Fifty-six University of British Columbia research projects have
received more than $2 million in grants from the B.C. Health Research
Foundation (BCHRF) in a recent funding competition.
“This funding recognizes the quality of health research being conducted
in this province and here at UBC,” says Bernie Bressler, vice-president,
Research. “Especially important is the foundation’s attention to
new investigators — BCHRF funding can help scientists develop their
research programs early in their careers.”
Grant recipients come from disciplines ranging from obstetrics
and gynecology to radiology and zoology.
Projects focus on population health issues such as occupational
mortality and domestic violence as well as health services and clinical
care. Researchers will also conduct basic science studies of biomedical
challenges such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s
disease and duodenal ulcers.
Human Kinetics Asst. Prof. Heather McKay’s research focuses on
the prevention of osteoporosis.
One of her projects looks at the effect of weight-bearing exercise
such as hopping or skipping on bone density in Asian- and Caucasian-Canadian
children.
McKay will determine what factors the skeleton responds to in increasing
bone density. The significance of age, intensity of impact, diet
and genetic differences will be tested.
A BCHRF research scholar grant recipient, McKay will also conduct
a series of interdisciplinary studies looking at primary prevention
of osteoporosis in children and pre- and post-menopausal women.
BCHRF distributed a total of $3.5 million to fund 85 research projects
at universities, hospitals and community agencies.
UBC faculty members participate in more than 4,000 research projects
annually and attract upwards of $135 million per year in research
funding.
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