As I was searching for a school to pursue graduate studies, I didn’t end up too far from home. The biggest change was moving several blocks south on UBC’s Vancouver Campus, from the now-renovated Biology building and into the Life Sciences Centre. There, I would study blood compatible biomaterials at the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) facilities, as a MSc Student in…
The Gut4Health team at BC Children’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia is looking at new ways to target the gut microbiome to reduce inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms, increase treatment effectiveness and lead to long-term remission in pediatric IBD patients. Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that cause inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. Affecting both males and females, the…
New research from UBC’s faculty of medicine and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) reveals that parenting ‘style’ can affect how a child’s genes are expressed—and these biochemical alterations can be observed among infants as young as three months of age. The study, recently published in Attachment & Human Development, examined how toddler-parent attachment style correlates with the modification of infant…
The B.C. government is investing nearly $25 million to support 34 post-secondary research projects that will drive innovation and economic growth. The projects will also help create jobs, protect biodiversity and the environment, and help keep British Columbians healthy and safe. The funding is awarded through the BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) and gives students and researchers access to the…
Precision NanoSystems (PNI), a global leader in innovative solutions for genetic medicine development, will expand its global headquarters with a 75,000-square-foot facility currently under construction. Slated for completion in Q4 2022, the new site will be located at 1055 Vernon Drive, in the Evolution Block building, in the False Creek Flats area of Vancouver. PNI’s new genetic medicine GMP Biomanufacturing…
With support from a federal research award, Dr. Sarah Gray, associate professor of UBC faculty of medicine’s Northern Medical Program, is exploring whether magnetic nanoparticles can be used as part of a targeted treatment approach for type 2 diabetes. Working closely with Dr. Urs Häfeli, professor in UBC’s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, Dr. Gray will test how magnetic nanoparticles—developed by Dr. Häfeli—can…
Professor Konrad Walus has been doing weird things with printers since 2006. Working in the lab, he found that living cells printed using inkjet technology could not only survive the printing process but retain their biological function as well. This led him to wonder about the potential for printers to recreate organic structures by patterning cells in layers, similar to how plastic materials…
The new Molecular and Advanced Pathology Core (MAPcore) is positioned to be a powerhouse of precision and translational medicine for revolutionary health outcomes and care. Co-created by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) scientist Dr. David Huntsman, MAPcore is home to cutting-edge equipment and expertise for advanced spatial genomics, single cell genomics, proteomics and other ’omics research.
Evelyn Sun first joined the Department of Microbiology and Immunology as an undergraduate student in the Biotech program. From there, she stayed in the department for her entire educational life! From undergraduate student to a graduate student in the Hancock lab to a post-doctoral research fellow in the department, she is now what the Hancock lab calls an SOB: Survivor of…
Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 23rd Annual Life Sciences BC Awards, presented by FARRIS. These awards recognize the talented individuals and organizations who contribute to the vibrant life sciences ecosystem in B.C. In British Columbia, we are fortunate to have a vibrant and thriving life sciences industry that is distinguished not only by local…