Research Centres and Programs

The BC Centre on Substance Use is a recognized leader in substance use research, using multidisciplinary practices and collaborative networks to conduct and translate research to improve substance use treatment, care and policies in order to address the pressing health challenges that substance use presents. Investigators lead an innovative multidisciplinary program of research, monitoring, evaluation and quality improvement activities to guide health system improvements in the area of substance use.

The Centre for Aging SMART (Solutions for Mobility, Activity, Rehabilitation and Technology) aims to promote healthy aging across the lifespan and support the development of cost-effective solutions to address the changing needs of the province’s aging population.

The Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation-Centre d'Innovation Cardiovasculaire is dedicated to improving the health of patients with cardiovascular disease. Investigators conduct scientific research in all aspects of cardiovascular care.

The Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation provides evidence-based advice to support and advance a sustainable health care system that delivers safe, high quality care through multidisciplinary research and training. Researchers develop research methodology and provide statistical expertise for health care policy makers, as well as guidance on maintaining well trained health care practitioners, providers and researchers.

The Centre for Lung Health aims to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of respiratory illnesses through collaborative approaches that link respiratory research to clinical practices. Investigators work to develop screening tests and therapies to predict and address respiratory conditions such as asthma, sleep-disordered breathing, tuberculosis and lung cancer.

The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health is the largest integrated brain research centre in Canada, bringing together experts in the fields of neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry and rehabilitation into a single hub for research, training and clinical care. Researchers work with state-of-the-art technology to advance brain health knowledge, with the aim of understanding the brain through all stages of life in an effort to prevent and treat brain diseases and help individuals maintain good cognitive health.

The Immunity and Infection Research Centre works across a variety of disciplines to uncover immune responses to infectious diseases and identify the causes behind immune system disorders. Researchers study the basic mechanisms of human immune responses involved in transplantation, infectious diseases and auto-immune disorders in order to develop new treatment and prevention strategies to improve public health outcomes and enhance community health services.

The International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries is a world-leading health research centre focused on the interdisciplinary study of spinal cord injury. By developing new approaches to rehabilitation therapy and advancements in surgical techniques, as well as strategies for injury prevention and functional recovery after injury, investigators strive to realize better health outcomes and improved quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury.

Ovarian Cancer Research Centre brings together global leaders in ovarian and other gynecological cancer research to improve health outcomes for women through collaborative research and knowledge translation. Researchers work to create rational, informed and individualized approaches to tackle this disease at all levels and stages, from prevention to early detection and diagnosis to novel treatments and therapies.

The Vancouver Prostate Centre is a world-renowned research centre that undertakes basic, clinical and translational research to advance the understanding and elimination of prostate cancer and other genitourinary cancers. With an aim of improving the length and quality of life of patients, investigators study new ways to diagnose and treat cancer, as well as monitor cancer progression and address treatment resistance by developing safe and effective medications.

The Community Research Program focuses on creating new knowledge and applying it to care across residents’ full lifespan through specialized programs for substance use, mental health, public health and aging populations. Investigators aim to design innovative clinical and health service interventions and program evaluations that will lead to positive health outcomes for clients and their families.

The Emergency Medicine Research Program examines new ways for health care professionals to provide high quality, cutting-edge acute care and treatment to patients in the event of a trauma. Investigators examine a variety of conditions such as cardiac arrest, falls, motor vehicle accidents and substance misuse, as well as the development of innovative techniques for imaging and preventing adverse drug events.

The Hematology Research Program studies ways to treat various types of blood disease and improve understanding of how normal blood and stem cells become diseased. Researchers study innovative therapies to treat patients with hematological disorders, including creating less toxic therapies, finding new methods of delivering medications and evaluating medications to extend life expectancy and improve quality of life.

The Skin Research Program conducts basic and applied science research focusing on the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of skin disease such as skin cancers, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo and pigmentation, and hair disorders. The main areas of research include skin optics and photomedicine, chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, genomics and biomarkers discovery, epidemiology and outcomes research, therapeutic development and clinical trials.

The full potential of health research is set to evolve continuously as VCHRI harmonizes and builds on the strengths of investigators, clinician scientists and heath professionals. Meet the research teams on burn and wound care, ophthalmology and pancreatic cancer.