Research Excellence Clusters led by UBC Applied Science receive GCRC funding

Bionics Network 

The goal of the Bionics Network is to develop safe, user-friendly materials and devices, both wearable and implantable, that improve health and well-being by performing preventative, restorative, and assistive functions. This is achieved by bringing together engineers, clinicians, and the consumer community. 

Cluster Lead: Karen Cheung, Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Quantum Computing Research Cluster 

Quantum computing is the next wave of fundamental science poised to revolutionize human experience. We want to discover and create the technology on which quantum computations will be run in the next two decades. The challenge is to produce a universal quantum computer that is demonstrably scalable and which also achieves a practical quantum advantage over classical computers. 

Cluster Lead: Lukas Chrostowski, Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Reducing Male Suicide

The Reducing Male Suicide Cluster aims to de-stigmatize men’s suicidality by engaging in three areas of focus: 1) Men’s mental health inequities; 2) The experiences of men who seek, and clinicians who provide, mental health care and; 3) Connecting men’s relationships, mental illnesses (including anxiety and depression) and suicide risk. 

Cluster Lead: John Oliffe, School of Nursing 

Transformative Health and Justice 

The Transformative Health and Justice Research Cluster is a peer-led, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral research network catalyzing equity-oriented studies at the interface of health and justice. We apply strength-based research approaches for decolonizing, anti-stigmatizing, and culturally safe engagement, policy development, and community advocacy for and with people who are impacted by the criminal legal system. 

Cluster Lead: Helen Brown, School of Nursing 

Disaster Resilience Research Network 

The UBC Disaster Resilience Research Network intends to build transdisciplinary connections and identify shared research goals to inform disaster risk reduction policy and decision making at community and governance levels. The cluster aims to advance multi-hazard assessment and mitigation in support of an inclusive and equitable development of just disaster risk management. 

Cluster Co-lead: Carlos Molina Hutt, Civil Engineering

Re-ROW - Rethinking the Right of Way

Streets provide the connective tissue for cities, providing mobility and access, distributing goods and utilities, and opportunities for social and civic interaction. Rethinking the Right-of-Way (ReROW) is focused on innovation in the design and management of streets, sidewalks, alleys, and other public spaces that lead to better social, health, and sustainable outcomes. With respect to the ROW, the cluster will focus on three research themes and the connections between them: 

1. mobility and access; 

2. energy and the environment; 

3. health and wellbeing. 

Cluster Lead: Kelly Clifton, School of Community and Regional Planning 

Trustworthiness of Machine-Learning-Based Systems​​​​​​

TrustML facilitates the development of trustworthy machine-learning-based systems, i.e., systems that are reliable, secure, explainable, and ethical. The cluster will examine trust-related requirements in several life-critical domains, including medicine and aerospace, and will investigate solutions for building trustworthy systems that professionals and the general public can reliably adopt.  

Cluster Lead: Julia Rubin, Electrical and Computer Engineering