of input, output and impact measures for FY2012. These full-service universities are recognized for demonstrating superior achievement both in earning research income and in publishing research in leading scientific journals. 1

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE BY THE NUMBERS

CIHR Operating Grants The proportion of CIHR operating grant dollars received by UBC relative to Canada’s major research universities is a key performance indicator for the university’s research enterprise. Figure 1 reflects UBC’s position among Canada’s premiere research universities.

Figure 1. CIHR Open Operating Grant Program - total dollars awarded by institution.3

Excludes Priority Announcement Funding for each competition.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Faculty of Medicine within UBC Scope of Research In FY 2013-14, the Faculty of Medicine was responsible for 54% of UBC’s total research activity (Figure 2). The Faculty of Medicine has accounted for at least 50% of UBC’s total research activity for the past five years.

Figure 2. UBC research funding from all sources by Faculty, FY 2013-14.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE BY THE NUMBERS

Distribution of Research within the Faculty of Medicine Research within the Faculty of Medicine is distributed across six major research sites (Figure 3). In 2013-14, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) was responsible for 26% of Faculty of Medicine research grant/contract funding. It includes two major research centres: The Centre for Brain Health and The Vancouver Prostate Centre.

Figure 3. 2013-14 Faculty of Medicine research funding from all sources, by research site.4,5

Research funding data for BC CDC site are based on investigators’ primary physical location. For data based on UBC CDC affiliation, see Figure 4. The research funding at the UBC Point Grey site is composed primarily of faculty members based at the LSC and SPPH. This site also includes researchers from the Biomedical Research Centre, Anaesthesiology (in Medical Sciences Block C), a handful located in Michael Smith Labs, and a few others who are in non-VCHRI space within the UBC Hospital (Physical Therapy, Occupational Sciences). 6 Includes research funding credited to centre members’ home departments. Not all faculty members have centre affiliations; therefore, the centre funding total will be less than the Faculty of Medicine total research funding. 7 Funding credited to research centres has been folded into the PI’s respective Department/School. A small amount (< 1%) is excluded for PIs who belong to a Faculty of Medicine Research Centre but whose primary appointment is in a non-Faculty of Medicine department. 4 5

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Figures 4 and 5 present the distribution of Faculty of Medicine total research funding by research centre and department/ school, respectively. The grant and contract funding for faculty members with joint appointments to departments and research centres are reported in both their home department and research centre. Therefore, to avoid double counting, the two amounts were not added to derive the total funding of the Faculty of Medicine. Figure 4. 2013-14 Faculty of Medicine research funding from all sources, by research centre.6

Figure 5. 2013-14 Faculty of Medicine total research funding from all sources, by department/school.7

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE BY THE NUMBERS

Building Our Research Community Clara van Karnebeek, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics

Building Our Research Community Chairs, professorships, and scholar awards are important vehicles that enable the university to attract and retain leaders in our research community. The Faculty of Medicine is fortunate to have access to a number of these prestigious honours, including external sources such as the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Canada Research Chairs Program as well as those established through the generosity of UBC donors.

Canada Research Chairs

55 Canada Research Chairs

As of March 31, 2014, the Faculty of Medicine has achieved a total of 55 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), divided between the senior Tier 1 (n = 31) and midterm level Tier 2 (n = 24) categories. Three Tier 1 and four Tier 2 Chairs were awarded in FY 2013-14 (Table 1). Additionally, in the Fall of 2013 the Faculty of Medicine held an internal CRC competition with the result that two Tier 2 Chairs were recommended for submission to Ottawa in April 2014. Table 1. Faculty of Medicine 2013-14 CRC recipients. Tier

Investigator

Department

Tier 1 (new)

Dr. Michael Kobor

SPPH

Tier 2 (new)

Dr. Jonathon Leipsic

Radiology

Tier 2 (new)

Dr. Kate Shannon

Medicine

Tier 1 (renewal)

Dr. Erica Frank

SPPH

Tier 1 (renewal)

Dr. Judy Illes

Medicine

Tier 2 (renewal)

Dr. Denise Daley

Medicine

Tier 2 (renewal)

Dr. Stefan Taubert

Medical Genetics

BUILDING OUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Introducing the Faculty of Medicine’s 2013-14 CRC Recipients Dr. Michael Kobor

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Social Epigenetics Mounting evidence suggests that human diseases including asthma and allergies as well as mental health are influenced by social and environmental experiences during early life. Dr. Kobor is investigating how childhood experiences can “get under the skin” via epigenetic marks to affect health and behaviour across the life course. His multidisciplinary “society to cell” approach integrates gene-environment research with a focus on developmental origins of health and disease. Dr. Kobor works in close partnership with researchers from child development, psychology, respiratory disease, and epidemiology across Canada and worldwide. His team is examining children and adults to understand how early adversity, such as poverty or abuse, can leave lasting epigenetic marks that influence diverse health outcomes. Dr. Kobor is excited about the possibilities for identifying the biological pathways by which early environments are embedded into the genome, and the potential of epigenetics to evaluate and develop interventions that target at-risk populations.

Dr. Jonathon Leipsic

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Advanced Cardiopulmonary Imaging Dr. Leipsic’s imaging laboratory is at the forefront of advanced imaging for structural heart disease and has helped guide the use of computed tomography in these procedures on a global scale. His team has published extensively in this realm as well as more broadly in the realm of coronary artery atherosclerosis, prognosis, and the interplay between ischemic heart and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some of his work has informed and modified clinical practice on a global scale. He is extremely excited about the opportunity to continue to learn about how advanced imaging can help improve clinical practice at present, as well as allow for the potential for deeper understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of acute myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease exacerbations.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Dr. Kate Shannon

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Global Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Dr. Shannonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work continues to push science-driven policy and practice in sexual health and HIV/AIDS for key affected populations, both in Canada and globally. Her team has published extensively on the role of structural drivers in shaping sexual health and HIV/STI prevention, treatment, and care. Most recently she published a landmark paper in the Lancet launched at AIDS 2014 on the potential for decriminalization of sex work to drastically alter the course of HIV epidemics among sex workers and clients across Kenya, India, and Canada. She is also leading efforts on violence and HIV, including WHO and UNAIDS guidelines, and recently launched a new community-based project in Vancouver examining gaps in sexual health and HIV care for women living with HIV in partnership with community, policy, and service leaders.

BUILDING OUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Dr. Erica Frank

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Preventive Medicine and Population Health Dr. Frank is an educational innovator, physician, medical researcher, and public health advocate. Through her CRC, Dr. Frank has tested a novel tool for educating health care workers online, which has been found to perform at levels comparable to and even better than students at traditional American medical and public health schools. Over the next 5 years, she will evaluate the toolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use to co-train (in collaboration with the University of Gezira and the Sudanese Ministry of Health) 10,000 Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine Residents in Sudan, a country desperately in need of more well-trained health care providers. Dr. Frank is showing that unconventional methods of learning made possible with current technology can erase existing barriers to education, and that online plus mentored/peer-guided learning is an effective way to rapidly increase the number of highly trained healthcare workers for countries in need.

Dr. Judy Illes

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics Dr. Illesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; research focuses on ethical, legal, social, and policy challenges specifically at the intersection of the neurosciences and biomedical ethics. This includes studies in the areas of functional brain imaging and neurogenetics in basic and clinical research, addiction neuroethics, stem cells and regenerative medicine, neurodevelopmental disorders, and the commercialization of cognitive neuroscience. She also leads a robust program of research and outreach devoted to improving the literacy of neuroscience and engaging stakeholders on a global scale. Recent results from her work on early-onset dementia with First Nations highlight the profound impact that changes in the environment from resource development are having on the brain and mental health of communities and individuals. In this new area of inquiry called Environmental Neuroethics, Dr. Illes and her team are exploring where the gaps in knowledge about these critical changes lie today, and identifying priorities for research and policy.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Dr. Denise Daley

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Genetic Epidemiology of Common Complex Diseases Dr. Daley is leading one of six Canadian teams participating in the International Epigenome Project. She is utilizing cutting-edge statistical, epigenetic, and bioinformatics techniques to obtain a better understanding of how inherited genetic variants and environmental exposures interact to modify the risk for developing disease. Her lab is working with a number of common complex diseases including asthma and allergic disease, COPD, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Her lab was the first to establish that the thymic stromal lymphopoietin gene is associated with the development of asthma and allergic disease, a finding that was subsequently replicated by numerous labs and studies around the world. Dr. Daley is very excited about the potential to utilize these advancements to better understand the etiology of disease and the modifiable environmental risk factors to identify individuals at greatest risk and to develop biomarkers and public health interventions.

Dr. Stefan Taubert

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Transcriptional Regulatory Networks Dr. Taubert employs a multidisciplinary research program that aims to define how transcriptionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the process of decoding the information contained in the DNAâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is regulated in health and disease. Using classical and innovative genetic approaches, he studies how a molecular machine, the so-called Mediator, implements the DNA code. Importantly, Mediator is mutated in an array of human diseases, including certain cancers and neurodevelopmental disorders, but how and why the Mediator mutations cause disease remains poorly understood. Using the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the house mouse as animal models, Dr. Taubert and his team define how Mediator regulates biological processes such as fat metabolism, organ development, and aging. By providing new insights into transcriptional regulation, this research may lead to new diagnostics and/or therapeutics to help cure human diseases.

BUILDING OUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY

20 New MSFHR Scholars

MSFHR Scholar Awards The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research’s prestigious (MSFHR) Scholar Awards program supports new investigators to launch independent research careers and build strong research programs. By providing funding to protect time for research, they help BC attract top research talent and retain the province’s best and brightest. Of the 32 2013-14 Scholar Award recipients, 20 are affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine.

Table 2. Faculty of Medicine investigators awarded MSFHR Scholar Awards in 2014. Investigator

Department

Project Title

Tillie-Louise Hackett

Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Molecular determinants of small airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Leigh Anne Swayne Cellular & Physiological Sciences

Ion channels: Molecular determinants of health and disease in the head and heart

Joanie Sims-Gould

Family Practice

A community-based research program focused on “Adding Life to Later Years”

Kasmintan Schrader

Medical Genetics

Molecular detection of known and novel cancer predisposition genes

Jason Andrade

Medicine

Cryoballoon vs. irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation: The effect of double short vs. standard exposure cryoablation duration during pulmonary vein isolation

Marc Deyell

Medicine

Premature ventricular contractions among patients with congestive heart failure: Prevalence and prognosis

Richard Lester

Medicine

Leading mHealth innovation and evidence in British Columbia: HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patient engagement in care

Christopher Ryerson

Medicine

Frailty in interstitial lung disease

Sean Barbour

Medicine

Integrating knowledge generation and translation: A unique research program to study the population-level clinical outcomes, health utilization and health services delivery for patients with glomerulonephritis in BC

Jagbir Gill

Medicine

Addressing disparities in access to living donor kidney transplantation in South and East Asian Canadians

Juan Aviña-Zubieta Medicine

Reducing the burden and gaps in care from Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (REGAIN SARDs)

Kathleen Deering

Medicine

A longitudinal investigation of the social, structural, and policy factors shaping HIV prevention, treatment and care for women living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Canada

James C. Johnston

Medicine

Tuberculosis prevention in British Columbia: Using big data to inform public health practice

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Investigator

Department

Project Title

Jill Zwicker

Occupational Sciences & Occupational Therapy

Increasing awareness and improving outcomes of children with developmental coordination disorder in British Columbia

Gerard Slobogean

Orthopaedics

A multi-centre 2x2 factorial randomized trial comparing sliding hip screws versus cancellous screws and vitamin D versus placebo on patientimportant complications and quality of life in the treatment of young adult (ages 18-60) femoral neck fractures

William Lockwood

Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Integrating clinical, functional and chemical genomics to understand lung cancer biology

Clara van Karnebeek

Pediatrics

Omics2TreatID: Improving diagnosis and treatment of intellectual disability via an integrated -omics approach

Quynh Doan

Pediatrics

Emergency department overcrowding: Determinants, measures and pediatric outcomes

Jordan Guenette

Physical Therapy

Mechanisms of dyspnea and exercise intolerance in patients with chronic respiratory diseases

Ziba Vaghri

Population & Public Facilitating the implementation and monitoring of child rights in Canada: A Health rights-based approach to child health promotion

CIHR-PHAC Applied Public Health Chairs CIHR and the Public Health Agency of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Applied Public Health Chairs Program supports high quality population health intervention research that contributes to new knowledge to improve health and health equity across the life course. The chairs catalyze interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaborations between researchers and knowledge users that contribute to evidence-informed decision-making and use of knowledge by public health and other sectors. One investigator from the Faculty of Medicine was awarded a chair under this program in 2013-14 (Table 3).

Table 3. Faculty of Medicine investigator awarded Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)/Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Chair in Applied Public Health Research in 2013-14. Investigator

Project Title

Total Awarded

Dr. Wendy Norman Evidence-Informed Family Planning Policy and Practice to $925,000 Improve Health and Health-Equity

Term 5 years

BUILDING OUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY

74 Donor-Funded Chairs & Professorships

Donor-Funded Chairs and Professorships As of August 31, 2014, 51 donor-funded chairs (Table 3) and 23 donor-funded professorships (Table 4) were held by faculty within the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Table 4. Donor-funded chairs held by faculty within the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Research Area

Chair

Holder

Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Dr. Jean Templeton Hugill Chair in Anaesthesia

Dr. Stephen Schwarz

University of British Columbia Chair in Patient Safety

Dr. Malcolm Maclure

Asa and Kashmir Johal and Family Chair in Paediatric Oncology

Dr. Poul Sorensen

BC Leadership Chair in Functional Cancer Imaging

Dr. Francois Benard

Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Primary Prevention of Cancer Research

Dr. Carolyn Gotay

Liber Ero BC Leadership Chair in Prostate Cancer Research

Dr. Martin Gleave

University of British Columbia, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BCYukon Chapter, Nan Robertson Chair in Breast Cancer Research

Dr. Samuel Aparicio

VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation Dr. Patricia Clugston Chair in Breast Reconstruction

Open â&#x20AC;&#x201C; search

Family Medicine

Royal Canadian Legion Chair in Family Medicine

Dr. Martin Dawes

Heart & Lung

AstraZeneca Chair in Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease

Dr. Christopher Carlsten

Sauder Family and Heart and Stroke Foundation Chair in Cardiology

Dr. Andrew Krahn

Allan M McGavin Chair in Geriatric Medicine

Open

CSL-Behring Research Chair in Endothelial Cell Biology

Dr. Ed Conway

E.W. Hamber Chair in Medicine

Dr. Graydon Meneilly

Harold Robinson Arthritis Society Chair in Arthritic Diseases

Dr. Linda Li

Mary C. Fisher Chair of Medicine

Open

Mary Pack Arthritis Society Chair in Rheumatology

Dr. Diane Lacaille

UBC and St Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital Foundation Chair in AIDS Research

Dr. Julio Montaner

Alcan Chair in Neurosciences

Dr. Gary Redekop

BC Leadership Chair in Depression Research

Open - search

Chair in Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Research

Dr. Andrei Krassioukov

Cordula and Gunter Paetzold Chair in Spinal Cord Clinical Research

Dr. Marcel Dvorak

Cancer

Medicine

Neurosciences & Mental Health

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Research Area

Ophthalmology

Pediatrics

Population & Public Health

Chair

Holder

Dr. Donald Rix BC Leadership Chair in Genetic Medicine

Dr. Matthew Farrer

Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon Chair in Stroke Research

Dr. Yu Tian Wang

IMH Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Anthony Bailey

IMH Chair in Psychotherapy

Open

Jack Bell Chair in Schizophrenia

Dr. William Honer

John and Penny Ryan BC Leadership Chair in Spinal Cord Research

Dr. Wolfram Tetzlaff

Louise Brown Chair in Neuroscience

Dr. Steven Vincent

Marianne Koerner Chair in Brain Diseases

Dr. Jason Barton

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Research Chair, Supported by the MS MRI Group

Dr. Anthony Traboulsee

Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute UBC Chair in Parkinson’s Research

Dr. Martin McKeown

Providence Health Care BC Leadership Chair in Addiction Research

Dr. Michael Krausz

Rick Hansen Institute Spinal Cord Research Chair

Open

Julia Levy BC Leadership Chair in Macular Research

Dr. Kevin GregoryEvans

Stephen M. Drance Chair in Ophthalmology

Dr. David Maberley

CH.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Paediatric Gastroenterology Research

Dr. Bruce Vallance

CKNW Orphan’s Fund Chair of Immunology

Dr. Stuart Turvey

James & Annabel McCreary Chair in Pediatrics, Supported by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation

Dr. Allison Eddy

Sauder Family Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Dr. David Speert

Sunnyhill Health Centre BC Leadership Chair in Early Child Development

Open – search

Ross Petty - The Arthritis Society Research Chair in Pediatric Rheumatology

Dr. David Cabral (from Jan. 1, 2015)

Chair in Biomedical Ethics

Dr. Michael Burgess

Chair in Business and Professional Ethics

Dr. David Silver

J. Armand Bombardier Foundation Chair in Regional Transportation Planning

Dr. Lawrence Frank

Maurice Young Chair in Applied Ethics

Open

WCB Chair in Occupational Hygiene (Applied Science)

Dr. Murray Hodgson

WCB Chairs in Occupational Hygiene (Graduate Studies & Medicine)

Dr. Michael Brauer

C.N. Woodward Chair in Surgery

Dr. Garth Warnock

Irving K Barber Chair in Diabetes Research

Dr. Bruce Verchere

Surgery

These are considered two chairs for counting purposes.

BUILDING OUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Charles Fipke, left, with Fipke Professor in Alzheimer’s Research Haakon Nygaard.

Fipke Professor in Alzheimer’s Research: Dr. Haakon Nygaard A $3 million donation from UBC alumnus and Canadian mining magnate Charles Fipke has enabled the Faculty of Medicine to establish a new professorship dedicated to the study of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Haakon Nygaard, the inaugural Fipke Professor in Alzheimer’s Research, joined the Faculty of Medicine from the Yale School of Medicine earlier this year. A native of Norway who earned his medical degree in Nebraska, Dr. Nygaard spent the past decade at Yale—first as a neurology resident, then as a PhD student, and finally as a faculty member, where he was founding Co-Director of Yale’s Memory Disorders Clinic. His interest in Alzheimer’s disease was sparked while working with a Nebraska physician who saw many patients with the disease. “I like working with older people,” he says. “I connect with them.” Based at the new Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Dr. Nygaard will provide clinical care and oversee a program of research focused on new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease. He is currently co-leading an $11 million study funded by the US National Institutes of Health examining whether saracatinib, a drug developed for cancer, can curb the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. He is also studying the potential of anti-convulsant drugs in delaying or reversing Alzheimer’s disease. In another line of research, he is collecting DNA samples of cognitively healthy people over 100 years old, searching for shared genetic characteristics that aren’t present in people who develop dementia. By identifying such genes, Dr. Nygaard hopes to determine what proteins they produce and give drug developers new targets for a disease that currently lacks effective treatment.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Table 5. Donor-funded professorships held by faculty within the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Research Area

Professorship

Holder

Audiology & Speech Sciences

Eric W Hamber Professor in Clinical Audiology

Dr. Susan Small

Cancer

Dr. Chew Wei MBBS [HK] FRCOG [ENG] Memorial Professorship

Dr. David Huntsman

Heart & Lung

British Columbia Lung Association Professorship

Open

GlaxoSmithKline Professorship in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder

Dr. Don Sin

McLeod Family Professorship in Valvular Heart Disease Intervention

Dr. John Webb

Paul Brunes UBC Professorship in Heart Rhythm Disorders

Dr. Andrew Krahn

UBC Heart & Stroke Foundation Professorship in Women’s Cardiovascular Dr. Karin Humphries Health Neurosciences & Mental Health

Medicine Pediatrics

BC Neurotrauma Professorship

Dr. Matt Ramer

Fipke Professorship in Alzheimer’s Research

Dr. Haakon Nygaard

Jack Brown & Family Professorship in Alzheimer’s Research

Dr. Weihong Song

Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute Professorship in Parkinson’s Research

Dr. Silke Cresswell

Ralph Fisher and Alzheimer Society of BC Professorship in Alzheimer Research

Dr. Howard Feldman

R. Howard Webster Professorship in Brain Imaging and Child Development

Dr. Tim Oberlander

Sauder Family and Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon Professorship in Clinical Stroke Research

Dr. Phillip Teal

Glen Hillson Professorship in Clinical Virology

Dr. Richard Harrigan

Michael O’Shaughnessey Professorship in HIV/AIDS & Population Health

Open

Aubrey J Tingle Professorship in Paediatric Immunology

Dr. Stuart Turvey

UBC and BC Children’s Hospital Professorship in Acute and Critical Care - Dr. Tex Kissoon Global Child Health Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Dr. Victor Gomel Professorship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff

Population & Public Health

Mary and Maurice Young Professorship in Applied Ethics

Dr. Peter Danielson

Professorship in Health Promotion

Dr. James Frankish

Professorship in Health Services and Policy

Open

Dr. Patrick J. Doyle & Dr. Quentin D. Jacks Professorship in Otolaryngological Research

Dr. Cathie Garnis

Surgery

BUILDING OUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Fostering Research Innovation

Christopher Loewen, Associate Professor in the Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences

Fostering Research Innovation Canada Foundation for Innovation The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) supports innovative infrastructure projects that sustain and enhance areas of activity in which the CFI has already invested and provide support to explore promising new research directions. The Faculty of Medicine received $2 million from the CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund 2013 competitions (Table 6).

18 John R. Evans Leaders Fund grants

Table 6. Faculty of Medicine CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund 2013 grants. Investigator(s)

Department

Total CFI Contribution

Dr. Edwin Moore

Cellular and Physiological Sciences

$71,327

Dr. Michael Underhill

Cellular and Physiological Sciences

$275,000

Dr. Birol Inanc

Medical Genetics

$125,000

Dr. Xiaoyan Jiang

Medical Genetics

$75,000

Dr. Ed Conway

Medicine

$144,273

Dr. Haakon Nygaard

Medicine

$118,439

Dr. Kate Shannon

Medicine

$75,000

Dr. Alexander Beristain

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

$125,000

Dr. Paul Yong

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

$125,000

Dr. Ipek Oruc

Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

$45,649

Dr. Max Cynader

Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

$240,000

Dr. Miriam Spering

Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

$78,834

Dr. Colin Ross

Pediatrics

$110,698

Dr. Alex Rauscher

Radiology

$27,360

Dr. Jonathon Leipsic

Radiology

$81,488

Dr. Amee Manges

SPPH

$125,000

Dr. Erica Frank

SPPH

$30,000

Dr. Jennifer Gardy

SPPH

$162,676

FOSTERING RESEARCH INNOVATION

Grant Funding Highlights

Evan Wood speaks at the announcement of provincial and U.S. funding for research and training in addiction medicine.

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Drs. Terrance Snutch and Neil Cashman awarded $1.5M each from Brain Canada and other funding partners to pursue novel, transformative research aimed at improving understanding of nervous system function and dysfunction, and its impact on health

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Drs. Don Sin and Raymond Ng (Department of Computer Science) awarded $7.2 million from Genome BC, Genome Canada, PROOF Centre of Excellence, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, and Genome Quebec to develop a blood test for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) lung attacks

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Drs. Timothy Kieffer and Rusung Tan share in $3 million provided by Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada to launch the western expansion of the JDRF Canadian Clinical Trial Network

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Dr. Aslam Anis and co-PIs Sharon Walmsley (U of T) and Marina Klein (McGill) received $22.75 million funding renewal from CIHR for Canadian HIV Trials Network, marking 29 years of uninterrupted funding

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Dr. Richard Lester awarded $2 million from Grand Challenges Canada and the African Medical Research Foundation to scale up use of cell phones to improve HIV patient care in Kenya

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UBC spin-off company founded by Drs. Mark Ansermino and Guy Dumont (Applied Science) awarded $1 million from Grand Challenges Canada, matched by $1 million from private investors, to scale up production and distribution of their invention, the Phone Oximeter, to the developing world

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Drs. Paul Rennie, Martin Gleave, Ralph Buttyan, and Michael Hsing received Prostate Cancer Research Awards from U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs totaling >$2.8 million

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Dr. Peter von Dadelszen awarded new $1.5 million from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing the Foundation’s total funding for PRE-EMPT (Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia Monitoring, Prevention & Treatment) project to $25.9 million

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Province of British Columbia invested $3 million to expand addiction medicine education and research training program for clinicians led by Dr. Evan Wood, making it the largest in North America

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Twenty-four UBC researchers part of newly announced Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), supported by a fiveyear, $31.5 million commitment from CIHR and a group of 13 public and private sector partners

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Faculty of Medicine Internal Awards The Office of the Executive Associate Dean, Research (EADR) holds a number of internal competitions to promote research and inspire excellence; most are run annually. In academic year 2013-14, the Office of the EADR ran the following competitions for faculty members:

Faculty of Medicine Spring Start-Ups This award provides start-up funding for faculty members who are in the first two years of a full-time appointment. In August 2014, Dr. William Henderson (Department of Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine) and Dr. Bradley Quon (Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine) were awarded $5,000 each in start-up funding.

Faculty of Medicine Discussion Groups $15,000 of supporting funds was distributed across Faculty of Medicine departments and research centres to support interdisciplinary discussion groups and formal seminar series. These seminars are open to all interested UBC faculty members, staff, and students, and offer opportunities for students to actively connect with visiting speakers from around the world.

Distinguished Medical Research Lecturer Award Each year the Faculty of Medicine recognizes the outstanding lecturers in our medical research fields. Candidates from Basic Sciences or Clinical Sciences are nominated by fellow faculty members on the basis of a distinguished research career, recognition in the medical community, and mentoring contributions over the past year. Nominees are selected by the Faculty of Medicine Research Council. Acceptance of this award is accompanied by a seminar open to all faculty members and students as a part of the Leaders in Medical Discovery Series. The winners for 2014 were: Basic Science: Dr. Timothy Kieffer (Cellular and Physiological Sciences) Clinical Science: Dr. Lakshmi Yatham (Psychiatry)

FOSTERING RESEARCH INNOVATION

Recognizing Research Excellence

Srikantha Phani, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Faculty of Applied Science), and Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Recognizing Research Excellence Highlights Faculty members were honoured with prestigious research awards and prizes in 2013-14.10 ěũ

In September 2014 UNAIDS announced it has adopted a strategy for global HIV treatment and prevention based on Dr. Julio Montaner’s pioneering concept of Treatment as Prevention. The 90-90-90 strategy’s goals are by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV should know their status, 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection should receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy should have viral suppression. Achieving the 90-90-90 goals by 2020 will ensure by 2030 the overall burden of the global AIDS pandemic will be reduced by at least 90% of what this was in 2010.

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Drs. Keith Humphries and Peter Lansdorp inducted Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

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Drs. John Cairns, William Clifford, James Hogg, and Aubrey Tingle appointed to the Order of British Columbia

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Dr. Max Cynader inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

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Dr. Martin Gleave received 2013 Aubrey J. Tingle Prize from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

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Drs. Blake Gilks, Stephen Lam, Marco Marra, and John Webb awarded Killam Research Prizes (Applied Science, Sciences; Senior Category)

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Drs. Jim Wright and Stuart MacLeod awarded Knowledge Translation Award from CIHR for their roles in the Canadian Cochrane Centre

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Dr. Michael Brauer received Asthma Society of Canada’s inaugural Bastable-Potts Asthma Research Prize, as well as a For Life and Breath Innovation Award

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Drs. John Webb, Elizabeth Simpson, and Robert Brunham received 2014 LifeSciences British Columbia Awards from LifeSciences BC

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Dr. James Frankish awarded Ron Draper National Health Promotion Award from Canadian Public Health Association

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Drs. Carolyn Gotay and Kendall Ho elected Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

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Dr. James Johnson awarded Killam Research Fellowship (Junior Category)

Julio Montaner, Professor in the Department of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine’s 2013 Annual Awards Report may be referenced for a complete list of the Faculty’s accomplishments in research, teaching, leadership, and general contributions to 10

society. RECOGNIZING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

of “the world’s most influential scientific minds”

Highly Cited Researchers Nine members of the Faculty of Medicine earned the distinction of Highly Cited Researchers in 2014, a ranking compiled by Thomson Reuters of “the world’s most influential scientific minds” (Table 7). The list comprises 3,200 scientists who had the highest number of Highly Cited Papers (i.e., publications that rank in the top 1% in terms of citations) in their respective field for the period spanning 2002-2012. Only 89 researchers from Canada appear on the list. Table 7. Thomson Reuters 2014 Highly Cited Researchers from the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Name

Category

FoM Clusters

Dr. John Webb

Clinical Medicine

Heart & Lung Health

Dr. Joseph Connors

Clinical Medicine

Cancer

Dr. Randy Gascoyne

Clinical Medicine

Cancer

Dr. Steven Jones

Computer Science

Cancer

Dr. Marco Marra

Molecular Biology & Genetics

Cancer

Dr. Howard Feldman

Neuroscience & Behavior

Neuroscience & Mental Health

Dr. Ian Mackenzie

Neuroscience & Behavior

Neuroscience & Mental Health

Dr. Lakshmi Yatham

Psychiatry/ Psychology

Neuroscience & Mental Health

Dr. Lawrence Frank

Social Sciences, general

Population & Public Health

Source: Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

UBC as a whole had 18 faculty members listed (including the nine from the Faculty of Medicine), the second-highest number among Canadian institutions (Figure 6). In examining the list of Highly Cited Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, it became clear that many of the individuals listed collaborate as part of high-performing clusters that closely mirror the Facultyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research areas of pre-eminence: heart & lung health, cancer, and neuroscience & mental health. These results demonstrate the weight of the Facultyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research impact and reinforce the strategic investments in the Faculty.

Figure 6. Number of Highly Cited Researchers, by Canadian institution.

Source: Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014

RECOGNIZING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Spotlight on Randy Gascoyne: The Question That Started It All

L-R: Marco Marra, Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics, Joseph Connors, Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine, and Randy Gascoyne, Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. Photo: BC Cancer Foundation A question Dr. Randy Gascoyne asked himself as a hematopathologist at the BC Cancer Agency in the late 1980s precipitated an unexpected career in cancer research that has benefitted countless patients in BC and around the world. “Cancer is a devastating disease,” says Gascoyne. “Within that landscape, lymphoma is one of the happier stories because we cure a lot of people. But I began to wonder, if we cure most people, why can’t we cure them all? And I decided this was my mission in life—to make significant contributions to the field that would impact patients.” Nearly 27 years and 400+ publications later, he has done just that. Now a globally recognized leader in lymphoma research, Gascoyne is both honoured and humbled to be included in the Thomson Reuters list of the world’s most influential scientific minds, in part because he still carries a large clinical load. Reflecting on the factors that enabled this extraordinary achievement, he is quick to acknowledge his collaboration with fellow clinician-scientist Dr. Joseph Connors, with whom he built the Centre for Lymphoid Cancer from “blood, sweat, and tears, and not much else.” The construction of an electronic database and biospecimen repository were critical building blocks that enabled them to begin doing clinically driven translational research. Another key factor was the establishment of Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency, which led to a tremendously fruitful collaboration with genomics expert Dr. Marco Marra and bioinformatics expert Dr. Steven Jones—a marriage he describes as the perfect recipe for making truly meaningful scientific discovery and translating the findings into the clinic. Gascoyne believes the ability and desire to collaborate is not only a key contributor to his success, it is the paradigm of modern science: “Science is not done with the silo mentality of the old days where you hid in your laboratory and tried to do good work without anybody knowing about it until you were ready to publish.” By bringing the wisdom of the collective to bear on a complex problem, collaboration has the potential to accelerate progress that ultimately improves patient lives—an approach Gascoyne hopes the next generation of researchers will view as the only way to do science.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

John Webb, Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine. Photo: Providence Health Care

Heart & Lung Health Dr. John Webb, Clinical Professor of Cardiology and interventional cardiologist, earned a spot on the Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers list by leading a series of incremental steps to pioneer percutaneous heart valve replacement, a lifesaving, non-invasive procedure to replace the aortic valve in individuals who do not qualify for open heart surgery. His story began more than a decade ago with a burning clinical problem: How can we help patients with severe valve disease who are not eligible for open-heart surgery? At the time, this was largely unexplored territory, which meant there was an opportunity to explore new ways of approaching an old problem. What followed was a series of high-impact studies that span the early clinical experiences with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), the technical aspects of inserting the valve, how to select the right patients, determining the clinical indication, harnessing imaging to create the best fit for the valve, and documenting patient outcomes. Today, the question of whether TAVI can be done has been answered. Dr. Webbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus has now shifted to which patients should have it done. This research to establish best practices involves large evaluative studies to determine long-term clinical and quality of life outcomes, valve durability, and costs to the health system.

RECOGNIZING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

Cancer A group of four individuals at the BC Cancer Agency with complementary expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, oncology, and pathology represents the largest cluster of Highly Cited Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine.

Steven Jones, Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics

Dr. Marco Mara, Professor of Medical Genetics and Canada Research Chair in Genome Science, and Dr. Steven Jones, Professor of Medical Genetics, lead Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency and are internationally recognized experts in applying genomics to study tumour cells. Their genomics and bioinformatics platforms, respectively, support translational research across a range of cancers (e.g., lymphoid, breast, and ovarian), and their research has led to major breakthroughs in understanding the genes that drive the progression of cancers. Drs. Marra and Jones have also led major sequencing projects outside of the cancer realm. They were the first to map the sequence of the SARS-associated corona virus, which resulted in a 2003 publication in Science that has been cited more than 1112 times. This discovery established that DNA sequencing could “reveal the enemy,” which had major implications for many diseases, including cancers, as the techniques used for SARS could be applied more broadly. Dr. Joseph Connors, Clinical Professor of Medical Oncology, and Dr. Randy Gascoyne, Clinical Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, lead the BC Cancer Agency’s Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and are world-renowned for their pioneering work in lymphoma research. They have helped design chemotherapy protocols for large cell lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease that are widely used throughout the world. As leaders in their field, they have been invited to participate in numerous international consortia, including an International Harmonization Project that developed consensus criteria for predicting how patients with malignant lymphoma respond to treatment and how those responses are defined. Standardized response criteria are critical for interpreting and comparing clinical trials and for the approval of new therapeutic agents by regulatory agencies. The criteria Drs. Connors and Gascoyne helped develop, which were published in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, have been cited 1064 times and are now the standard for lymphoma research worldwide. Over the last 15 years, their involvement in the Leukemia Lymphoma Molecular Profiling Project, an international collaboration aimed at redefining the classification of human lymphoid malignancies in molecular terms and identifying molecular correlates of clinical parameters to inform prognosis and treatment, has produced nearly 70 papers in some of the highest-impact journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, and Cancer Cell.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Although each of these individuals has produced independent high-impact work, the four-way collaboration that marries basic biology with clinical translation has positioned this group together as what is arguably the leading lymphoma genomics centre in the world. In 2010, using next-generation sequencing approaches, this group was the first to discover a novel recurrent mutation in lymphoma implicating a gene called EZH2, published in Nature Genetics, which rapidly led four independent pharmaceutical companies to develop specific small-molecule inhibitors, one of which entered first-in-man clinical trials in mid 2013. This body of work represents the first example of targeted therapy in lymphoid cancers, demonstrates the rapidity with which novel discovery can lead to new therapeutics, and highlights the impact of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work in translational cancer research. In 2011, the four of them, along with several local collaborators, published for the first time a landmark paper in Nature that described the genomic landscape of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This seminal paper identified many novel recurrent mutations in this common lymphoma subtype and opened the eyes of the international research community to the role of histone modification and chromatin remodeling as important players in the biology of this cancer.

Ian Mackenzie, Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Neuroscience & Mental Health Dr. Ian Mackenzie, Professor of Pathology & Laboratory medicine and clinical pathologist, and Dr. Howard Feldman, Professor of Neurology and clinical neurologist, earned a spot on the list based on several influential discoveries that shaped the field of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) research. The pair cites three elements that converged to create the discoveries they contributed to the field: a clinical database, a commitment to following individuals throughout life to autopsy and receiving brain donations, and a commitment to genetic studies of families. The initial work began with Dr. Mackenzieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s observation of unique neuropathological signatures in FTD. Using their clinical database and autopsy results, he and Dr. Feldman determined that 40-50% of those affected by this devastating disorder had important positive family history. Their research between 2006-2013 discovered the genetic basis of this relationship, with mutations of 2 novel genes (Progranulin and C9ORF72) causing the disease. Dr. Mackenzie contributed to the discovery of Fused in Sarcoma mutations causing ALS. The research identified the inexorable link between FTD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), creating a novel neurodegenerative disease spectrum. Beyond molecular genetic discoveries, which reached the pages of Nature, Science, and Neuron, in each instance, through a global network of productive collaborations they have been able to elucidate the pathogenesis of each mutation to the disease expression. These discoveries have not only opened up this research field with new potential disease targets, biomarkers, and experimental therapeutics but have also impacted clinical care where it is now possible to provide genetic counseling and selective testing for these mutations. Affected families that until this point did not know the basis of the devastating

RECOGNIZING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

illness within their family now have new options both for understanding it better but also for receiving education, better clinical care, and research opportunity. The reporting of the mutations, the insights on disease pathogenesis, and the linking of FTD and ALS have engaged the research community and turned this field into one of the most dynamic ones in neuroscience with unprecedented promise and insights and potential for progress in clinical care of these devastating diseases. Much like the cancer cluster, members of the neuroscience & mental health cluster also play leadership roles at the national and international level developing consensus criteria and treatment guidelines that have garnered widespread attention as high-profile publications. Most notably, Dr. Feldman has contributed to the conceptualization of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease diagnostic criteria, resulting in several highly cited publications, including a 2007 article in Lancet Neurology that has been cited 1192 times. Lakshmi Yatham, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham, Professor of Psychiatry, was one of two researchers from Canadian institutions listed among the top 100 most highly cited researchers by Thomson Reuters in the world in the Psychiatry/Psychology category. Dr. Yathamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group conducted the most comprehensive assessment of the dopamine system in bipolar disorder using positron emission tomography and showed that manic symptoms are a consequence of reduced dopamine transporter density. This translational research is paving the way to several therapeutic pathways for improving the clinical management of mania, including the development of novel treatments that enhance dopamine reuptake or reduce dopamine release or synthesis. His imaging work on the role of brain 5-HT2 receptors in the mechanisms of action of antidepressant treatments will continue to be a key in the development of new molecules that target this receptor to achieve antidepressant effects. The first-episode mania program Dr. Yatham runs at UBC has provided numerous important insights into clinical and neurobiological aspects of early-onset bipolar disorder, such as demonstrating that early optimal intervention can reverse cognitive deficits in bipolar patients. Dr. Yatham in collaboration with international researchers conducted studies that led to approval of risperidone and quetiapine for treatment of mania and lamotrigine for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. His most recent work suggests that continuation of an atypical antipsychotic as an adjunct to a mood stabilizer does not offer any additional benefit beyond 6 months of therapy and will have a significant impact in changing clinical practice of maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Dr. Yatham chairs the Bipolar Group of the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and published CANMAT guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder, which are updated every two to three years. These guidelines are widely read around the world and highly cited, with the 2009 version receiving close to 500 citations. These guidelines are considered the most pragmatic and clinician friendly, and they have had substantial impact on shaping the clinical practice of managing bipolar disorder.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Population Health Dr. Lawrence Frank, Professor of Population and Public Health, earned a spot on the list because of his seminal work documenting the health impacts of the built environment. He wrote many of the original papers in this emerging subfield at the nexus between public health and urban planning. He started the use of the term “walkability” and developed standardized methods to quantify the physical design features of the urban environment that are now widely used around the globe. He was the first to document how time spent in cars as a sedentary form of behaviour predicts obesity, and is the lead author of the wellknown “driving makes you fat paper.” His research showed a 6% increase in the likelihood of obesity for every additional hour spent in a car and a 5% reduction for every additional kilometer walked. He was the first to publish a quantitative definition of “obesogenic” environments in youth integrating both sides of the energy balance equation, including physical activity and nutrition environment impacts. Dr. Frank published the first study to link objectively measured physical activity captured through accelerometry with objectively measured built environment features measured with geographic information systems. His work showed that people in the most walkable areas of the Atlanta region were 2.5 times more likely to get recommended amounts of physical activity than those in the least walkable areas of that region. In 2010 he was invited by the American Public Health Association to publish “The Hidden Health Care Costs of Transportation,” which was the first study of its kind to begin to link fiscal impacts of health with community design features. Dr. Frank works closely with local, regional, provincial, and federal agencies applying research to decision making. He and his colleagues have been among the first to develop quantitative health impact assessment tools that are being applied in decision making around where growth should go and how it should be designed from a health promotion perspective.

Lawrence Frank, Professor in the School of Population & Public Health

RECOGNIZING RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

National Prizes Awarded by the Faculty of Medicine The Margolese National Brain and Heart Disorders Prizes Established in 2011, the prestigious Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize and Margolese National Heart Disorders Prize are awarded annually to two Canadian researchers ($50,000 in each category) who are leaders in the fields of brain and heart research, respectively. The 2013 winners, Dr. Andres Lozano (University of Toronto, Brain Prize) and Dr. Peter Liu (University of Toronto, Heart Prize), were announced in July of that year and honoured at a formal celebration in November 2013.

Dr. Chew Wei MBBS [HK] FRCOG [ENG] Memorial Prize in Cancer Research The Dr. Chew Wei MBBS [HK] FRCOG [ENG] Memorial Prize in Cancer Research is $50,000 prize awarded annually to a Canadian physician or scientist who has made transformational, internationally recognized contributions to the treatment, amelioration or cure for cancer. The inaugural prize winner, Dr. Tak Mak (University of Toronto), was announced in April 2014 and honoured at a banquet celebration in June.

About the 2014 Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Prize in Cancer Research Winner Dr. Tak W. Mak is the Director of the Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and a University Professor in the Departments of Medical Biophysics and Immunology at the University of Toronto. He is best known for his 1984 discovery, along with U.S. scientist Mark Davis, of the T-cell receptor. He has also been a pioneer in developing genetically engineered mice, which he used to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of a protein called CTLA-4 on T-cells. Those findings led to the development of Ipilimumab, a drug that blocks CTLA-4, thus enabling T-cells to proliferate and destroy melanoma cells. His technique for generating knockout mice—and sharing them with other scientists—fostered tangential discoveries by colleagues around the world. Dr. Mak has also explored the mechanisms of cell death, thus providing clues about cancer cells’ potential vulnerabilities, and he has described how cancer cells can adapt their metabolism to avoid the body’s own defences. He has published over 800 peer-reviewed research papers and holds numerous patents. He is the recipient of several awards and honours, including the Gairdner International Award for Science. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1986 and an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

About the 2013 Margolese National Heart Disorders Prize Winner Dr. Peter Liu, Scientific Director of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and a Professor of Medicine at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the University of Toronto, has explored the interplay between viruses and the body’s immune system and how this can inflict often fatal damage on the heart muscle. His elegant use of mouse models and human systems biology tools has elucidated the interplay between the viral invasion and the body’s response. He also revealed the biological processes responsible for “heart remodeling,” in which the heart adapts to insults like a restriction of blood supply or viral injury. His research extends well beyond the laboratory to examine the epidemiology of heart disease, and he contributed to Canada’s innovative heart failure practice guidelines, ensuring that research knowledge is translated into point-of-care benefits for patients. Dr. Liu also led the harmonization of cardiovascular risk factor management guidelines that have been adopted across the country. He has published over 350 peer-reviewed scholarly articles. He is currently President of the International Society of Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure, and served previously as the Scientific Director of the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

About the 2013 Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize Winner Dr. Andres Lozano, Professor and Chair of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, is a world leader in deep brain stimulation (DBS). A pioneer in mapping the human brain, he discovered the electrophysiological function of critical regions, including the thalamus, which regulates consciousness, sleep, and alertness, and the pedunculopontine nucleus, a part of the brain stem that is involved in arousal, attention, learning, reward, and voluntary limb movements and locomotion. These discoveries carried important potential clinical implications, not only for DBS, but to understanding disorders of sleep, wakefulness, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Dr. Lozano has authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed publications, many in top-tier medical journals, and is one of the world’s most cited neuroscientists (and the most cited in the field of DBS). He is a member of the scientific advisory boards of some of the most influential research organizations, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He is a member of the editorial boards of 18 international journals (two of which he serves as deputy editor) and a former president of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery and the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.

FOSTERING RESEARCH INNOVATION

Educating our Students in Research

Graduate students in the Centre for Applied Neurogenetics

Educating our Students in Research Exposing students to the fundamental principles and opportunities of research is an important priority of the Faculty of Medicine. Our graduate studies include Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, PhD, and postdoctoral training opportunities. In the three undergraduate programs, students are exposed to research through a variety of courses and elective opportunities. An important initiative is the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP), an extracurricular program that supports both MD and non-MD undergraduate students. For the first time this year the Faculty of Medicine also offered research-related training to international undergraduate students through the Vancouver Summer Program in Medicine.

Graduate, Postgraduate, and Postdoctoral Research Programs In September 2014, Dr. Peter Leung completed a term of service from 2008â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2014 in the role of Associate Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Education for the Faculty of Medicine. The mandate of the Associate Dean Graduate and Postdoctoral Education is to provide leadership to ensure that the Faculty of Medicine graduate students and postdoctoral fellows receive excellent training, mentoring, and recognition. In this regard, Dr. Leung has made a number of significant and lasting contributions: He expanded the membership and mandate of the FoM Graduate Education Committee to include not only the graduate advisors of all Faculty of Medicine graduate programs, but also graduate student and postdoctoral fellow representatives. He established clear and transparent processes for the adjudication and selection of numerous graduate student and postdoctoral awards that are administered by the Faculty. He also established formal educational partnerships with academic institutions internationally, such as Peking University and Zhejiang University, creating opportunities for graduate student and postdoctoral exchanges in all disciplines in Medicine. The Faculty of Medicine is tremendously grateful for his many contributions in this role.

Peter Leung, Associate Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Education, 2008-2014

EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS IN RESEARCH

Master’s and PhD Programs As of October 2014, the Faculty of Medicine graduate programs reported 1,602 graduate students enrolled in master’s and PhD programs; this includes 362 students in health professional programs. A breakdown of the number of graduate students by program can be found in Appendix A.

MD/PhD Program The UBC MD/PhD Program is an integrated program jointly administered by the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Its purpose is to provide selected and highly qualified students the opportunity to combine their medical school experience with intensive scientific research training in a PhD graduate program, in order to pursue careers as clinician-scientists. The program is designed such that students can receive the combined MD/PhD degree after successful completion of seven years of enrollment. The program of study is built upon the standard MD curriculum, but it is further customized to meet the unique PhD training program requirements of individual students based on their background, previous research experience, and chosen medical field of expertise.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows Postdoctoral research fellows are individuals who have completed a doctoral degree (PhD) and who are seeking the opportunity to train further in a particular area of research. According to an internal tracking system (HRMS), there were 293 postdoctoral research fellows appointed within the Faculty of Medicine as of October 31, 2014. The aggregate number inclusive of postdoctoral research fellows working at distributed sites, including health authorities, is larger.

Clinician Investigator Program Dr. Siân Spacey, MD, Director The UBC Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) is designed to provide a combined research and clinical training stream for residents in clinical specialty programs at UBC. The aim is to encourage young physicians to pursue careers as clinicianscientists and to renew the clinical academic faculty at UBC and other Canadian medical schools. As of November 2014, 15 individuals were enrolled in the Clinician Investigator Program. The program has been highly successful in renewing the clinical academic faculty positions at UBC and other Canadian medical institutions. CIP fellows have consistently obtained salary awards, operating grants, and prestigious fellowships (e.g., Grand Challenges, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships). Of highly important note, a recent graduate obtained a £2.6M operating grant in Cambridge, which has lead him to run numerous projects in the UK.

Prestigious External Awards for Graduate and Postdoctoral Trainees ěũ

4 Faculty of Medicine postdoctoral researchers awarded Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

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12 Faculty of Medicine postdoctoral researchers awarded CIHR Fellowship Awards

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10 Faculty of Medicine doctoral students awarded Vanier Scholarships

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Left to right: Master of Physical Therapy students Silvana Echeverri, Catherine Greenway, Stephanie McCann, Marcia Denhoed, and Christian Kubas

Spotlight on Health Professions Student Research and Innovation: Master of Physical Therapy Program The Master of Physical Therapy Program (MPT) provides an evidenced-based curriculum preparing graduates for a clinical career that will be guided by research evidence and best practice guidelines. An understanding of research principles is imparted to students through classroom teaching, as well as optional research placements. In addition, all students work collaboratively in small groups to complete a systematic review or research project in a specific area of rehabilitation practice. Their work is showcased yearly during research presentation day. Many of the groups go on to present their results at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals. In 2013-14, MPT students supervised by Professor Darlene Reid—Marcia Denhoed, Silvana Echeverri, Catherine Greenway, Christian Kubas, and Stephanie McCann—presented their work at the Physiotherapy forum, garnering first prize for their poster, “Reliability And Validity Of Cervical Range Of Motion And Muscle Strength Testing.” An MPT group supervised by Associate Professor Michael Hunt recently published their project in the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Oct 2014). The article was titled “Comparison of mirror, raw video, and real-time visual biofeedback for training toe-out gait in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.” This year the Department began offering a combined MPT/PhD degree to prepare future clinician scientists. The MPT/ PhD program is designed to provide students flexibility in the completion of their concurrent clinical and research training, resulting in an accelerated completion time. This innovative UBC program will be a powerful recruitment tool to attract exceptional students to UBC.

EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS IN RESEARCH

Internal Awards for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Awards Awarded annually, these comprise a number of awards with distinct criteria. In 2013-14, these awards provided $74,750 worth of scholarship funds to 12 Faculty of Medicine graduate students.

Friedman Scholars Program Established in 2013 with a generous donation from the Constance Livingstone-Friedman and Sydney Friedman Foundation, the Friedman Scholars Program aims to extend the global reach of UBC graduate students and medical resident trainees, and enrich our scholarly community by providing opportunities for our future scholars in the health sciences to learn from global experts in their respective fields. Friedman Scholars are expected to travel outside of Western Canada to other areas of the world in order to seek new perspectives and learn from experts in their fields. Four Friedman Scholars were selected during the 2013-14 academic year and were awarded a total of $135,000 to pursue learning opportunities with experts abroad: Melissa Richard-Greenblatt is a PhD student in the Experimental Medicine program (supervisor Dr. Yossef Av-Gay). Melissa will spend one year at the Kwazulu-Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV in Durban, South Africa, where she will continue her research on the role of ergothioneine in TB. Under the supervision of Dr. Adrie Steyn, she will gain new scientific knowledge and perspectives that will enable her to translate her findings for clinical applications as well as understand the impact of TB in South Africa. Hojatollah Rezaei Nejad is a PhD student in the UBCO Faculty of Applied Science (supervisor Dr. Mina Hoorfar). Hojat will spend one year with Dr. Ali Khademhosseiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lab at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Dr. Khademhosseini is a leader in the field of biomedical tissue engineering, and Hojatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time in his lab will enable him to apply his knowledge of micro- and nano-scale systems in practical biomedical settings, such as tissue engineering. Dr. Mohsen Khosravi Maharlooei, MD, is a PhD student in the Experimental Medicine program (supervisor Dr. Aziz Ghahary). Dr. Khosravi will spend one year at Duke University under the supervision of Dr. M. Louise Markert, an internationally known pediatrician and immunologist, and the only investigator in North America performing thymus transplantation. Ben Paylor is a PhD student in the Experimental Medicine program (supervisor Dr. Fabio Rossi). Ben will undertake a knowledge translation project under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Thomas Scott at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Bluma Tischler Postdoctoral Fellowship This fellowship provides over $20,000 in funding to a postdoctoral fellow carrying out research on the biochemical or genetic aspects of mental retardation or other neurological disorders. The 2013-14 recipient was Dr. Dale Martin (Medical Genetics; supervisor Dr. Michael Hayden). Dr. Martin is an expert in click chemistry and lipid biology. His research focuses on identifying and characterizing new targeting strategies in Huntington disease therapy.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Friedman Scholar Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, left, working in the lab.

Friedman Scholar Bridges Tuberculosis Biology with Clinical Care in South Africa by Melissa Richard-Greenblatt As a PhD student in Dr. Yossef Av-Gays lab in UBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Experimental Medicine program, I focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to tuberculosis (TB) drug development. During my studies I came across literature describing the devastating impact TB has on the third world, yet due to low incidence rates in Canada I have never met a TB patient or had any clinical experience with the disease. I realized that some of the biggest challenges associated with its management are poor health care infrastructure, economic instability, and cultural differences that I could not experience at home. I felt that being integrated into the medical system and society of those affected would provide me with a more complete perspective of the medical challenges of TB, helping me create clinically relevant research results. The Friedman Scholars Program enabled me to travel to the heart of the TB epidemic in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa for six months so I could experience the disease in its natural setting. Dr. Adrie Steynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lab at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Centre for TB and HIV (K-RITH) in Durban acted as a home base where I bridged my PhD project to what was happening in the human lung. In this time, I was also privileged to work alongside a group of thoracic surgeons and clinicians specializing in TB treatment. In the clinic, I was able to interact with TB patients and learn the impact the disease has on their lives. By assisting physicians to provide care for patients, I also began to see the limitations of medicine and the importance for practicality in my own research. In collaboration with the thoracic surgeons at local hospitals, I generated a tissue bank of lungs resected from TB patients that are currently being used by a number of research groups to study the clinical pathology of TB and improve current therapeutics. Upon my return to Canada I hope to inspire other UBC students to explore their research beyond their lab bench to formulate original ideas. Being directly integrated into the medical system and local community allowed me to critically evaluate my own research goals and focus on solutions that are a priority and can be practically implemented. Not only did I learn the importance of culture and socioeconomics on health care, but the direct interaction with patients allowed me to observe the importance of my work. The Friedman Scholars Program provided me with the opportunity to gain a unique and intimate understanding of TB. Through the sharing of my new knowledge with the UBC community I am confident that together we will come up with innovative solutions that can be implemented in our fight against TB.

EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS IN RESEARCH

104 Funded SSRP projects

Summer Student Research Program Program Supervisor: Dr. Peter Leung, Associate Dean Graduate and Postdoctoral Education Program Coordinator: Linda Herbert, MSc, Student Research Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine The Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) is an extracurricular program administered by the Office of the EADR with the goal to inspire and support students to pursue research training. The SSRP provides students an opportunity to engage in biomedical health research over the summer, with some projects continuing beyond the SSRP into the academic year. The competition is open to non-MD undergraduate students (e.g., science, pharmacy, midwifery, laboratory science undergraduate students, etc.) and first- and second-year MD students registered at UBC. It provides funding for an 8-week summer research project supervised by a member of the Faculty of Medicine. The 2014 SSRP competition received 165 eligible applications (88 from MD students and 77 from non-MD students). The available funding for the 2014 SSRP competition ($331,000) provided support for 73 MD student projects and 31 non-MD student projects, for a 63% funding success rate. The Faculty of Medicine SSRP is by far the largest of the health-related summer studentship programs at UBC and affiliated research institutes. The Faculty of Medicine SSRP funds over 100 projects per year, compared with an average of 7-30 projects funded per year by other programs.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

SSRP participant Ryan Heron, Island Medical Program Class of 2017.

Summer Student Research Program Helps Student Link Interests in Basic Research and Clinical Care Students participating in the Faculty of Medicine’s Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) gain valuable real-world experiences that inspire them to pursue careers in research, become life-long learners, and develop the skills needed to respond to the fast-moving world of health care. This summer, SSRP participant Ryan Heron, Island Medical Program Class of 2017, had the opportunity to work with supervisors Dr. Brian Christie, Affiliate Professor, and Dr. Patrick Nahirney, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, to study the effects of a nutritional supplement—omega-3 fatty acids—on the growth of neurites, the cellular projections that become axons and dendrites in mature neurons. Although many people take omega-3 supplements and the benefits of these fatty acids on brain health are highly publicized, how they exert their effects at the cellular level is poorly understood. Having studied cellular biology as an undergraduate, Ryan was attracted to research that would connect his academic background with his interests in medicine: “As a medical student, I believe all clinicians should have respect and natural inquiry for the science behind modern medical advice, and the SSRP allowed me to explore the interesting world of biomedical research.” From study design to data analysis, he was largely responsible for all aspects of this project and gained the skills necessary to perform the investigations, including learning microscopy techniques, image processing, and cell culture methods. In addition to connecting basic research to clinical care, this project allowed him to continue building practical laboratory skills that are not part of the regular medical curriculum—skills that may open doors to a wide range of future research opportunities. Although the effects of omega-3s on neuron growth were not found to be statistically significant in Ryan’s study, the knowledge he gained stimulated his interest in essential nutrients, which may prove highly important in educating patients about healthy eating. The cell culture components of the project also gave him a new respect for bacteria and the importance of practicing sterile techniques. He believes this awareness will prove especially valuable in future experiences in surgery.

EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS IN RESEARCH

Vancouver Summer Program in Medicine This year marked the inauguration of the Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) in Medicine, a four-week academic program, consisting of two courses, that provides an opportunity for visiting undergraduate students from international universities to experience Canadian health and life sciences education at its best, and learn about Canadian culture firsthand. This is accomplished through engaging classes in basic and clinical sciences, as well as social activities and intercultural workshops. The VSP started as a summer program run by the Sauder School of Business over ten years ago and was taken over for central coordination by the Provost’s Office in 2013 and expanded to engage multiple faculties as a UBC-wide initiative. In 2014, the Faculty of Medicine offered a package consisting of two courses –Introduction to Clinical Research in the Sciences (run by the Department of Paediatrics), and Pharmacology of Everyday Life (Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics). Eighty-five students from thirteen institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong attended the VSP in Medicine, making it the second-largest Faculty (tied with Arts) in terms of number of participants. The VSP has helped strengthen existing international partnerships, with several of the top institutions in China sending administrators as chaperones who met with leadership in the Dean’s Office to discuss further research and educational collaborations. It also led to the development of a new partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. In addition, many students who participate in the VSP, through their exposure to research and teaching in the Faculty of Medicine, are interested in pursuing graduate studies at UBC, and participate in a Graduate Education Fair during their program. The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with 97% of the students surveyed in 2014 agreeing that they would recommend the VSP in Medicine to other students. Given the tremendous success of the program, for 2015 it will grow from one to six packages, and international students from countries around the world will be encouraged to attend.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The UBC summer program is a very exciting process in my life and I will recommend more people to join. - 2014 VSP participant

EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS IN RESEARCH

Building UBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global Partnerships Jordan Guenette (left), Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy

Building UBC’s Global Partnerships International engagement in the Faculty of Medicine builds on the Strategic Plan of the Office of the Vice President Research and International and is guided by the Faculty of Medicine Strategic Direction. This past year was focused on establishing more direct linkages between the Faculty’s international activities and the research and education portfolios, increasing involvement from the wider research community in the international strategy, establishing guidelines around the value proposition of potential collaborations, identifying and disseminating key large-scale international funding opportunities to the research community, and building more robust sustainable international partnerships. The international portfolio of the Faculty of Medicine is jointly managed by the offices of the Executive Associate Deans, Research and Education.

34 International Agreements

As of October 1, 2014, the Faculty of Medicine is primary signatory to or the main player (in a university-wide agreement) in 34 agreements (Appendix B) with international institutions, including universities, hospitals, and ministries, in 10 countries (Figure 7). Of the current agreements, 27 are with Asian institutions, the majority of which are in mainland China or Hong Kong (19 agreements). Ten new agreements and two renewals have been signed this academic year, including 5 in China.

BUILDING UBC’S GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

Figure 7. Geographical distribution of UBC Faculty of Medicine international agreements.*

*Countries with agreements are represented in pink.

Key Research Activities Generated in 2013-14 from International Agreements ěũ

Collaborative Research Center in Reproductive Medicine established between UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology & the International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital (IPMCHH), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China, jointly directed by Prof. Hefeng Huang, Prof. Peter C.K. Leung, and Prof. Geoffrey W. Cundiff. The agreement was signed June 2014, leveraging the Department’s historical relationship with Prof. Huang, the new President of the IPMCHH. Opportunities include pursuing the invitation of PhD candidates to work in UBC labs; exploring collaboration with researchers at IPMCHH on clinical trials in REI and Urogynaecology; and the invitation of clinical researchers and administrators for sabbaticals at IPMCHH in areas not pursued to date, such as pre-eclampsia, family planning, and ovarian cancer.

ěũ

Peter Leung and his lab, in collaboration with Prof. Jianzhong Sheng of the Faculty of Basic Medicine at the Zhejiang University’s School of Medicine, won a China-Canada Joint Health Research Initiative Grant between CIHR and the National Science Foundation of China for $225,000 over 3 years.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Geoffrey Cundiff, Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, delivers a lecture at the Women’s Hospital School of Medicine of Zhejiang University.

ěũ

Inaugural Traditional Chinese Medicine Symposium presented by UBC and the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This included six presentations from professors at SHUTCM departments, schools, institutes, and affiliated hospitals, as well as three speakers from UBC (Prof. Emma Guns, Head Natural Products Research Program, Vancouver Prostate Centre; Prof. Thomas Chang, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Prof. William Wei-Guo Jia, Principal Investigator Scientist, Brain Research Centre). Topics ranged from the use of plant compounds for patients with various types of cancer or drug-induced liver injury, to clinical research on electro-acupuncture on overactive bladder, and nuclear receptor activation by natural products. The symposium resulted in the establishment of a collaborative agreement between UBC and SHUTCM (signed September, 2014), with intended activities including graduate student exchange, long-term collaborative research projects between UBC and SHUTCM labs, TCM training for UBC medical students and residents, and clinical trial collaborations looking at the clinical efficacy of TCM.

ěũ

Seed grants received by four UBC researchers (Profs. Howard Feldman, William Jia, Yu Tian Wang, and Martin McKeown) from the International Alliance for Translational Neuroscience in the areas of Alzheimer’s Disease, Brain Tumors, Depression, and Parkinson’s Disease, respectively. This Alliance was formed in August 2012 between UBC’s Brain Research Centre, Capital Medical University’s Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research, and Massachusetts General Hospital to achieve decisive advancements in the field of neuroscience and associated disorders by utilizing existing strengths of each institution to promote the integration of research, education/training, and collaboration of translational neuroscience research activities among the member institutions.

BUILDING UBC’S GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

Conclusion This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s substantive research activities have reinforced the strategic directions for the Faculty. There is preliminary planning to develop an academic health science centre/network that will broaden the opportunity to work collaboratively across the interface between the lab, the clinic, and the community. The Faculty of Medicine looks forward to this with keen appreciation in its quest to improve health in British Columbia, Canada, and globally.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Acknowledgments We are grateful to the following individuals for contributing their knowledge and expertise to help in the preparation of this report: Kevin Ahn, Hansen Chou, Dr. Denise Daley, Leanne Denis, Dr. Janice Eng, Tessa Feuchuk, Dr. Erica Frank, Dr. Lawrence Frank, Dr. Randy Gascoyne, Patricia Gray, Dr. Judy Illes, Fatima Hassam, Linda Herbert, Stephanie Huehn, Dr. Helen Hsu, Susan Jackson, Lina Jung, Brian Kladko, Dr. Michael Kobor, Dr. Jonathon Leipsic, Alison Liversage, Lindsay Lynch, Dr. Chris Lovato, Dr. Ian Mackenzie, Dr. Bill Miller, Laura Ralph, Michelle Richard, Dr. Kate Shannon, Dr. Sian Spacey, Dr. Stefan Taubert, Amy Tsang, UBC Public Affairs, Daniella Weber, Brenda Wessel, Bryan Wong, Jacqueline Wong, Lisa Wong, Dr. Michelle Wong, and Dr. Lakshmi Yatham.

CONCLUSION

Appendices Appendix A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UBC Faculty of Medicine Graduate Program Students Graduate Programs

Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

PhD

Enrollment

Degrees conferred

Enrollment

Degrees conferred

MD/PhD Program

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSc, PhD)

Cell and Developmental Biology (MSc, PhD)

Experimental Medicine (MSc, PhD)

137

Health Administration (MHA)

Health Sciences (MHSc)

Interdisciplinary Oncology (MSc, PhD)

Medical Genetics (MSc, PhD)

Neuroscience (MSc, PhD)

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc), ( PhD*)

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (MSc, PhD)

Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MSc, PhD)

Population & Public Health (MSc & PhD)**

Public Health (MPH)

Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc)

Rehabilitation Science (MSc, PhD)

Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (MSc, PhD)

Surgery (MSc)

*The PhD portion of this program has been closed (no new admissions after August 31, 2011). Currently enrolled students are completing and graduating from the program. There are no new students being admitted. **Formerly known as Health Care and Epidemiology. Graduate students enrolled prior to May 2008 are enrolled in the Health Care and Epidemiology program whereas those enrolled after that time are enrolled in the Population & Public Health program. This change coincides with the establishment of the School of Population and Public Health (received Senate approval in February 2008).

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Graduate Health Professional Programs Master’s

PhD

Student capacity Total student each year† enrollment††

Degrees conferred

Enrollment Degrees conferred

Audiology and Speech Sciences (MSc, PhD)

42†††

81††††

Genetic Counselling (MSc)

Physical Therapy (MPT)

162†††††

Occupational Therapy (MOT)

56††††††

102

†Refers to the number of students accepted into the program annually. ††Enrollment numbers include students registered in all years of the program; for a 2-year program, the number of students enrolled will tend to be roughly double the student capacity each year. †††Includes spaces for 12 Audiology and 30 Speech Language Pathology students. ††††Includes 29 Audiology and 52 Speech Language Pathology students. †††††The MPT is a 26-month program and as such the intake cycle leads to a larger census than the program has for any given year (i.e., at certain points during the year there are three cohorts enrolled simultaneously). For the purposes of this report, the total student enrollment is based on the two newest cohorts. ††††††The MOT program admits 48 domestic students and up to 8 international students annually. While there are 8 seats available for international students, typically these seats are not filled every year, whereas all domestic seats are filled annually. For this reason, the total student enrollment tends to be less than 112 (i.e., less than double the student capacity each year).

Comments on Graduate Student Enrollment and Graduation Data ěũ

The graduate student enrollment data is a snapshot of student enrollment in programs administered by the Faculty of Medicine as of October 2014. Numbers fluctuate throughout the entire reporting period due to enrollment and graduation.

ěũ

Students enrolled in graduate programs outside of the Faculty of Medicine (e.g., Interdisciplinary Studies) are not included even though they may have Faculty of Medicine faculty supervisors.

ěũ

Many FoM graduate programs are multidisciplinary and not affiliated with a specific department. Trainees in these graduate programs can be affiliated with one of a variety of FoM departments and thus enrollment is reported by program and not department.

ěũ

Graduation data (degrees conferred) are reported for the 2014 calendar year and include both May and November convocations.

APPENDICES

Appendix B – UBC Faculty of Medicine International Agreements Country

Partner Institution

UBC Unit Level of Agreement

Visiting Student Electives (MDUP)

Bangladesh

Centre for Injury Prevention & Research

UBC Faculty of Medicine, SPPH

China

BGI, Shenzhen (formerly Beijing Genome Institute)

UBC Vancouver Prostate Centre

China

Capital Medical University (Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders) with Dpt of Neuroscience Karolinska Institutet, McGovern Inst for Brain Research MIT, Massachussets General Hospital, Florey Inst of Neuroscience & Mental Health U of Melbourne)

UBC FoM Centre for Brain Health

China

Chongqing Medical University

UBC

China

Chongqing Medical University (Children’s Hospital)

UBC

China

Fudan University, Shanghai Medical College

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Yes

China

Guangzhou Women and Children’s Health Center, Guangdong

UBC Faculty of Medicine

China

Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Guangzhou)

UBC ICORD

China

Peking University, Health Science Centre

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Yes

China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital

UBC Faculty of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynaecology

China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

UBC Provost’s Office

China

Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Bureau

UBC Faculty of Medicine

China

Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

UBC

China

Sichuan BoXin LaiTe Biotechnology Inc (Chengdu) & Heracles International Investment (BC)

UBC Faculty of Medicine Centre for Blood Research

China

Sun Yat-Sen University

UBC

China

WHO Shanghai Collaborating Centre for Health Education & Health Promotion

UBC Faculty of Medicine

China

Xi’an Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

UBC Faculty of Medicine, Brain Research Centre

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Country

Partner Institution

UBC Unit Level of Agreement

Visiting Student Electives (MDUP)

China

Zhejiang University School of Medicine UBC

Yes

China

Zhejiang University Medical School Women’s Hospital

UBC Faculty of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Ecuador

Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar

UBC

Ethiopia

Gondar University Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences

UBC Faculty of Medicine Branch for International Surgery

Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Yes

India

Baba Farid University of Health Sciences

UBC Faculty of Medicine SPPH

India

King George’s Medical University

UBC Faculty of Medicine

India

National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore

UBC

Saudi Arabia

King Fahad Medical City

UBC Faculty of Medicine ICORD

Saudi Arabia

King Saud University’s College of Medicine, Dept of Medical Education

UBC, Centre of Excellence for Simulation Education and Innovation

Saudi Arabia

Ministry of Higher Education (rep by Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, Canada)

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Sweden

Lund University Faculty of Medicine

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Yes

Sweden

Karolinska Institutet

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Uganda

Makerere University College of Health Sciences

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Uganda

Soroti Regional Referral Hospital

UBC Faculty of Medicine, OPSEI

United States

Johns Hopkins University Centre for American Indian Health

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Vietnam

University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City

UBC Faculty of Medicine

Yes

APPENDICES

Appendix C â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UBC Faculty of Medicine Research Committees Associate/Assistant Deans, Research (Academic Year 2013-14) Title

Name

Executive Associate Dean, Research (Chair)

Dr. Howard Feldman

Associate Dean, Research: BC Cancer Agency

Dr. Samuel Abraham (Interim)

Associate Dean, Research: Child & Family Research Institute

Dr. Wyeth Wasserman

Associate Dean, Research: Providence Health Care Research Institute

Dr. Robert Sindelar

Associate Dean, Research: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

Dr. Robert McMaster

Associate Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Education

Dr. Peter Leung

Regional Associate Dean, Vancouver Island

Dr. Bruce Wright

Assistant Dean, Northern Medical Program

Dr. Geoffrey Payne

Assistant Dean, Research, Fraser Health

Dr. Sonia Singh

Assistant Dean, Research, Southern Medical Program

Dr. Chris Fibiger (Interim)

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Centre Directors (Academic Year 2013-14) Representation

Name, Title

Office of the Executive Associate Dean, Research

Dr. Howard Feldman, Executive Associate Dean, Research (Chair) Dr. Michelle Wong, Director

Research Centres Biomedical Research Centre

Drs. Kelly McNagny and Fabio Rossi, Interim CoDirectors

Centre for Blood Research

Dr. Edward Conway, Director

Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health

Drs. Nadine Caron and Martin Schechter, Co-Directors

Centre for Health Education Scholarship

Dr. Joanna Bates, Director

Centre for Health Evaluation Outcome Sciences (CHĂ&#x2030;OS)

Dr. Aslam Anis, Director

Centre for Health Service and Policy Research

Dr. Steve Morgan, Director

Centre for Hip Health and Mobility

Dr. Heather McKay, Director

Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics (CMMT)

Dr. Dan Goldowitz, Interim Director

Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

Drs. Jon Stoessl and Brian MacVicar, Interim CoDirectors

Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP)

Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, Interim Director

International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)

Dr. Wolfram Tetzlaff, Director

UBC Centre for Disease Control

Dr. Mark Tyndall, Director

UBC James Hogg Research Centre/IHLH

Dr. Keith Walley, Director

Vancouver Prostate Centre

Dr. Martin Gleave, Director

W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics

Dr. David Silver, Director

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Research Institute

Dr. Deborah Money, Executive Director

Research Institutes BC Cancer Agency

Dr. Samuel Abraham, Associate Dean, Research: BCCA (Interim)

Child and Family Research Institute

Dr. Wyeth Wasserman, Associate Dean, Research: CFRI

Life Sciences Institute

Dr. Pieter Cullis, Director

Providence Health Research Institute

Dr. Robert Sindelar, Associate Dean, Research: PHRI

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

Dr. Robert McMaster, Associate Dean, Research: VCHRI

APPENDICES

Research Council (Academic Year 2013-14) Representation

Name

Executive Associate Dean, Research, UBC (Chair)

Dr. Howard Feldman

Executive Associate Dean, Education

Dr. David Snadden

Regional Associate Deans

Interior

Dr. Allan Jones

Northern BC

Dr. Paul Winwood

Vancouver Fraser

Dr. Amil Shah (Interim)

Vancouver Island

Dr. Bruce Wright

Associate Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Education

Dr. Peter Leung

Associate Dean, Professional Development

Dr. Brenna Lynn

Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education

Dr. Roger Wong

Associate Deans, Research

BC Cancer Agency

Dr. Sam Abraham (Interim)

Children & Family Research Institute

Dr. Wyeth Wasserman

Point Grey

Vacant

Providence Health Care Research Institute

Dr. Robert Sindelar

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

Dr. Robert McMaster

Biomedical Research Centre

Drs. Kelly McNagny and Fabio Rossi (Interim)

Centre for Blood Research

Dr. Ed Conway

Centre for Brain Health/Brain Research Centre

Drs. Jon Stoessl and Brian MacVicar (Interim)

Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health

Drs. Nadine Caron and Martin Schechter

Centre/Institute Directors

Centre for Health Education Scholarship Dr. Joanna Bates

Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences

Dr. Aslam Anis

Centre for Health Services and Policy Research

Dr. Steve Morgan

Centre for Hip Health & Mobility

Dr. Heather McKay

Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics

Dr. Dan Goldowitz (Interim)

Human Early Learning Partnership

Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl

ICORD

Dr. Wolfram Tetzlaff

Institute of Mental Health

Dr. William Honer

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Representation

Name Life Sciences Institute

Dr. Pieter Cullis

UBC Centre for Disease Control

Dr. Mark Tyndall

UBC James Hogg Research Centre

Dr. Keith Walley

Vancouver Prostate Centre

Dr. Martin Gleave

W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics

Dr. David Silver

Faculty members representing clinicians Radiology elected by Faculty Medicine

Dr. Jonathon Leipsic

Faculty members representing scientists elected by Faculty

Pediatrics

Dr. Bruce Vallance

Pediatrics

Dr. Sheila Innis

Faculty member at Large elected by Faculty

Surgery

Dr. Ivo Olivotto

Faculty Executive representatives elected by Faculty Executive

Medical Genetics

Dr. Carolyn Brown (up to April 2014)

Emergency Medicine

Dr. Jim Christenson

Family Practice

Dr. Martin Dawes

Population and Public Health

Dr. David Patrick

Physical Therapy

Dr. Jayne Garland

Department Head/School Director representatives appointed by the Dean

Dr. Winson Cheung

Graduate Student Basic Science

Ms. Samantha Jones

Graduate Student Clinical Science

Ms. Megan McGillvray

Graduate Student MD/PhD

Neuroscience

Mr. Victor Li

Postdoctoral Fellow

Centre for Hip Health & Mobility

Dr. Christine Voss

MUS Student

VFMP 2016

Ms. Anjali Lobo

APPENDICES

Appendix D - UBC Faculty of Medicine, Research - Organizational Chart

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

APPENDICES

Appendix E - High Impact Publications The following figures illustrate how UBC compares to peer institutions in terns of high-impact publications in each of the Faculty of Medicineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s areas of research pre-eminence.

Cancer Figure 8. SciVal comparison of field-weighted citation impact in oncology.

Neuroscience & Mental Health Figure 9. SciVal comparison of field-weighted citation impact in neuroscience.

2013-2014 RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT | UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Heart & Lung Health Figure 10. SciVal comparison of field-weighted citation impact in pulmonary & respiratory system.

Figure 11. SciVal comparison of field-weighted citation impact in cardiology & cardiovascular medicine.

SciVal速 database, Elsevier B.V., http://www.scival.com (downloaded on September 18, 2014).

APPENDICES

Office of the Executive Associate Dean, Research | Faculty of Medicine The University of British Columbia 317 - 2194 Health Sciences Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3 med.ubc.ca/research