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Message 1 Providence Research Monthly Newsletter July 2025
2 This month’s column is reminiscent of that Seals and Crofts song “Summer Breeze”. As July settles in with its long days and warm breezes, we nally nd ourselves at the heart of summer, a time for both reection and momentum. Whether you're taking a well-earned break, diving into new projects, or simply enjoying the season’s rhythm, July invites us to slow down just enough to appreciate where we are, while still looking ahead to what’s next. As I mentioned earlier, my daughter and I are fascinated by World War II. Earlier this month, we went on a road trip starting in Frankfurt, taking in Strasbourg, Prague and Oświęcim (Auschwitz), before heading back to Frankfurt via Dresden. These cities have an amazing and rich cultural history, and they played signicant roles in WWII. Soaking up the cultures, including a massive 2.5 day LGBTQ+ festival in Frankfurt, I was reecting on the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and then how global culture is once again shifting. But I digress. In this month’s column, I’ll share what’s on the horizon and oer a few updates to keep us all connected and inspired. We have conrmed August 19th with the government of B.C. to ocially open the new phase 1, clinical trials unit (CTU) at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. Conrmed to attend is the Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, along with other special guests on this auspicious occasion. We will have a full wrap-up in our August issue of The Research Review, Summer Edition. This is an exciting time for Providence and the Province, as we launch this new clinical trials unit, a rst for western Canada and an impressive asset that will be a catalyst for innovation and the evolution of our research capabilities. With the CTU launching in just a few weeks, the stang requirements are almost complete with the recent hiring of Ellen (Elle) Pollard as the unit’s Research Nurse. Three weeks ago, we completed interviews for the role of Medical Director of the CTU and hope to be able to announce the successful candidate in the next couple of weeks. We can now look forward to the next phase of the CSRC build while advancing our other priorities . Earlier this summer the CSRC communications team and I visited the CSRC construction site to capture our progress on video. You can play the video by clicking here. As you’ll see, the site is coming along exceptionally well. Thanks to the dedication of everyone involved, we remain on schedule and on budget, a remarkable achievement! In August, if you’re not on holiday, I want to remind everyone to attend this year’s HLI Research Day on August 22nd in the Cullen Theatre at St. Paul’s Hospital. You can sign up here. Also to note is an Early Career Event on August 21, from 5.00-7.00pm, in the James Hogg Conference Centre in St. Paul's Hospital. More information on this to follow. On September 11th, we are hosting an Indigenous Cultural Safety in Research - Virtual Workshop. You can register here. Finally, next month the Providence Research newsletter will take a short break and return in the fall, replaced in August by the Summer 2025 edition of The Research Review, our seasonal magazine. I hope you’ll nd time with family and friends to rest, relax, nd a sandy beach, golf course, hike or a good book, and enjoy these most beautiful summer days that Vancouver is famous for. Until September, the beat goes on, Darryl Dr. Darryl Knight, July 31, 2025
3 CSRC Project Milestone: Construction Progress and New Resources Now Available Construction of the Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC) is now underway, marking a major milestone in the development of this state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility that will bring together all of Providence Research under one roof. This new space is designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and integration across research disciplines. Check out the CSRC Construction Kick-o Video to see shots of the site, and to hear Dr. Darryl Knight reect on the signicance of this moment and what it means for the future of research at Providence. Open Houses Recap: A Look at the Future In June, Providence Research hosted a series of CSRC Open Houses, where sta and researchers had the opportunity to preview the latest updates to the facility’s design. These sessions featured updated architectural renderings and immersive virtual reality (VR) views that oered a rst look at how the future research spaces will be organized and experienced. Explore the CSRC in Virtual Reality The VR views shared at the Open Houses are now available online for all Providence Research sta to explore. These immersive visuals provide a oor-by-oor look at the future CSRC, including wet labs, dry labs, collaboration zones, and shared amenities. Want to take a look? Click here to nd the links to the VRs! Q+A Document: Your Questions Answered A new version of our Q+A document is now available, summarizing key questions raised during the CSRC Town Halls held in May. This resource provides responses on topics such as space planning, equipment procurement, operational workows, and how researchers will navigate the new facility. Read the Q+A document Wet Laboratory Space in the CSRC CSRC Lobby
4 New Scientist Appointment We are excited to introduce Advancing Health's latest scientist, Dr. Kathryn V. Isaac. She holds the Patricia Clugston Chair in the Breast Reconstruction Research Program at the University of British Columbia. As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, her dedication lies in enhancing health outcomes for breast cancer patients undergoing reconstruction. Her research emphasizes health services and outcomes science, focusing on providing equitable, timely, and personalized care throughout the cancer treatment and survivorship phases. Stories from our network: Large study finds many benefits arise from curing hepatitis C virus Advancing Health scientists, Drs. Naveed Janjua and Ehsan Karim conducted a B.C.-wide study that found that among a dataset of 22,576 patients with chronic hepatitis C, nearly 12,000 who took DAAs were cured and had a lower risk of developing kidney issues, stroke, major cardiovascular events, and neurocognitive disease. Learn more.
5 CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grant Competition results announced The results of the CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grant Competition have just been announced, and Advancing Health researchers are leading six of the projects funded in this round. An additional ten projects are being supported by Advancing Health Scientists as co-investigators, with a total of over $13 million in new research funding. Learn more. Team collaboration and a major new grant strengthen Foundry’s evidence-informed services for young people Advancing Health Scientist, Dr. Skye Barbic and her team of researchers have received a 4-year, $1.73M CIHR Project Grant for a study of integrated youth services (IYS), which include services to support young people’s health, employment, and housing. Learn more Smart wearables for faster cardiac arrest emergency response Advancing Health Scientist, Dr. Brian Grunau’s study has demonstrated that consumer wearable technology may hold the key to transforming how out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are detected, potentially saving countless lives. Learn more Research in practice: July Evidence Speaks: Advancing Health scientist, Dr. Sean J Barbour's recent study showed that fetzartamab may successfully preserve kidney function for IgA patients. Dr. Davina Banner focused on how e-book clubs could help improve cognitive function and reduce apathy experienced by long-term care residents. Dr. Bohdan Nosyk's research used two mathematical models to predict HIV rates in men who have sex with men across Georgia, USA. Learn more
6 Research Program at the ’ Annual Meeting in Newfoundland! • Dr. Tim Jengave a presentation on Regional and Acute Pain titled: • Dr. Su-Yin MacDonellgave a talk titled: • Sara Niyyati presented a poster on PI: Dr. Alana Flexman • Dr Jim Kim and Dr. Anton Chauwere moderators for the and a , respectively • Dr. Vincent Frucci was a Facilitator and Speaker in two -sessions onand • Dr. Chris Prabhakar was an instructor in an - Clinician Feedback and in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) will be gathering clinician feedback on the MindfulGarden device in the CSICU. Clinicians will be provided with the MindfulGarden device to assist in distracting, engaging, and de-escalating behaviours associated with .
7 • Bone JN, , Wong M, Dol J, , Carvalho B, Zhang Q, Sultan P. Improving epidemiological synthesis of postpartum complications: methodological considerations. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Jun 20:S0002-9378(25)00409-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2025.06.031. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40545214. • Hladkowicz, E., Kidd, G., ,Garland, A., Hallet, J., Kobewka, D., McGarr M., Talarico R., van Walraven C., Wijeysundera D.N., Wong C.L. Canadian Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Trials Group. (2025). Description and validation of the Postoperative Discharge Recovery State outcome: a patient-partnered population-based cohort study. British Journal of Anaesthesia. • de Vos, M. D., Polderman, S. T., & (2025). Palliative Ultrasound-Guided Cryoneurolysis in a Patient With Breast Cancer: A Case Report. A&A Practice, 19(5), e01979. • Bridging the Global Divide: Amplifying Voices of Low and Middle Income Countries in Perioperative Neuroscience Research. Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology 37(3):p 241, July 2025. • ,Preston, R., Wieczorek, P.M. et al. Exploring clinical conundrums in obstetric anesthesia through interactive polls and panel discussion: insights from Canadian obstetric anesthesiology experts. Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-025-02986-4 • , Sutherland JM, Field TS, McIsaac DI, Gelb AW, Zhou LW, . Factors associated with adverse outcomes following perioperative stroke after noncardiac surgery. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2025 Jun 5;34(8):108346. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2025.108346. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40479870. • et al. 2025. Frequency and timing of complications within the rst postpartum year in the United States and Canada: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, (In Press) • Chen BT, Song WHC, . The magnitude and impact of noise on patient care in a tertiary postanesthesia care unit: an observational study and survey of nursing perspectives. Can J Anaesth. 2025 May 20. Epub ahead of print. • Moores C, Maguire D, . Regional anesthesia use as a bridge to the provision of medical assistance in dying. Can J Anaesth. 2025 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s12630-025-02956-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40314872. • ,Sutherland, J.M., Field, T.S., Schwarz,S.K.W., Outcomes Following Perioperative Stroke in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, In Press • Saulnier L, Crowell P, Bright S, Massey S. Obstetric quality of recovery: A weak surrogate measure of psychological distress and psychological wellness for cesarean delivery parturients—A prospective observational study. Journal of Health Psychology. (2025); In Press Department members in bold font
8 You are invited: HLI Research Day 2025 Join us at St. Paul’s Hospital for HLI Research Day 2025: an all-day event (8:30 AM–5 PM) showcasing cutting-edge trainee research in heart, lung, critical care science and more. Expect oral and poster presentations, a rapid-re knowledge translation session where students explain their work in under two minutes, and guest talks from Drs. Yuan Yao, Chris Pascoe, and Catherine Martel. Free admission and food included! We welcome everyone, including Providence Research colleagues and trainees from all centres and the public. Don’t miss the Early Career Night hosted by the TAHLI Mentorship Committee on August 21 (5–7 PM). RSVP now. Questions? Email us: trainees@hli.ubc.ca. Our 2024 Annual Report is here! We are excited to share that our 2024 Annual Report is now live. The report highlights major research breakthroughs, new community partnerships, knowledge translation, and trainee accomplishments and activities, capturing the momentum and impact of HLI’s work. View our report here. Printing the human heart: HLI investigator receives award to transform cardiac care With support from Genome Canada and Genome BC, Dr. Zachary Laksman from HLI and B.C.-based Axolotl Biosciences (@axolotlbiosciences) are developing new bio-inks to 3D-print functional human heart tissue. The project will use human genetic information and stem cells to create two “genomics-informed” bio-inks: materials that enable scientists to print realistic cardiac tissue using a 3D printer in the lab. These heart models will help researchers study heart disease and test new treatments more quickly, safely and accurately. Congratulations to Dr. Laksman and Axolotl
9 Biosciences on this groundbreaking funding! Read more. Paid Research Opportunity: CLOUD Study We are looking for participants to join the CLOUD Study (Canadian Lung Outcomes in Users of Vaping Devices). Vaping is increasingly popular with both adolescent and adult Canadians, but the long-term health impacts remain unknown. We believe that the tools we currently have to detect lung disease in people who vape may be insucient and propose new ways to nd lung injuries that may impact them over the course of their lives. These include exercise testing, new imaging techniques, and new breathing tests that will demonstrate how vaping may harm their lungs. We will use these tools in both adolescent and adult Canadians to give those who vape important information on the consequences of vaping. If you would like more information or wish to participate in this study, please visit https://cloudstudy.ca, email respiratory.research@hli.ubc.ca or call 604-806-9465. Read more about the study and eligibility criteria (French version available). BMCB brings hearts and stories to PHC Nursing Education Day At the 2025 PHC Heart Centre Nursing Education Day, the Bruce McManus Cardiovascular Biobank (BMCB) oered a rare hands-on experience with real explanted hearts. Through its Hands-On-Hearts workshop, nurses at St. Paul’s Hospital explored the visible eects of heart failure, LVADs, and other conditions they treat daily. One special moment featured a transplant patient reconnecting with the Biobank team. Read the full story here. HLI investigators receive the 2025 Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Awards Two HLI researchers – Dr. Pat Camp and Dr. David Granville – have been recognized with UBC’s 2025 Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Awards in the Excellence in Clinical or Applied Research category, which honours outstanding clinical or applied research and scholarly contributions. Congratulations to Drs. Pat Camp and David Granville on this well-deserved award! Read our announcement here.
10 Dr. Julio Montaner calls on Canada to step up the HIV response amid global funding uncertainty The International AIDS Society (IAS) convened in Kigali, Rwanda this month for the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science amid widespread uncertainty in funding the global HIV response. Much of the conference focused on the impacts of these cuts and ways the research community and other countries can mount a resilient response to ensure life-saving HIV prevention and treatment continue to reach those who need it most. Here in Canada, Dr. Julio Montaner added his support behind the international calls to action, signing The Kigali Call to Action: Standing Together for the Global HIV Response urging world leaders to recommit to the ve key principles that will reinvigorate the ght against HIV. He also spoke with CBC’s Stephen Quinn on The Early Edition, and joined the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS Winnie Byanyima, in speaking with As It Happens, to emphasis the importance of Canada stepping up and leading in the ght to end HIV/AIDS. The BC-CfE celebrates World Hepatitis Day This week the BC-CfE celebrated World Hepatitis Day in the community around the Hope to Health Research & Innovation Centre (H2H) spreading awareness and engaging folks in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. With food, drinks and even ice cream (generously provided by Rain or Shine Ice Cream), we asked folks to share with us what they knew about Hepatitis C (HCV), play a trivia game to learn more, and leave with materials on prevention, testing and treatment. Those who dropped by to chat, showed high levels of knowledge about HCV, with many sharing that: • It is a virus that is acquired blood to blood. • Can go unnoticed, leaving someone symptom-free & unaware they have it. • Can be cured in as little as 8 weeks with little-to
11 -no side eects in 95% of cases. • Can be re-acquired even after clearing the virus. Thank you to the amazing team at H2H who help put this event together and always do such a great job engaging those in our community and spreading awareness in the Downtown Eastside. Two BC-CfE researchers receive CIHR funding grants Earlier this month, two BC-CfE-aliated researchers with the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University received funding awards from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Evan Barad received a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master) and Dr. Aniqa Shahid was the recipient of a CIHR Fellowship (Postdoctoral) award. Congratulations to these two excellent researchers on well-deserved awards, ou can learn more about their work and the other four SFU FHS recipients here. Video recordings from the Spring 2025 BC-CfE Update now online! We are pleased to announce that the video recordings from the Spring 2025 BC-CfE Update are now online and can be viewed here. Whether you were unable to attend or just want to revisit some of the presentations, hear more about some of the latest research from this half-day program focused on HIV and syndemic conditions. Mark your calendars for the Fall 2025 BC-CfE Update taking place on Friday, October 10th. Registrations open August 4th, visit https://bccfe.ca/events/bc-cfe-update-fall-2025/ for details and kick o your Thanksgiving weekend with another day of engaging presentations.
12 Congratulations to the CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grant Recipients! We are pleased to congratulate the recipients of the CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grants. Many Providence Research scientists are contributing to the funded projects as Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators, including: • Drs. Honglin Luo, Bradley Quon, John Boyd from the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation • Drs. Skye Barbic, Brian Grunau, Jason Sutherland, Anne Gaderman, Chris Richardson, Linda Li, Joel Singer, Mary DeVera, Nick Bansback, Lillian Hung, Roxana Georion, Joel Singer, Terry Lee, Wei Zhang, Angela Russolillo, Hubert Wong, Srinivas Murthy, Richard Sawatzky, and Jim Christenson from the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes • Drs. Kanna Hayashi, Lindsay Richardson, Cheyenne Johnson, Paxton Bach, Nadia Fairbairn, Mary Clare Kennedy, Thomas Kerr, M-J Milloy, Maria E. Socias, Heather Palis, and Trevor Goodyear from the BC Centre on Substance Use Learn more. Research group at St. Paul’s Hospital drives signicant advances in emergency medicine Emergency departments are critical entry points to the health care system. Advancing the science behind emergency care is essential to improving outcomes for patients. The St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Research Group is one of Canada’s leading emergency medicine research programs. Read more. Improving hospital nutrition care through "Indigenous cultural safety" of menu options: Results of a cross-sectional survey of Indigenous people in Western Canada A new study from Dr. Annalijn Conklin found that oering cultural or traditional foods on hospital menus is considered important by Indigenous people. Read more. Cardiac adverse events associated with remdesivir in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials The question of whether the antiviral drug remdesivir increases the risk of adverse cardiac events in COVID-19 patients has been debated for years. Now, Providence Researchers have conducted the rst systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing remdesivir's cardiac safety, nding no evidence of a statistically signicant association between remdesivir use and cardiac adverse events in COVID-19 patients. Read it here.
13 That’s all for now. Thank you for reading, we will see you next month, with the upcoming publication of The Research Review Magazine: Summer 2025 A place where patient-centered research is driven by social justice, and redenes better health and care globally. Learn more at providenceresearch.ca We acknowledge with gratitude that we live and work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Website: https://www.providenceresearch.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/providence-research Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/providence_research/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/prole/providenceresearch.bsky.social Email: research@providencehealth.bc.ca Mailing Address: Providence Research 10th Floor, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2K5 This ipbook was made using Simplebooklet, a Canadian company based in Vancouver, BC.