Faculty of Medicine

A female doctor putting a bandage on a male patient.

New variants, new vaccines. Here’s what you should know about COVID-19 going into fall.

Dr. Horacio Bach, a clinical assistant professor with UBC’s division of infectious diseases, answers key questions about the new COVID-19 variants and vaccines.

Sep 14, 2023

Researchers discover common origin behind major childhood allergies

Researchers discover common origin behind major childhood allergies

Several major childhood allergies may all stem from the community of bacteria living in our gut, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital.

Aug 29, 2023

UBC's Dr. Hubert Chao (second from left) and Dr. Luba Butska (third from right) with the Canadian Medical Assistance Team in May 2022. The team was deployed to provide volunteer medical care in northwestern Ukraine, where thousands of people were displaced following the Russian invasion.

Ordinary care in extraordinary times

How two UBC health-care workers are lending their support to Ukraine.

Aug 15, 2023

Photo by Thomas Picauly on Unsplash

New study finds medications to treat alcohol addiction underused

Between 2015 and 2019, fewer than 5 per cent of British Columbians who met the criteria for moderate to severe alcohol use disorder received medications for the minimum recommended time of three months.

Jul 25, 2023

Piper Scott-Fiddler and Samantha Martin-Ferris holding their World's Challenge Challenge certificates. Photo courtesy of the University of Western Ontario.

UBC students create Lifegiver Box to improve sexual health care access for Indigenous women

Two UBC students have developed the Lifegiver Box to help improve access to sexual health care for Indigenous women.

Jul 11, 2023

Climate change is increasing the risk of Lyme disease in Canada. Take steps to protect yourself.

Climate change is increasing the risk of Lyme disease in Canada. Take steps to protect yourself.

Dr. Muhammad Morshed, a UBC expert on Lyme disease and emerging pathogens, discusses how climate change is increasing the prevalence of tick-borne illnesses in Canada and what you can do to protect yourself.

Jul 5, 2023

There’s more to water safety than lifejackets. Know how to keep your kids safe this summer.

There’s more to water safety than lifejackets. Know how to keep your kids safe this summer.

UBC injury prevention expert Dr. Ian Pike shares top tips to keep you and your kids safe this summer.

Jun 26, 2023

Nuclear medicine can cure cancer, and Canadian researchers are stepping up the fight

Nuclear medicine can cure cancer, and Canadian researchers are stepping up the fight

A UBC-led team has received more than $23 million in federal funding to develop precision radiopharmaceuticals that promise to transform cancer treatment in Canada and beyond.

May 4, 2023

The Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada that aims to provide a pathway to success for Black Canadian students at UBC.

Celebrating Black History Month at UBC

In honour of Black History Month, the University of British Columbia is celebrating the programs and initiatives that support the university’s Black community members.

Feb 2, 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

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

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

The research team tracked the driving records of more than 9,200 people who visited an emergency department for fainting.

You fainted. Are you OK to drive?

People who have visited the emergency department for fainting are no more prone to car crashes than other emergency department patients, new research out of UBC’s faculty of medicine has found.

Aug 3, 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

U.S. insurance claims show strong link between ED medications and vision problems

U.S. insurance claims show strong link between ED medications and vision problems

The risk of developing one of three serious eye conditions increases by 85 per cent for regular users of common erectile dysfunction (ED) medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Stendra, new UBC research has found.

Apr 7, 2022

UBC Thunderbird hockey players are wearing special mouthguards to capture data for UBC researchers who study concussions. Credit: Kai Jacobson

High-tech mouthguard tracks head impacts during varsity hockey playoffs

A high-tech mouthguard worn by UBC Thunderbird hockey players will capture data for UBC researchers who study concussions.

Mar 17, 2022

Photo by Marcelo Leal on Unsplash

Chemotherapy drug puts young children with cancer at high risk of hearing loss

A chemotherapy drug known to cause hearing loss in children is more likely to do so the earlier in life children receive it, new UBC research has found.

Sep 7, 2021

Pandemic underlines need to address physician burnout, study finds

Pandemic underlines need to address physician burnout, study finds

Two out of three Vancouver physicians surveyed in a new UBC study faced burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jun 11, 2021

Using cryo-electron microscopy, UBC researchers have revealed the structure of the N501Y spike protein mutant, shown above (in blue) bound to two copies of the ACE2 receptor (in red).

UBC researchers unveil first molecular images of B.1.1.7 COVID-19 mutation

UBC researchers are the first in the world to publish structural images of the N501Y mutation on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein—a change believed to be partly responsible for the highly infectious nature and rapid spread of variant B.1.1.7.

May 3, 2021

Credit: Tim Bish/Unsplash

A baby’s first poop can help predict risk of developing allergies

It may seem like an unusual place to go looking for answers, but the contents of a baby’s first diaper can reveal a lot about a newborn’s future health.

Apr 29, 2021