Dr. Dean Regier Appointed Director, Academy of Translational Medicine

March 11, 2025

The ATM is excited to share that Dr. Dean Regier has been appointed Director of the Academy of Translational Medicine.

Dr. Regier is an associate professor in the School of Population and Public Health, and served as Associate Director of the ATM since 2022. He is also a senior scientist at the BC Cancer Research Institute. An internationally-recognized health economist specializing in translational medicine and regulatory science, his research aims to develop learning healthcare systems and policies that accelerate access to safe, effective, and cost-effective healthcare, with a focus on patient-oriented clinical trials and AI-supported real-world evidence generation.

Through the ATM, Dr. Regier developed Canada’s first educational offering in regulatory affairs and regulatory science. He also chairs the Faculty of Medicine’s Regulatory Advisory Council, providing UBC scientists with real-time guidance on efficiently navigating the regulatory landscape. He has also previously served on the B.C. Drug Benefit Council, where he provided evidence-informed recommendations on the inclusion of therapeutics in the province’s PharmaCare formulary.

As Director of the ATM, Dr. Regier will lead the continued development of the academy into a world-leading network and hub for innovation in translational medicine and regulatory science. He will expand the academy’s educational initiatives and help to strengthen the UBC and BC life sciences ecosystem in translational and health policy research. By fostering collaboration and innovation, he will enhance connections among outstanding research institutes, centres and programs, advancing translational medicine on a global scale.

The Academy of Translational Medicine will build a collaborative ecosystem where cutting-edge discovery and interdisciplinary partnerships converge, accelerating innovation through the translational pipeline by removing barriers – Dr. Dean Regier

Dr. Regier is the second Director of the ATM, following his previous positions as the Associate Director and Co-Director pro tem, and will continue as Chair of the Regulatory Advisory Council. The ATM sincerely thanks Dr. Poul Sorensen for his time as the ATM’s first Director. Dr. Sorensen is a highly esteemed researcher contributing to translational medicine, with his research providing significant breakthroughs leading to identification of therapeutic targets in pediatric oncology and breast cancer. Dr. Sorensen’s vision, dedication, and contributions to shaping the ATM will leave a lasting impact.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Regier, whose new perspective will further the ATM towards accelerating the translation of lifesaving medicines for BC and Canada – saving more lives, sooner.

Introduction to Regulatory Affairs Fall 2025 Offering Wraps Up at the ATM

December 8, 2025

The first course in the 2025/2026 Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Micro-Certificate series builds a solid foundation in global regulatory systems and their impact on health products.

The ATM recently concluded Introduction to Regulatory Affairs, the first course in our 2025/2026 Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Micro-Certificate series. Since September, learners have been building a strong foundation in how health products navigate regulatory systems both in Canada and internationally, gaining essential knowledge for careers in life sciences and medical device regulation.

The course culminated in a hands-on workshop led by industry leader Dr. Hasnaa Fatehi, a certified MedTech regulatory affairs and quality assurance professional with over 15 years of experience across Asia, Europe, and North America. Dr. Fatehi guided participants through the assessment of medical devices before market entry, explored different regulatory pathways, and facilitated interactive exercises using real-world scenarios.

This workshop gave learners the opportunity to apply course concepts in practice, seeing firsthand how regulatory strategy is implemented in the life sciences industry. Participants left with practical insights and a deeper understanding of the regulatory landscape—knowledge they can immediately bring to professional roles or further study.

The ATM’s micro-certificate program continues to provide hands-on, applied learning for professionals and students looking to advance their expertise in regulatory affairs within the life sciences sector.

Building the Next Generation of Health Systems: ATM at AKU Nairobi

December 4, 2025

In October, Dean A. Regier, Deirdre Weymann, Emanuel Krebs, Vicki Cormack, and Steven Jones visited Aga Khan University (AKU) in Nairobi to represent the ATM at a workshop titled Towards a Next-Generation Health System: Integrating Genomics, Bioinformatics, EHR, Data Mining, and Population Health for Data-Driven Clinical Decision Making.

The workshop brought together researchers, clinicians, and policy experts to explore how genetic information and health-system data can be combined to improve care. Discussions centered on how these tools can support better decisions for both individual patients and populations, especially in the growing area of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

As part of our ongoing partnership with AKU, our team led and contributed to sessions on real-world evidence across the full patient journey, the use of artificial intelligence to support learning health systems, and advances in personalized onco-genomics. These sessions highlighted practical ways to use data and technology to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes.

ATM Fellow Emanuel Krebs represents the ATM at AKU Nairobi

Dierdre Weymann, ATM Fellow, speaks to the ATM’s objective of utilizing Real World Evidence for equitable health systems

UBC AI & Health Network: Delivering AI’s promise of better health care

August 8, 2025

Jump-started by a $22.5 million gift, UBC’s new AI and Health Network is deploying powerful artificial intelligence tools to drive health system innovation and improve patient care.

Time is everything in health care. Imagine a loved one with high-risk breast cancer being prioritized for treatment in days, not months. A doctor who is able to spend more time with patients and less on paperwork. A breakthrough treatment developed and approved in months, not years, to outpace fast-moving viruses and drug-resistant cancers.

In all these scenarios, time isn’t just valuable—it saves lives. And now, they’re poised to become a reality in healthcare settings across B.C. and Canada thanks to the artificial intelligence tools being developed and deployed by UBC’s new AI and Health Network.

Dr. Raymond Ng (left) and Dr. Anita Palepu (right), co-leaders of the UBC AI and Health Network.

Launched in June with the support of a $22.5 million gift from the Gordon B. Shrum Charitable Fund, the UBC AI and Health Network brings together researchers, clinicians and health system partners to apply Canadian-made AI solutions to the challenges facing patients and health systems.

Led by Dr. Ng and Dr. Anita Palepu, professor and head of UBC’s department of medicine, in partnership with other UBC research centres, including the ATM, the Network unifies UBC’s expertise across faculties and disciplines, while building on the university’s deep relationships with health system partners like the B.C. Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Services Authority and B.C. health authorities.

For the full article highlighting the UBC AI & Health Network, please click here.

New test identifies high-risk childhood brain tumours, improving treatment decisions

April 7, 2025

Can an Ultrasound be transformed into an MRI? Dr. Hacihaliloglu works towards an answer

April 3, 2025

Dr. Ilker Hacihaliloglu

Dr. Ilker Hacihaliloglu is playing an active role in being a first to test image-to-image synthesizing technology, by researching whether MRIs can be generated by ultrasound scans of prostate cancer.

With the influx of artificial intelligence algorithms’ ability to produce complex images, this possibility is more feasible than ever. To determine the accuracy and extent of the image synthesizing technology, researchers input imagistic patient scans across thousands of patients. Then, the technology is trained, using images of certain types of cancer, to recognize disease characteristics. With more data input, the technology refines its accuracy, speed, and ability to transform one ultrasound into an MRI or other medical diagnostic image.

This technology was put to the test when Dr. Hacihaliloglu and his highly-qualified researchers evaluated both synthetic MRI images (made by the input of 794 ultrasound scans of prostate cancer), and real MRIs. They found an 85% similarity of the synthesized scans to the real scans. The synthesized images missed too many clinical features to be used at this time. With more advanced research and technology however, perhaps this is a viable possibility in the future.

In the article, Dr. Hacihaliloglu describes how this has tremendous impacts on patient care. By reducing the need for an MRI (scans which are very expensive and of high-demand), this technology could provide high-quality images needs for clinical use, while decrease the wait-times or need for certain MRIs and the travel often associated with obtaining one. Ultrasounds are non-radiating, and are cheaper, smaller, and more accessible, in comparison to MRIs, CTs, and X-rays.

Dr. Hacihaliloglu isn’t the only researcher in the ATM Community currently involved in exciting novel imaging research, with Dr. Shannon Kolind’s recent research examining the feasibility of portable MRIs. The ATM looks forward to seeing this exciting research progress.

For the full article highlighting this work by Dr. Ilker Hacihaliloglu, please click here.

For information on Dr. Shannon Kolind’s work with portable MRIs, please click here.

With Portable Neuroimaging, Dr. Shannon Kolind Brings Translational Medicine to Multiple Sclerosis

March 25, 2025

Dr. Shannon Kolind is featured in the Faculty of Medicine’s Pathways Magazine for bringing cutting edge technology to reality for those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with portable MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines.

The importance of MRI access is critical for caring with patients with MS, used for diagnosis, monitoring, and guidance of treatment. The diagnosis of MS used to be a long process due to the spectrum of associated symptoms, but with the use of MRIs, this is no longer the case.

Despite the importance of this neuroimaging, typical MRI machines themselves are a cumbersome and limited resource, giving priority to patients with more urgent needs and most often found in urban areas. The machines are not only expensive, they are huge, heavy, and immobile, with the associated need for highly specialized personnel to operate them.

However, new portable MRIs on wheels could remove many of these barriers, improving patients’ access such scans when and where is necessary. As one of the first Canadian researchers to test the low-field portable MRI, Dr. Kolind will help determine how the scans compared to typical MRIs compare, and whether they would be suitable for use in both clinical use and clinical trials. Because the portable version uses a very low magnetic field (described as “barely stronger than a fridge magnet”), it’s safe to bring it bedside, and it doesn’t need specialists to operate. In fact, the portable MRI is compatible with smartphones.

Dr. Kolind is the recipient of significant funding working with a variety of partner sites across Sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. The aim is to research paediatric malnutrition on neurodevelopment, using imaging protocols Dr. Kolind and her team are developing. The Pathways feature also sheds light on the importance of this work and her other projects to Dr. Kolind’s personal life.

The ATM commends Dr. Kolind for her outstanding contributions to translational medicine at UBC and beyond.

Find the full article here

Dr. Daniel Vigo Named in Vancouver Magazne’s 2025 Power 50 List

March 22, 2025

Please join us congratulating Dr. Daniel Vigo!

In 2024, Dr. Vigo, who is a member of the ATM, was appointed BC’s first ever Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs and Concurrent Disorders. He has now been named in the Vancouver Magazine’s 2025 Power 50 List, for taking action against an epidemic.

A spot on this select list is warranted for Dr. Vigo, who is tackling the lack of adequate medical care for those with complex needs, such as those with mental illness concurrent to or related to serious substance use disorders. His approach centres around evidence-based practices, collaboration with health authorities, and new care facilities. The facilities, as announced by Premier David Eby and Dr. Vigo, will be involuntary and highly secure, to provide long-term, dignified care to those under the B.C. Mental Health Act.

Please visit here to read the full Power 50 List

Dr. Catrina Loucks Receives Terry Fox New Investigator Award for Research Addressing Inadequate Pain Management for Pediatric Cancer Patients

March 20, 2025

Vancouver Sun publishes Op-Ed by Dr. Dean Regier: Canada must step up as the global leader in pandemic preparedness

March 12, 2025

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Dr. Dean Regier Appointed Director, Academy of Translational Medicine