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Nominations Open: UBC Faculty Research Awards

Nominations Open: UBC Faculty Research Awards

August 6, 2024

Nominations have opened for the 2024 UBC Faculty Research Awards

UBC recognizes individual investigators who demonstrate excellence in research through a suite of seven annual research awards and fellowships that span all disciplines in the sciences, applied sciences, medicine, arts, social sciences, and humanities. Full details regarding this suite of awards can be found here

Nomination Process

  • EOI – Expression of Intent (Optional)
    • Optional stage
    • Deadline: Monday 16 September 2024 | 11:59 pm
    • Details
      • Assists in planning and EOIs are not evaluated.
      • Nominations can still be submitted if the EOI deadline is missed.
      • EOI not requested for Killam Accelerator Research Fellowships given the required Faculty-led nomination process.
    • Click here for the EOI form
  • Full Nomination (Required)
    • Required stage
    • Deadline: Friday 15 November 2024 | 11:59 pm
    • Details
      • All required components must be submitted through the nomination form, and Killam Faculty Research Fellowship referee letters must be received by ORPA.
    • Click here for the nomination form

Explore guidelines for the following Faculty Research Awards which may be of interest to the ATM Community:

Killam Accelerator Research Fellowships

Supports exceptional early career researchers across all disciplines who have the potential for significant impact in their field of scholarship.

Killam Faculty Research Fellowships

Assisting promising faculty members who wish to devote full time to research and study in their field during a recognized study leave.

For a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in sharing research expertise via the news media (print, broadcast, and online interviews and commentary).

Killam Faculty Research Prizes

Up to ten prizes of $5,000 each will be awarded to full-time tenure-stream faculty in recognition of outstanding research and scholarly contributions.

Jacob Biely Faculty Research Prize

The Jacob Biely Faculty Research Prize was established in 1969 and is regarded as UBC’s premier award for research across all disciplines.The award is named after eminent researcher and professor Jacob Biely, who joined UBC Faculty on a full-time basis in 1935 as an Instructor in the Department of Poultry Science. He was appointed a full professor in 1950, and two years later was named Head of his Department, a position that he held until his retirement in 1968.

Charles A. McDowell Award

An award for an outstanding early career faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in pure or applied scientific research.

Deadline Approaching: 2024 Gairdner Early Career Investigators Competition

August 2, 2024

The deadline is 15 August 2024 for Assistant Professors (or equivalent level scientific investigators) working in health research in Canada to apply.

Early career investigators across Canada are invited to submit an application to present their research as part of the Gairdner Science Week events in October.

Up to 5 investigators will be chosen to give 10 minute talks during one of the three major symposia of Gairdner Week: Next Generation DNA Sequencing Symposium on October 23, Laureate Lectures on October 24, and the Pandemic Preparedness Global Health Symposium on October 25, to connect with the 2024 laureates and to attend the Awards Gala on October 24, 2024.

The talks will be broadcast live and recorded for YouTube distribution globally. This is a competitive process, with the finalists being selected by the laureates themselves.

Submission Guidelines:

  • 2 minute video proposal for your research presentation (if slides are used, a maximum of 2 is allowed)
  • 4-5 page CV
  • 150 word summary explaining how your science relates to one or more of this year’s laureates.
  • Applicants must indicate an intended match for one of the following laureates

Submission Deadline: 15 August 2024 | 11:59 PDT

Eligibility: This call is open to all faculty and professionals at the Assistant Professor or equivalent rank.

Access full competition information

Watch the Information Session

The application portal can be found here

Fall 2024 Registration is Open! Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Micro-certificate

July 25, 2024

The ATM is pleased to share that registration is open for the Fall 2024 semester of Introduction to Regulatory Affairs, 1 of 2 courses in the Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Micro-certificate.

The 2024-2025 cycle will be the third consecutive year that the Micro-certificate has been offered, due to popular demand. The ATM is excited to welcome new learners to this engaging program and expand their breadth of knowledge.

British Columbia (BC) has the fastest growing life science sector in Canada, and regulatory expertise is vital to the continued growth of the sector. The UBC Micro-certificate in Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences is tailored to the unique bio-innovation landscape of BC and will equip learners with highly sought-after skills critical for the life sciences, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, medical device and pharmaceutical industries. The part-time program is delivered and developed by the UBC Academy of Translational Medicine and the UBC Faculty of Medicine in consultation with world leaders in regulatory affairs. It offers a well-rounded, foundational understanding of Canadian and global regulatory systems, processes and stakeholders.

The Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Micro-certificate consists of 2 courses

The first course, Introduction to Regulatory Affairs, provides an overview of the Canadian and global regulatory affairs landscape and its major stakeholders, and covers basic tools for evaluation safety and efficacy, regulatory requirements for clinical trials, and regulatory process pathways for medical devices. Next start date: September 2024 (Register today!)

The second course, Regulatory Sciences and Health Economics, explores the emerging discipline of regulatory science, including real-word evidence, adaptive clinical trial design, patent law, health economics, post-market surveillance and regulatory reform. Next start date: January 2025.

Format & Length

Blended, with instructor-supported real-time online sessions, and an in-person, on-campus workshop for each course (a virtual option using Zoom is available so you can complete the program entirely online). Each of the 2 courses is 10 weeks, with 50 to 70 hours of course work total.

Cost

$1,250 per course, $2,500 for the program (Canadians and permanent residents)

$2,500 per course, $5,000 for the program (international students)

Bursaries

The Academy of Translational Medicine is pleased to offer a limited number of 50% tuition bursaries to eligible learners on a first-come-first-served basis.  If interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please send an email to lea.cameron@ubc.ca with the following information:

  • Full Name
  • Current position
  • Degrees held or in progress
  • Reason for your interest in the program

If approved for the bursary, we will advise about next steps for registration.

Register today for the Introduction to Regulatory Affairs course starting September 2024!

Full Micro-certificate details are found on here on the UBC Extended Learning website 

To access information through the ATM Website, visit the Education page here

Framework by Dr. Dean Regier and Colleagues Resonates in International Contexts

July 24, 2024

A European panel of experts has highlighted the life-cycle assessment framework developed by Dr. Regier, Associate Director of the ATM, as the way forward to address timely evidence-informed access to precision oncology products.

During the recent Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi) Annual Meeting, taking place in Seville, Spain in June 2024, there was a noteworthy Bayer Oncology symposium titled “Precision Oncology: Unlocking Access to Breakthrough Therapies for Patients with Cancer”. In the session, Professor Yvonne-Beatrice Böhler of Technische Hochschule Köln, Germany, presented Dr. Regier’s framework from the article “Perspective on Life-Cycle Health Technology Assessment and Real-World Evidence for Precision Oncology in Canada” originally published in npj Precision Oncology in 2022.

Dr. Dean Regier

Dr. Böhler highlighted the need for evolving health technology assessment frameworks that go beyond traditional evidence generation in clinical trials, emphasizing the growing importance of real-world shaping precision oncology strategies that will make healthcare systems more equitable and efficient. Dr. Dean Regier authored this article in 2022 with colleagues Dr. Samantha Pollard, Melanie McPhail, Dr. Tania Bubela, Dr. Timothy Hanna, Dr. Cheryl Ho, Dr. Howard Lim, Dr. Kelvin Chan, Dr. Stuart Peacock & Deirdre Weymann.

The Academy of Translational Medicine (ATM) is rooted in its mission to becoming a fully integrated powerhouse for advancing translational medicine on a worldwide scale. Seeing the Canadian-based article by Dr. Regier and colleagues used by Dr. Böhler as a prime example of how international health systems should be thinking about real-world evidence and life-cycle evaluation, illustrates the wide-reaching impacts of ATM-supported research. External stakeholders sharing this Canadian-based work as a thought-provoking strategy for international audiences is an indication of its applicability and relevance on a global level. The ATM congratulates the authors and encourages its community to learn more about the article.

The Symposium recording is available here, and is posted below (1:02 mark).

The full article by Dr. Regier in Precision Oncology can be found here. 

ATM Members Awarded in CIHR Project Grant: Spring 2024 Competition

July 23, 2024

The Academy of Translational Medicine celebrates its Members Dr. Khaled Abdelrahman, Dr. M. Ehsan Karim, and Dr. Laura Evgin for their successful applications in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant: Spring 2024 competition. There were 38 UBC Faculty of Medicine-associated projects awarded a cumulative $25 million to tackle an array of themes, as part of the CIHR’s total $325 million of funding for 373 projects in the Spring 2024 competition. The ATM looks forward to the outcomes of these important research initiatives funded by this cycle, and asks that you join us in congratulating Dr. Evgin, Dr. Karim, and Dr. Abdelrahman for their achievement!

ATM Member-Led Projects

Laura Evgin (Medical Genetics)

M. Ehsan Karim (School of Population and Public Health)

Khaled Abdelrahman (Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics)

For more information:

What to Watch: TEDx Talk by ATM Member Dr. Shahriari

July 17, 2024

Medventions Toronto Innovation Day Announces 2024 Theme: Image-guided Therapy, Digital Health, and AI in Medicine

July 7, 2024

Medventions Toronto Innovation Day Announces 2024 Theme:

Image-guided Therapy, Digital Health, and AI in Medicine

Medventions Toronto Innovation Day is a dynamic event showcasing groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology and key insights in medtech entrepreneurship. Held annually, this forum brings together leading innovators, healthcare professionals, investors, and industry experts to explore the latest innovations aimed at transforming patient care. From cutting-edge medical devices to innovative digital health solutions, the Medventions Toronto Innovation Day serves as a platform for:

  • collaboration
  • networking
  • and fostering new ideas

The day will provide a national platform for discussions among Canada’s top medtech entrepreneurs, computer scientists, healthcare providers, trainees, medical science researchers and industry professionals to advance healthcare through AI and machine learning techniques. Other topics that will be addressed include:

  • Talent development, career growth, and leadership in the medtech industry
  • Venture capital funding for AI in healthcare
  • Strategic exits in the medtech industry
  • Enablers, challenges and risks associated with the use of AI in healthcare, including technical and business challenges of data sharing and patient privacy

The event is also inviting Canada’s most promising medtech companies to present and discuss how they are harnessing the power of AI to enhance physician capabilities and improve patient outcomes.

Event Details

Date: Monday 21 October 2024

Time: 8am – 4pm EST

Location: Toronto (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre)

Registration:

  • $86.53 General Admission
  • $43.93 Student

Full event details | Register  | Event on the ATM Calendar

Good Read: Bridging the Gap with Katelynn Boerner

July 5, 2024

Registration Open: Therapeutics Initiative – Bringing Best Evidence to Clinicians

July 3, 2024

Registration Open: Therapeutics Initiative – Bringing Best Evidence to Clinicians

Keynote presentations at the conference will be delivered by internationally renowned experts, Dr. Derelie (aka Dee) Mangin (Professor, McMaster University) and Dr. John Mandrola (Cardiac Electrophysiologist, Baptist Health). In addition, a diverse lineup of both new and veteran faculty members from the Therapeutics Initiative will present on various relevant topics.

Full Agenda and Details can be found here

Register here

Dates and Format

Credits

  • Friday 18 October: Up to 3.5 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 Credits
  • Saturday 19 October: Up to 5.5 Mainpro+/MOC Section Credits

Registration Fees

  • Physician / Nurse Practitioner / Pharmacist
    • $349 by 4 Sept | $399 after 4 Sept
  • Non-MDs / Non-Pharmacists
    • $229 by 4 Sept | $239 after 4 Sept
  • Resident / Student
    • $49 by 4 Sept | $59 after 4 Sept
  • Registration includes light breakfast, refreshments, lunch, access to the plenary sessions, concurrent sessions, online syllabus, and access to post-event recordings of plenary sessions

     

Explore the BC MS Cell Therapies Translational Research Network on MedNet

June 26, 2024

The new MS Research Network section on MedNet is a fantastic source of information as part of a longer-term plan to grow awareness of the MS Research Network among the UBC Faculty of Medicine community.

Situated within BC’s thriving biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem, the BC MS Cell Therapies Translational Research Network (MS Research Network) collaborates with research partners across the province, country and globe to leverage the latest advances in cell and gene engineering to develop innovative therapies for patients with MS.The page includes subsections for topics such as Resources, News and Announcements, and Funding Opportunities. For example, there are currently open funding opportunities which may be of relevance for those involved in translational medicine, such as:

In addition to learning more about the funding opportunities above, the ATM Community is encouraged to explore the MS Research Network on MedNet, sign up for The Link – MS Research Network Newsletter and to contact ms.researchnetwork@ubc.ca with any questions.