Good Read: Easing the healthcare burden – one protocol at a time, with ATM Member Dr. Shannon Kolind
MS Research Network section launches on MedNet
The Faculty of Medicine Office of Research has announced the launch of the new BC MS Cell Therapies Translational Research Network (MS Research Network) section on MedNet. This content is part of a longer-term plan to grow awareness of the network among the UBC Faculty of Medicine community. Explore the BC MS Cell Therapies Translational Research Network section on MedNet here, which describes the MS Research Network as follows:
Established in late 2022, the BC MS Cell Therapies Translational Research Network (MS Research Network) is a world-class research and patient-care hub, with the goal of using the latest advances in cell and immuno-engineering to develop, manufacture and test next-generation cell-based therapies for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.
In case you missed it, in 2022 it was announced that the UBC Faculty of Medicine and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation received a $33.8 million donation for MS research and care, the world’s largest known gift for MS research.
Selected 2023 Strategic Investment Fund Projects Include Proposal by ATM Member
The UBC Faculty of Medicine has announced 9 proposals chosen to received funding from the 2023 Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) competition. We congratulate ATM Member Dr. Emily Brigham on her successful application.
ATM Member Dr. Emily Brigham
Within the partnership-related projects category, Dr. Brigham, Adrian Yee, and Derek Thompson are leading the project BC Climate Health and Knowledge Community (BC CHKC). The project was summarized as follows:
Build enduring relationships and community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge holders, rooted in respect and aligned with the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan. Establish reciprocal knowledge exchange pathways with Indigenous communities, to inform the educational strategy of the FoM in the face of escalating climate health concerns, empowering faculty and trainees to best care for themselves, their patients, and their communities. This project will develop top priorities and best strategies for climate and health advancement endorsed by diverse climate and health experts in BC.
The ATM congratulates all recipients, and looks forward to the outcomes of all of the funded projects, the majority of which are focused on Indigenous initiatives. Learn about all of the chosen projects in this announcement.
Register for Building Bridges: Connecting Foundational Science and Clinical Practice in Precision Health and Translational Medicine
Building Bridges: Connecting Foundational Science and Clinical Practice in Precision Health and Translational Medicine
Co-hosted by UBC Faculty of Medicine Precision Health, Life Sciences Institute and the Academy of Translational Medicine.
Are you a foundational scientist wanting to collaborate on a research project with a clinician? In this meeting and networking session, you will learn from researchers who have achieved successful partnerships between foundational scientists and clinicians, on how to initiate new collaborations to advance your precision health and translational medicine research. Dr. Poul Sorensen, Director of the ATM, will be speaking at this event.
The meeting will consist of presentations from our invited speakers, a Q&A session, followed by refreshments and networking. This is a hybrid meeting, in person attendance is limited and requires registration.
Speakers
Dr. Deborah Money, CM, BSc, MD, FRCSC, FCAHS
Dr. Deborah Money is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, an associate member in the Department of Medicine and the School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, an Associate Member of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Science, at the University of British Columbia. Following a BSc, and MD, she completed residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, at UBC and then did a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington, becoming Canada’s first dual specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Alexander Wyatt, BSc, PhD
Dr. Wyatt is an Associate Professor in Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia, Canada. He is a senior research scientist at the Vancouver Prostate Centre and also cross-appointed at BC Cancer. Dr. Wyatt has a DPhil in genetics from the University of Oxford. His research goals are to dissect the clinical relevance of genomic alterations in metastatic genitourinary cancers, and develop minimally-invasive biomarkers for guiding therapy selection.
Including:
Dr. Poul Sorensen, Director, Academy of Translational Medicine
Dr. Stuart Turvey, Lead, UBC Faculty of Medicine Precision Health
Dr. James Johnson, Interim Director, Life Sciences Institute
Event Details
Date: Friday 9 February 2024
Time: 12pm-1:30pm
Location: Hybrid: In person (Life Sciences Centre Room 3) or virtually (Zoom)
Register Here!
Read more about the meeting here
Genome BC Launches Genomics Innovation Fund
Genome BC Launches Genomics Innovation Fund
Genome BC is launching the Genomics Innovation Fund (GIF) to support the advancement of innovation projects in BC. The key objective of the GIF Genomics Innovation Fund is to support the development of transformative innovation genomics projects with commercial potential. Through GIF, Genome BC aims to support technology development projects that could be game-changing and advance the field of genomics with commercial potential or new applications that could likely lead to new commercial products.
Budget and Term
- Maximum funding available per project: $250,000
- Maximum project duration: Up to 12 months
- Co-funding is not required
- Approximate funding envelope per intake: $1,000,000 – $2,000,000
Information Sessions (Register Here)
- 31 January 2024 | 12pm – 1pm
- 13 February 2024 | 3pm – 4pm
Key Dates (specific dates will be added to the ATM Calendar once available)
- Expression of Interest (EOI) Deadline: May 2024
- Invitations to Apply: June 2024
- Application Deadline: August 2024
- Notification of Results: December 2024
Full details can be found here
Applications Open: CIHR Project Grant (Spring 2024)
Applications are Open for the CIHR Spring 2024 Project Grant
About the CIHR Project Grant Competition
The CIHR Project Grant Spring 2024 Competition has been announced and is open for applications. This competition is relevant to translational medicine as it supports a diverse portfolio of health-related research and knowledge translation projects at any stage, from discovery to application.
There are two Project Grant competitions a year. The Project Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, health research, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes. It supports research projects proposed and conducted by individual researchers or groups of researchers, at any career stage, in all areas of health. The best ideas may stem from new, incremental, innovative, and/or high-risk lines of inquiry; or knowledge translation approaches.
The Project Grant program will:
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- Support a diverse portfolio of health-related research and knowledge translation projects at any stage, from discovery to application, including commercialization;
- Promote relevant collaborations across disciplines, professions, and sectors; and,
- Contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.
The Project Grant program recognizes the importance of specialized research areas and welcomes and encourages applications:
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- focused on global health, or which include international collaborations,
- with a central focus on carrying out meaningful and culturally safe research involving, Indigenous Peoples with the intent to promote health through research that is in keeping with Indigenous values and traditions and follows the TCPS 2 – Chapter 9 Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canadaguidelines,
- involving a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where appropriate based on scientific and methodological grounds,
- related to commercialization,
- involving interdisciplinary research,
- aligning with specific research areas as outlined in competition-specific Priority Announcements.
Refer to the funding opportunity found on ResearchNet for competition deadlines. Applicants must also follow internal UBC guidelines and deadlines.
Access the various procedures, guidelines, and frequently asked questions through the following links:
Key Dates
- Registration Deadline: 7 February 2024
- FoM Internal Deadline: 27 February 2024 | 12pm
- Applicant e-Submission Deadline: 5 March 2024 | 12pm
- Notice of Decision: 17 July 2024
- Funding Start Date: 1 October 2024
Faculty of Medicine Multidisciplinary Research Program in Medicine (FoM MRPM)
Faculty of Medicine Multidisciplinary Research Program in Medicine (FoM MRPM)
The aim of this program is to facilitate and fund interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research at UBC. The FoM MRPM provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to explore their interest in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research by undertaking a summer project supervised by a cross-faculty pair of researchers based on the success of the University of British Columbia at Okanagan’s Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Projects in Health (MURPH) program. Project applications require 2 faculty supervisors: 1 from the FoM and 1 non-FoM UBC faculty member.
If successful, Supervisors will receive up to three students, two non-MD undergraduate students (in their second year or higher) for 16-weeks ($9,400 student stipend) and one optional first-year MD student for 8-weeks ($3,200 student stipend). Supervisors are required to pay at least $3,400 per non-MD student contingent on eligible student awards through MRPM.
Applications for supervisors and students will be completed separately at two different timepoints. Project applications submitted by supervisors will be adjudicated by committee and supervisors will be notified of successful applications prior to student applications opening. Students will then apply to successful research projects in a separate application process.
Supervisor Application Deadline: January 24
Full details can be found here
Information for Supervisors can be found here
Call for Applications: Carraresi Foundation Early Career Clinician Investigator Award
Providence Research is inviting applications for the 2024 Carraresi Foundation Early Career Clinician Investigator Award.
This competition supports early career clinician investigators affiliated with PHC by providing funds that will help them explore research questions identified in the early stages of their medical career.
Thanks to St. Paul’s Foundation and the Carraresi foundation’s contribution, Providence Research is pleased to fund two research projects of up to $35,000 each. St. Paul’s Foundation and Providence Research are grateful to the Carraresi Foundation, in memory of Augusto Carraresi, for its interest in supporting early career research at Providence Health Care and Providence Research.
Read about last year’s winners: Drs. Brittany Dennis & Alyson Wong
Application Details
- Application Deadline: 21 January 2024 by 5 pm
- Full Guidelines: click here
- How to Apply: Email your full application to Grace Jenkins, Communications Coordinator, Providence Research at gjenkins1@providencehealth.bc.ca with the subject line 2024 Early Career Clinician Investigator Award
Find full details here on the Providence Research website