Science, Health and Technology

Living near major roads linked to increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MS

Living near major roads or highways is linked to higher incidence of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests new research published this week in the journal Environmental Health.

Jan 23, 2020

UBC experts on coronavirus outbreak

A Washington state resident who returned from a trip to China last week has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus that has killed at least six people and sickened hundreds in China, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jan 21, 2020

Sepsis leading cause of death worldwide

New research published in The Lancet has found that sepsis is responsible for the most deaths worldwide, even more than cancer or coronary disease—previously believed to be the leading causes of death globally.

Jan 16, 2020

UBC researchers seek participants for spinal cord injury study

UBC researchers are investigating the effectiveness of a drug called Targin at treating chronic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Jan 13, 2020

Dr. Nadine Caron named founding First Nations Health Authority Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC

Dr. Nadine Caron — Canada’s first female First Nations general surgeon — has been appointed to a newly created UBC position dedicated to improving cancer outcomes and wellness among Indigenous peoples.

Jan 6, 2020

Announcing inaugural chair to improve cancer outcomes among Indigenous peoples

Today, UBC and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) will announce the founding FNHA Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC.

Jan 6, 2020

UBC experts on LifeLabs data breach

The private information for 15 million Canadians has been breached as a result of a cyberattack on Canadian health-care diagnostics provider LifeLabs, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

Dec 17, 2019

Researchers are studying if yeast can protect astronauts from space radiation. Credit: Justin Ohata/UBC Pharmaceutical Sciences

UBC researcher studies yeast to protect astronauts from space radiation

Corey Nislow is not an astronaut, but if humanity makes it to Mars safely, he will have played a vital role.

Dec 16, 2019

MengXing Na and Andrea Damascelli at UBC's Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (SBQMI). Credit: Research2Reality

New laser technique images quantum world in a trillionth of a second

For the first time, researchers have been able to record, frame-by-frame, how an electron interacts with certain atomic vibrations in a solid.

Dec 10, 2019

UBC experts on National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women

Tomorrow, December 6th, is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. It’s also the 30th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre, in which 14 female engineering students were killed. UBC experts are available to comment.

Dec 5, 2019

One in two homeless people may have experienced a head injury in their lifetime

People who are homeless experience a disproportionately high lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to a new UBC-led study published today in The Lancet Public Health.

Dec 3, 2019

Caribou on an unrestored seismic line. Credit: UBC Faculty of Forestry

Habitat restoration alone not enough to support threatened caribou: UBC study

New UBC research suggests restoring habitat may not be enough to save threatened woodland caribou—an iconic animal that’s a major part of boreal forests in North America and a key part of the culture and economy of many Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Nov 27, 2019

Canadians dying at a higher rate in areas with more air pollution

Air pollution – even at levels below national and international air quality guidelines – is associated with an increased risk of deaths in Canada, according to new UBC research.

Nov 25, 2019

New book offers candid look at life after prison for women

As a former prison physician, Dr. Ruth Elwood Martin knows how difficult it can be for women to navigate life after prison.

Nov 25, 2019

UBC experts available on World Fisheries Day

Today is the United Nations World Fisheries Day, which aims to focus attention on improving the working conditions of fishers around the world. UBC experts are available to comment on sustainable fisheries management and labour practices in the fishing industry.

Nov 21, 2019

Daily cannabis use lowers odds of using illicit opioids among people who have chronic pain

For those using illicit opioids to manage their chronic pain, cannabis may be a beneficial – and a less dangerous – alternative, according to new research from the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU).

Nov 19, 2019

Drug discount cards could actually cost patients more

New research published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals that brand-name drug discount cards are leading to higher health care spending in Canada—increased costs that are ultimately passed on to patients.

Nov 12, 2019

Eight tips for promoting men’s health

Successful men’s health programs are the ones that recognize and adapt to social forces that uniquely affect men, UBC research shows.

Nov 7, 2019

Karla Williams is studying tiny structures linked to metastatic breast cancer.

UBC expert immobilizes tiny structures linked to metastatic breast cancer

Karla Williams is researching potential treatments for metastatic breast cancer by studying structures in cancer cells that are thought to play a key role in the spread of the disease.

Nov 6, 2019

Cannabis could help alleviate depression and suicidality among people with PTSD

Cannabis may be helping Canadians cope with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research suggests.

Nov 5, 2019