CIHR Project Grants awarded to UBC Applied Science research tackling stroke, spinal deformity and more

Six projects led or co-led by UBC Applied Science researchers have been awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants: Fall 2021 competition. 

The CIHR’s Project Grant program aims to support ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related research and knowledge translation, as well as to promote collaboration and “contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.” 

In the Fall 2021 competition, four of the UBC Applied Science-affiliated projects received research grants, while two received priority announcement grants. Awardees were selected based on the significance, impact and feasibility of the research projects. 

The UBC Applied Science-affiliated projects, which address health issues ranging from stroke and spinal deformity to endometriosis and opioid addiction, are: 

Research Grants 

Decoding human cis-regulatory logic in development and disease 
Principal Investigator: De Boer, Carl G (Biomedical Engineering) 
Research Institution: UBC 
*Conditionally funded at time of posting 

Subject-Specific Biomechanical Modelling in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients: A Surgical Planning and Failure Prediction Toolkit 
Principal Investigator: Oxland, Thomas R. (Orthopedics, Mechanical Engineering) 
CO-PIs: Brown, Stephen H; Fels, Sidney S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Street, John; Wilson, David R. 
Research Institution: UBC 
Funding Amount: $795,600 (five years)  

Opioid tapering: Identifying optimal strategies to reduce adverse events among adults on long-term opioid therapy 
Principal Investigator: Ti, Lianping (Mint) (School of Population and Public Health) 
Co-PIs: Nolan, Seonaid (Medicine, VCHRI, BCCSU); Slaunwhite, Amanda K (School of Population and Public Health, BCCDC); Johnson, Cheyenne H. (Nursing, VCHRI, BCCSU) 
Research Institution: British Columbia Centre on Substance Use 
Funding Amount: $447,525 (three years) 

Using Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Imaging to Improve Stroke Risk Assessment and Management 
Principal Investigator: Tsang, Teresa S. (Medicine) 
Co-PIs: Abolmaesumi, Purang (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 
Research Institution: UBC 
Funding Amount: $581,401 (three years) 
 

Priority Announcement Grants 

A bioengineering platform to promote safe cell therapies 
Priority Announcement: Genetics 
Principal Investigator: Shakiba, Nika (Biomedical Engineering) 
Co-PIs: Goyal, Sidhartha (University of Toronto) 
Research Institution: UBC 
*Conditionally funded at time of posting 

Clinical-biomarker predictors of outcome after endometriosis surgery 
Priority Announcement: Patient-Oriented Research 
Principal Investigator: Yong, Paul (Obstetrics & Gynecology) 
Co-PIs: Talhouk, Aline (Obstetrics & Gynecology); Anglesio, Michael S. (Obstetrics & Gynaecology, BCCHR); Howard, Amanda F. (Nursing) Mohamed; Ali Bedaiwy (Obstetrics and Gynecology, BCCHR) 
Research Institution: UBC 
Funding Amount: $100,000 (one year) 
 

For more information about all UBC-led projects awarded Project Grants during this funding round, please see the announcement on the UBC Research and Innovation website.