Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

With just a tablespoon of blood, B.C. researchers aim to transform cancer treatment

Researchers at the Vancouver Prostate Centre and BC Cancer have developed a new blood test that provides unprecedented insight into a patient’s cancer make-up, potentially allowing doctors to better select treatment options that will improve patient outcomes.

Jul 20, 2022

Photo of a coated versus an uncoated catheter. Credit: Kizhakkedathu Lab

UBC team discovers ‘silver bullet’ to keep medical devices free of bacteria

University of British Columbia researchers have found a ‘silver bullet’ to kill bacteria and keep them from infecting patients who have medical devices implanted.

Apr 27, 2022

Before cannabis was legalized, 3.8 per cent of drivers had blood THC concentrations above the Canadian legal driving limit of 2 nanograms/ml. That percentage rose to 8.6 per cent after legalization.

More Canadians may be driving high since cannabis legalization: UBC study

THC is being detected in twice as many injured drivers since cannabis was legalized in Canada, according to new UBC research published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Jan 13, 2022

Harmful medication re-exposures could be avoided with new approaches

Adverse drug events could be avoided by sharing patients’ medication histories and previous harmful medication exposures among various health-care facilities. That’s one of the key findings of a study published today in CMAJ Open.

Jul 18, 2019

Low THC levels not linked to increased risk of car crashes

New research led by the University of British Columbia suggests that THC levels less than five nanograms/ml of blood do not lead to an increased risk of causing car crashes in most drivers.

Jun 13, 2019

Scientists edge closer to root causes of multiple sclerosis

An international team of researchers led by the University of British Columbia has made a scientific advance they hope will lead to the development of preventative treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Jun 6, 2019

Harvey Lui, co-author and Haishan Zeng, senior author.

A new way of diagnosing and treating disease—without cutting skin

University of British Columbia researchers have developed a specialized microscope that has the potential ability to both diagnose diseases that include skin cancer and perform incredibly precise surgery—all without cutting skin.

May 15, 2019

Common treatment for multiple sclerosis may prolong life

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have found that a widely prescribed drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with longer survival for patients.

Mar 18, 2019

The study found that the most dangerous time for pedestrians on Halloween was between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Pedestrian fatalities increase on Halloween, particularly among children

Children are more likely to be fatally struck by a vehicle on Halloween than on other nights of the year, according to new research led by the University of British Columbia.

Oct 30, 2018

Drug created from malaria parasite shows promise as bladder cancer treatment

A drug created from a malaria protein stopped tumour growth of chemotherapy-resistant bladder cancer, offering hope for cancer patients not responding to standard treatments.

Apr 20, 2017

Social clubs fill gap in dementia support

Community-based social groups could play a crucial role in empowering people with early-onset dementia, according to new UBC research.

May 3, 2016

Potential prostate cancer treatment developed in B.C. gets big boost

A potential treatment for advanced prostate cancer developed by the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) scientists has been licensed to pharmaceutical company Roche, marking UBC’s largest licensing agreement to date.

Dec 15, 2015

Destructive disease shows potential as a cancer treatment

Scientists at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Cancer Agency have discovered a protein from malaria that could one day help stop cancer in its tracks.

Oct 13, 2015

Aerobic exercise is as good for the older brain as it is for the body

Break out the sweatbands and the oldies – 60 minutes of good old-fashioned aerobic exercise may be more potent than any pill to reduce older adults’ risk of cognitive decline due to mini-strokes, according to research by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and UBC.

Jul 23, 2015

Scientists pinpoint brain-swelling mechanism

A team of UBC researchers has made a significant discovery uncovering the cause of brain swelling after trauma to the head.

Apr 23, 2015

Researchers discover how to target and disable ‘bad apple’ proteins

UBC researchers have developed a technique that targets proteins that cause disease and destroys “bad apples” in the cell.

Feb 21, 2014

Researchers discover how ALS spreads

UBC researchers have found how the devastating disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, spreads — and say transmission can be blocked.

Feb 17, 2014

New research shows that seniors who participated in cardio or weight training incurred fewer health care resources.

Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors

Forget apples – lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

May 14, 2013

Alzheimer's researcher reveals a protein's dual destructiveness – and therapeutic potential

A scientist at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health has identified the molecule that controls a scissor-like protein responsible for the production of plaques – the telltale sign of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Dec 3, 2012

Some MS patients experience “natural” improvements in disability: UBC-VCH research

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients sometimes experience “natural” improvements in disability at least over the short term, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

Oct 17, 2012