Calem Kenward wins 2021/22 Killam Doctoral Award
Calem Kenward, a PhD student in the lab of Dr. Natalie Strynadka has been named a 2021/22 recipient of a Killam Doctoral Scholarship. His work on proteins has included exploring the crystal structure of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. In an interview with UBC Graduate studies, Calem said he has always loved taking things apart and figuring […] Read More
Translating discovery to transform health: Untold stories from medical research
*Webinar Series: Transforming Health for Everyone Webinar Series – Brought to you by UBC Faculty of Medicine Development & Alumni Engagement The rapid pace of development for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines has demonstrated both the need and opportunity to expedite discoveries from the lab to the clinic—where innovation can save and improve lives. British […] Read More
Xinying Wang – Defended MSc Thesis
Congratulations Amy! On May 20th, 2021 Amy Wang successfully defended her thesis, “Exploring the evolution of a viral internal ribosome entry site”. Amy have been a trainee in Dr. Eric Jan’s Lab. Read More
Covid-19 vaccines have triggered the next wave of pharmaceuticals – Dr. Pieter Cullis
Quartz Magazine’s Katherine Ellen Foley has interviewed Dr. Pieter Cullis in a wide-ranging story exploring the dawning age of genetic medicine. “Covid-19 vaccines are the start of a new wave of genetic medicine—drugs that tweak DNA to keep us healthy,” begins Foley’s piece, which asserts, “chances are, you’ve never heard of Pieter Cullis. But if […] Read More
Congratulations to Rachel Price on winning a Dragon’s Den Award
Rachel Price is a recipient of BCREGMED‘s Dragon’s Den Award. Rachel is a PhD candidate in the Teves Lab at UBC. In the lab, she studies the action of transcription factors during mitosis in mouse embryonic stem cells to investigate the mechanisms of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Outside of the lab, she enjoys knitting, hiking, and baking sourdough. […] Read More
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. Dr. Sriram Subramaniam The pictures, taken at near-atomic resolution, provide critical insight as to why the B.1.1.7 […] Read More
Rachel Jun – Defended MSc Thesis
Congratulations Rachel! On April 19, 2021 Hee Jin Rachel Jun successfully defended her thesis, “Exploring the role of mutations in the signal peptides of VIM-2, NDM-1, and IMP-1 in the development of advantageous phenotypes in Escherichia coli.” Rachel have been training in Dr. Nobuhiko Tokuriki’s Lab. Read More
UBC-grown biotech companies lead global pandemic efforts
Millions of Canadians have received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, but what many may not realize is that a key component of the injection was developed right here at UBC. Acuitas Therapeutics, a UBC spin-off company co-founded by Dr. Pieter Cullis, developed the lipid nanoparticle technology that allows the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine to enter human cells. […] Read More
Cloud computing support accelerates COVID-19 vaccine improvements
For the last 11 months, UBC biochemistry and molecular biology professor Leonard Foster and his team have been studying how SARS-CoV-2 – the virus responsible for COVID-19 – attacks the human body, in hopes of developing a more targeted vaccine with fewer side effects. Prof. Foster is confident that this technology will accelerate the […] Read More
UBC-led team captures first-ever X-ray images of critical SARS-COV-2 enzyme in action
For the first time, a team of researchers has captured X-ray images of a critical enzyme of the COVID-19 virus performing its function. This discovery could improve design of new treatments against the disease. The COVID-19 vaccines currently rolling out are providing hope that the spread of the disease can be halted. But infection rates […] Read More