COVID-19

UBC-led biomedical innovation hub to accelerate development and manufacturing of lifesaving medicines for Canadians

Canada’s biotech ecosystem is poised for a major boost with the federal government announcement today that B.C. will be home to Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH).

Mar 15, 2023

About Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub

Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub brings together a multi-disciplinary, multisectoral coalition of more than 50 partner institutions (9 academic, 15 private, 6 public, 4 other research organizations, 16 not-for-profit) from […]

Mar 15, 2023

The University of British Columbia is leading a new research hub that will improve pandemic readiness and the overall health and well-being of Canadians. Photo Credit: Paul Joseph/University of British Columbia

Event: New UBC-led national research hub to accelerate Canada’s vaccine and therapeutics production

The University of British Columbia is receiving federal funding for a new research hub that will improve pandemic readiness and the overall health and well-being of Canadians.

Mar 14, 2023

Co-first author Dr. Jimena Pérez-Vargas working in the Jean lab. Photo credit: Paul Joseph

B.C. sea sponge has COVID-blocking powers

UBC researchers have identified three compounds that prevent COVID-19 infection in human cells, derived from natural sources including a B.C. sea sponge.

Jan 9, 2023

Cells treated with the compound (right) showed reduced infection from the Omicron variant compared to untreated cells (left). Photo credit: Dr. Selvarani Vimalanathan, Molecular Biomedicine

From COVID-19 to the common cold: UBC scientists identify broadly effective, infection-halting compound

Researchers at UBC’s Life Sciences Institute have identified a compound that shows early promise at halting infections from a range of coronaviruses, including all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and the common cold.

Dec 14, 2022

UBC experts on new Omicron-specific vaccine

Health Canada has approved a vaccine by Moderna that specifically targets the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. UBC experts are available to comment.

Sep 1, 2022

Children are entering a fourth school year in a pandemic — expert advice for parents

As children head back for a fourth school year with COVID-19, many parents are hoping their kids will be able to enjoy a mostly normal school experience. But with new variants circulating and respiratory virus season on the horizon, many also have concerns and questions about what the new school year will look like.

Aug 22, 2022

Cryo-electron microscopy reveals how the VH Ab6 antibody fragment (red) attaches to the vulnerable site on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (grey) to block the virus from binding with the human ACE2 cell receptor (blue). Credit: Dr. Sriram Subramaniam, UBC

UBC researchers discover ‘weak spot’ across major COVID-19 variants

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered a key vulnerability across all major variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the recently emerged BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron subvariants.

Aug 18, 2022

COVID-19 vaccine and young children — expert answers for skeptical parents

A recent study by UBC researchers reveals some surprising attitudes about child vaccination from parents who remain unvaccinated.

Aug 16, 2022

UBC experts on COVID-19 vaccine for infants and preschoolers

Health Canada announced today that it has approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between six months and five years old, making it the first vaccine approved for that age group in the country. UBC experts are available to comment.

Jul 14, 2022

We spoke with Dr. Horacio Bach about vaccinating against the latest variants of SARS-CoV-2. Credit: Unsplash

Your second COVID-19 booster is on the way—but when?

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise overseas and appear to be increasing in Canada, raising questions about when the population will need a second booster—and how effective it will be.

Jul 7, 2022

A province-by-province look at excess deaths in Canada during the pandemic

Dr. Kimberlyn McGrail, a professor in UBC’s school of population of public health, examined all “excess deaths” across Canadian provinces during the first 19 months of the pandemic, and how many of those were attributed specifically to COVID-19.

May 30, 2022

As of Oct. 31, 2021, there had been a total of 8,786 recorded cases of COVID-19 in pregnancy in Canada.

Catching COVID-19 during pregnancy increases risk of hospitalization, premature birth: national study

As Canada faces a sixth wave of COVID-19 infections, researchers at the UBC faculty of medicine are urging people who are pregnant to remain vigilant based on data from Canada’s first national, peer-reviewed study on COVID-19 in pregnancy.

May 2, 2022

Artwork by Diné (Navajo) artists Dale Deforest and Vanessa Bowen. Concept by Native Realities.

Pandemic shows how social factors impact health of Indigenous peoples

Dr. Kimberly Huyser has worked throughout the pandemic to understand the social factors that impact Indigenous populations’ vulnerability to COVID-19.

Apr 5, 2022

Dr. Pieter Cullis named 2022 Canada Gairdner Award laureate

UBC professor Dr. Pieter Cullis has been named a 2022 Canada Gairdner International Award laureate for his pioneering work developing the lipid nanoparticle delivery technology that enables mRNA therapeutics such as the highly effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Apr 5, 2022

Senior author Dr. François Jean and co-author Dr. Guang Gao at UBC LSI imaging facility where they routinely capture high-resolution microscopy images of human cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. Credit: Paul Joseph

New nasal spray treats Delta variant infection in mice, indicating broad spectrum results

Researchers have shown a new compound delivered in a nasal spray is highly effective in preventing and treating COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant in mice.

Mar 28, 2022

Self-sanitizing copper has been applied to high-contact surfaces in nine UBC buildings. Photo: Teck

Microbe-slaying copper applied to UBC buildings

More than 400 sanitizing copper patches have been added to high-contact areas at UBC as part of a collaboration between Teck Resources and UBC to study the antimicrobial properties of copper.

Mar 28, 2022

Managing mental health as pandemic restrictions ease

UBC psychiatry professor Dr. Steven Taylor (he/him), author of The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease, offers advice on how people can manage the complex feelings that come with this next phase of the pandemic.

Mar 10, 2022

Credit: christopher catbagan on Unsplash

British Columbians worried pandemic will never end, and climate change is only adding to the fear

If you’re feeling like the pandemic is never-ending, you’re not alone. Sixty-four per cent of British Columbians are worried the COVID-19 pandemic will be around for years to come, with concerns about climate change adding fuel to the fire.

Mar 1, 2022

New COVID-19 study links nurses’ mental health to quality of care

Stories of stress and burnout among healthcare workers, particularly nurses, continue to make news during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, new research shows these mental health problems could be contributing to decreased quality of patient care.

Feb 16, 2022