COVID-19

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

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

Material coated in polymer in small scale tests with a green lamp. Credit: Taylor Wright

Futuristic coating for hospital fabrics and activewear kills COVID and E. coli

UBC researchers have developed an inexpensive, non-toxic coating for almost any fabric that decreases the infectivity of the virus that causes COVID-19 by up to 90 per cent.

Feb 10, 2022

Your Google symptom searches could improve COVID modelling

Adding Google searches for symptoms and other information to COVID forecast models increased their accuracy, recent UBC research has found.

Feb 9, 2022

UBC experts on Pfizer antiviral treatment for COVID-19

Health Canada has authorized Pfizer’s PAXLOVID™ antiviral treatment for adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progressing to serious disease, including hospitalization or death. UBC experts are available to comment.

Jan 17, 2022

For every hour’s delay in providing treatment, the risk of death increases by as much as 7.6 per cent, highlighting the need for rapid detection. Credit: Camilo Jimenez on Unsplash

Machine learning and AI used to rapidly detect sepsis, cutting risk of death dramatically

A groundbreaking advance in quickly detecting sepsis using machine learning has been pioneered by researchers in the Hancock Lab and the department of microbiology and immunology at UBC.

Jan 10, 2022

Photo: Prasesh Shiwakoti (Lomash) / Unsplash

UBC experts on COVID-19 pandemic

UBC experts are available to comment on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jan 4, 2022

UBC clinical trial supports new self-administered rapid antigen test

Thanks to new research compiled with data from UBC’s first on-campus clinical study, a new self-administered rapid antigen test will soon be available in Canada. It’s a tool that could help combat growing uncertainty, prevent transmission and potentially save lives.

Dec 23, 2021

COVID-19: Planning for 2021/22 Winter Session, Term 2

As we approach Winter Session Term 2 in January, we would like to update you on recent discussions around COVID-19 and the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Dec 22, 2021

Atomic structure of the Omicron variant spike protein (purple) bound with the human ACE2 receptor (blue). Credit: Dr. Sriram Subramaniam

UBC scientists unveil world’s first molecular-level analysis of Omicron variant spike protein

UBC researchers are the first in the world to conduct a molecular-level structural analysis of the Omicron variant spike protein.

Dec 22, 2021

Statement regarding health and safety during exams

Throughout the pandemic, UBC has worked closely with the Provincial Health Officer and Regional Health Authorities to ensure we are following their guidance in our campus operations and that we are keeping our community safe.

Dec 19, 2021

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

Spread cheer, not COVID: Tips for staying safe this holiday season

Devon Greyson, assistant professor at UBC’s school of population and public health, answers some common questions about how to stay safe and healthy this holiday season.

Dec 9, 2021

The findings have implications for the ongoing global vaccination effort, as half the world’s population has yet to be vaccinated.

Delaying second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine produces stronger immune response

The first peer-reviewed study in North America examining the timing between the first and second doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines shows that a longer dose interval leads to a stronger immune response.

Dec 1, 2021

UBC experts on new SARS-CoV-2 variant ‘Omicron’

A heavily mutated variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus—designated “Omicron”—has emerged, with early cases concentrated primarily in South Africa. UBC experts are available to comment.

Nov 26, 2021

Screengrabs of TikToks found by searching the word "health."

UBC scholars call for global research agenda into TikTok’s impacts on public health

TikTok has acquired more than one billion monthly users in just five years, but the influential video-sharing app remains one of the least studied social media platforms around. In this Q&A, UBC researchers Dr. Skye Barbic and UBC research associate Marco Zenone discuss the need for a global research agenda into TikTok’s impact on public health.

Nov 25, 2021

UBC experts on COVID-19 vaccine for children

Health Canada is expected to announce approval of a COVID-19 vaccine for children on Friday. UBC experts are available to comment.

Nov 18, 2021