@VCHResearch
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute — Leading innovative research with health impact in Canada. vchri.ca
@VCHResearch Instagram
@VCHResearch Instagram
Rethinking head impacts across contact sports
Rethinking head impacts across contact sports
A tackle on the football field and a header in a soccer match may appear very different, but new research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) researcher Dr. Lyndia Wu and University of British Columbia (UBC) PhD student Zaryan Masood suggests the brain may experience some of those impacts in surprisingly similar ways.
Ask an expert: What can football tournaments teach us about preventing sports injuries? | VCH Research Institute
Ask an expert: What can football tournaments teach us about preventing sports injuries? | VCH Research Institute
Ahead of the world's largest sporting event taking place in Vancouver this summer, VCHRI researcher Dr. Jackie Whittaker discusses what we can learn from how elite athletes train to reduce injury risk and what prevention strategies recreational athletes and people returning to exercise should consider.
Innovation and Translational Research Awards 2026 Recipients | VCH Research Institute
Innovation and Translational Research Awards 2026 Recipients | VCH Research Institute
Advancing research from discovery to real-world application is essential to improving health systems and patient outcomes. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is proud to support investigators and their groundbreaking health research with the Innovation and Translational Research Awards. This year’s recipients are putting new knowledge into practice, implementing research in clinical settings and advancing innovations with the potential for commercialization. The 2026 Innovation and Translational Research Award recipients are:
Reducing the environmental impact of kidney care in B.C.
Reducing the environmental impact of kidney care in B.C.
Health care systems are increasingly recognizing their environmental footprint, with the global sector accounting for an estimated four to five per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
People in profile: Alice Casagrande Cesconetto
People in profile: Alice Casagrande Cesconetto
Q: What is your role in health research? A: I am the project manager for the province-wide Multi-Omics and Sonography to Advance Integrated Cardiac Care (MOSAIC) study. Working under the supervision of Dr. Teresa Tsang, I support research that advances equitable approaches to heart health through the integration of genomics, medical imaging and artificial intelligence.
Alternative first-line treatment proves effective for persistent atrial fibrillation
Alternative first-line treatment proves effective for persistent atrial fibrillation
A decades-long research journey led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Jason Andrade is reshaping how clinicians approach atrial fibrillation (AFib), one of the world’s most common and consequential heart rhythm disorders.
Top Graduating Doctoral Student Award and Rising Star Award 2026 Recipients
Top Graduating Doctoral Student Award and Rising Star Award 2026 Recipients
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is proud to support future research leaders with the Top Graduating Doctoral Student Awards and the Rising Star Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding efforts of VCHRI trainees whose pursuit of research has made them exceptional role models and valued contributors to the Vancouver Coastal Health and University of British Columbia research community. The 2026 Top Graduating Doctoral Student Award recipient is: Beverley Larssen The 2026 Rising Star Award recipients are:
Why clinical trials matter to the future of health care in B.C. | Vancouver Sun
Why clinical trials matter to the future of health care in B.C. | Vancouver Sun
Opinion: Patients in this province should have opportunities to access innovative therapies closer to home.
Clinical Trials at VCHRI
Clinical Trials at VCHRI
Discover how VCHRI provides administrative, legal and financial support for clinical research activities at Vancouver Coastal Health.
What are clinical trials?
What are clinical trials?
Ask an expert: How can I navigate a bladder cancer diagnosis?
Ask an expert: How can I navigate a bladder cancer diagnosis?
Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting the urinary system, yet many people remain unaware of its risk factors and warning signs. Recent research is expanding our understanding of bladder cancer biology and helping shape more personalized approaches to care, from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.
Navigating breastfeeding after spinal cord injury
Navigating breastfeeding after spinal cord injury
In Canada, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of a baby’s life, with continued breastfeeding encouraged into the toddler years. Yet, for women with spinal cord injury (SCI), this can present unique physiological and clinical challenges.
People in profile: Smita Roy
People in profile: Smita Roy
Q: What is your role in health research? A: I am a graduate research assistant at the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation (C2E2), working under the supervision of Dr. Craig Mitton. I support the Health Technology Assessment team on a range of projects. My responsibilities include conducting systematic reviews for evidence synthesis, analyzing data, contributing to the development of analytical frameworks and assisting with report writing.
Fostering connection in long-term care with the help of social robots
Fostering connection in long-term care with the help of social robots
As Canada’s aging population continues to grow, so does the demand for innovative solutions to enhance the care and quality of life for older adults. At the forefront of this technological shift is Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Lillian Hung, whose new study explored the potential of social robots to support well-being among residents of long-term care homes.
Behind the lab doors: Investigating blood biomarkers as a window into brain health at Wellington Laboratory
Behind the lab doors: Investigating blood biomarkers as a window into brain health at Wellington Laboratory
The brain is the most complex organ to understand, both in health and disease. Today, doctors rely on observable symptoms or use costly and sometimes inaccessible neuroimaging or invasive cerebrospinal fluid analysis to assess patients with brain disorders. Brain-derived biomarkers measured in the blood have the potential to transform diagnosis and prognosis for neurological conditions, while improving accessibility and reducing the need for patient travel.
Investigator Awards 2026 Recipients
Investigator Awards 2026 Recipients
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) supports clinician-scientists in advancing discoveries that improve the health and well-being of patients across the lifespans. The Investigator Awards provide salary support to leading health research investigators, helping reduce their clinical commitments and expand their capacity for innovation-driven research that creates new health care knowledge. The 2026 VCHRI Investigator Awards recipients are:
What is targeted temperature management?
What is targeted temperature management?
Walking the halls of the emergency department as a cardiology fellow, Dr. Christopher Fordyce saw how some cardiac arrest patients waited longer than others to receive an essential cooling treatment. It occurred to Fordyce, who is now a cardiologist at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and a Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher, that the varying times before a cooling treatment was administered might impact patients’ health outcomes.
Helping people breathe easier in a changing climate | VCH Research Institute
Helping people breathe easier in a changing climate | VCH Research Institute
With climate change intensifying, British Columbia is experiencing longer wildfire seasons and more frequent heat waves. These weather events pose serious health risks, particularly for people living with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
On-hand support while awaiting eating disorder care
On-hand support while awaiting eating disorder care
For people living with eating disorders, seeking help can be one of the most difficult steps toward recovery. Even after reaching out, many people still experience distress and loss of motivation for recovery during the period before treatment begins.
Ask an expert: How does second- and third-hand smoke affect my health?
Ask an expert: How does second- and third-hand smoke affect my health?
Whether you smoke or not, exposure to second- and third-hand smoke can have lasting effects on your lungs. Research is uncovering the invisible risks tied to cancer, respiratory disease and other health concerns. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Milan Khara and Lauren Wilkinson, Tobacco and Vapour Reduction Program coordinator, shed light on how the air around us affects our well-being.
Fitness app users make gains with carrots, not sticks
Fitness app users make gains with carrots, not sticks
People in profile: Gale Ladua
People in profile: Gale Ladua
Canadians are at high risk of kidney stones: Dietary interventions could help
Canadians are at high risk of kidney stones: Dietary interventions could help
Wearable alert system to prevent Parkinson’s medication ‘wearing off’ symptoms
Wearable alert system to prevent Parkinson’s medication ‘wearing off’ symptoms
Appointment of Dr. Teresa Tsang as Executive Lead and Scientific Director, VCHRI AI Hub
Appointment of Dr. Teresa Tsang as Executive Lead and Scientific Director, VCHRI AI Hub
One chord at a time: Community ukulele program builds connection for people living with dementia
One chord at a time: Community ukulele program builds connection for people living with dementia
People in profile: Naomi Jung
People in profile: Naomi Jung
Bringing cardiac recovery home
Bringing cardiac recovery home
What is deep brain stimulation?
What is deep brain stimulation?
Behind the lab doors: Brain Behaviour Laboratory
Behind the lab doors: Brain Behaviour Laboratory
Revolutionizing powered wheelchair training for spinal cord injury recovery
Revolutionizing powered wheelchair training for spinal cord injury recovery
Ask an expert: How does glaucoma affect my vision?
Ask an expert: How does glaucoma affect my vision?
Low sexual desire therapy calls for all hands on deck
Low sexual desire therapy calls for all hands on deck
Welcoming Dr. Stirling Bryan: A Q&A with VCHRI Interim Executive Director
Welcoming Dr. Stirling Bryan: A Q&A with VCHRI Interim Executive Director
Behind the lab doors: Accelerating discoveries in precision medicine at the Advanced Genomics & Computational Science Core
Behind the lab doors: Accelerating discoveries in precision medicine at the Advanced Genomics & Computational Science Core
Early detection of lung attacks in COPD
Early detection of lung attacks in COPD
People in profile: Alvin Kimbowa
People in profile: Alvin Kimbowa
Uncovering the silent threat of liver disease in Greater Vancouver
Uncovering the silent threat of liver disease in Greater Vancouver
Harnessing AI to improve ovarian cancer outcomes
Harnessing AI to improve ovarian cancer outcomes
Home blood pressure monitoring to curb uncontrolled hypertension
Home blood pressure monitoring to curb uncontrolled hypertension
Smart wearables for faster cardiac arrest emergency response
Smart wearables for faster cardiac arrest emergency response
Machine learning for handheld cardiac ultrasounds
Machine learning for handheld cardiac ultrasounds
Increasing survival from high-risk heart attacks with EARLY SHOCK
Increasing survival from high-risk heart attacks with EARLY SHOCK
Early intervention with cryoablation for better heart outcomes
Early intervention with cryoablation for better heart outcomes
Ask an expert: How does high-intensity exercise affect my heart?
Ask an expert: How does high-intensity exercise affect my heart?
People in profile: Adam Sunavsky
People in profile: Adam Sunavsky
Ask an expert: How can I prevent slips and falls during icy winter months?
Ask an expert: How can I prevent slips and falls during icy winter months?
Dr. Stirling Bryan appointed Interim Executive Director, VCHRI & Associate Dean, Research, VCHRI, UBC Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Stirling Bryan appointed Interim Executive Director, VCHRI & Associate Dean, Research, VCHRI, UBC Faculty of Medicine
Canadian surgical innovation cuts ovarian cancer risk by nearly 80 per cent
Canadian surgical innovation cuts ovarian cancer risk by nearly 80 per cent
Ask an expert: How do I prevent ovarian cancer?
Ask an expert: How do I prevent ovarian cancer?
Ask an expert: What should I know about kidney stones?
Ask an expert: What should I know about kidney stones?
Ask an expert: How can I better understand my asthma?
Ask an expert: How can I better understand my asthma?
Ask an expert: How can I tell if I have sleep apnea?
Ask an expert: How can I tell if I have sleep apnea?
Ask an expert: How can I build a balanced approach to healthy eating?
Ask an expert: How can I build a balanced approach to healthy eating?
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
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