Lori Brotto

PhD

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Executive Director, Women’s Health Research Institute

I am interested in psychological interventions designed to improve sexual health and well-being, and in particular mindfulness-based interventions.

Academic Affiliations

  • Professor, Division of Gynaecologic Specialties, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Research Theme: Brain, Behaviour & Development
  • Research Group(s): Mental Health and Behaviour

Contact Information

Location

4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6H 3N1

Grants

Ethical partnerships with transGender And Gender diverse communities for conducting pharmacoEpidemiologic research (EnGAGE). CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grants – Institute of Community Support (ICS). $19,740 (2022 – 2023). PI: Rebic, N. Co-Is: Brotto, L.A., Cragg, J., De Vera, M., Law, M.R., & Malta, M.

Convening a gynecologic cancer patient advisory group to adapt a digital health tool. CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grants – Institute of Community Support (ICS). $10,000 (2022 – 2023). PI: Brotto, L.A. Co-Is: Dawson, L., Keay, N., Kwon, J., Stephenson, K., & Stuart, G.

eSense Cancer: Adapting an online intervention for sexual health concerns to ovarian cancer. RIVKIN Pilot Study Award. $75,000 USD (2022 – 2024). PI: Brotto, L. A.

Beyond the Binary: Taking a patient-oriented and trauma-informed approach to building partnerships and dialogue to incorporate gender equity into women’s health research. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Convening and Collaborating Award. $15,000 (2021 – 2022). PIs: Kaida, A., Pomeroy, B. Co-I: Brotto, L. A.

Communication and sexuality related outcomes in partners of women with low sexual desire. DA Boyes Memorial Research Award. $5,000 (2021-2023). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-I: Levere, D.

Application of virtual reality and concurrent psychoeducation to address vaginismus: Fear of sexual activity. Vancouver Coast Health Research Institute, Innovation and Translational Research Award. $74,481 (2021-2023). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-I: Kingstone, A., Atlas, M., & Brown, N.

Application of virtual reality to treat vaginismus: Fear of sexual activity. University of British Columbia, Health Innovation Funding Investment Award. $25,000 (2021-2022). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-I: Kingstone, A., Atlas, M., & Brown, N.

eSense: an online psychological intervention for women’s health. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Innovation to Commercialization Grant. $300,000 (2021-2023). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-I: Stephenson, K.

Pilot RCT Cognitive Behavioural and mindfulness-based online programs for female sexual dysfunction. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Project Grant. $229,500 (2020-2023). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-I: Stephenson, K., Velten, J., & Zdaniuk, B.

Knowledge translation for menstrual health equity and sustainability: A randomized evaluation trial of Canadian healthcare students. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partner Engage Grant. $25,000 (2020-2021). PI: Brotto, L. A. Partner: Aisle International.

Improving treatment for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder in women through the application of the Approach-Avoidance Motivation Model. Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Women’s Health Clinical Mentorship Grant. $50,000 (2020-2021). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-I: Jabs, F.

A patient reported outcome (PRO) for sexual pain. UBC Catalyst Grant: Patient-Oriented Research. $100,000 (2019 – 2020). PI: Young, P. Co-I’s: Davies, C., Sutherland, J. L., Brotto, L. A., Howards, Amanda, F., Pukall, C. F.

#DebunkingDesire – Disseminating facts of women’s low desire using a coordinated social media campaign. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Reach Award. $15,000 (2019 – 2020). PI: Brotto, L. A.

Delivering personalized care to women with vulvodynia: The integration of an electronic patient assessment questionnaire into the clinical setting. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Team Grant. $30,000 (2019-2020). Co-PIs: Brotto, L.A., & Smith, K.B.

Mindfulness-based treatment for sexual difficulties following breast cancer. Canadian Cancer Society Innovation Grant (#706352). $199,969 (2019-2022). Co-PIs: Brotto, L.A., & Walker, L. Co-Is: Railton, C., Shenkier, T., McTaggart-Cowan, H., & Millman, R.

Contemporary theories and methodologies of gender and sex for sexual health research: A national symposium and online training module. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Planning and Dissemination Grant. $10,000 (2018-2019). PI: Sakaluk, J. K. Co-Is: Brotto, L., Hamilton, L., Huber, J., & Lachowsky, N.

#LifeAndLoveWithHIV: A social media initiative to support the sexual health needs of women living with HIV. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Reach Award, $10,000 (2018). Co-PIs: Kaida, A., & Brotto, L. A. Trainee: Carter, A.

Transforming women’s health care through research and collaboration: A provincial strategy. UBC VP Research & Innovation / Collaborative Research Mobility Award. $9,000 (2018-2019). PI: Brotto, L.

Investigations into the neural underpinnings & biological correlates of asexuality. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Undergraduate Summer Researcher Award. $6798 (2018). PI: Brotto, L. Student: Wang, A.

EYES Study: Investigating visual attention and sexual response in women with and without sexual concerns. International Society for Sexual Medicine Grant, $11,000 USD (2017-2019). PIs: Velten, J. & Brotto, L. A.

Disseminating infographic scientific data about women’s genital pain using social media. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Reach Award, $9,900 (2017). PI: Brotto, L. A. Co-Lead: Barry, L.

Innovations in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and couple intimacy after prostate cancer: A randomized trial of mindfulness versus cognitive behavioural therapy. Prostate Cancer Canada, Movember Discovery Grant, $187,256 (2017-2019). PI: Brotto, L. Co-I: Higano, C.

Establishing a UBC collaborative of mindfulness and contemplative practices research. Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Scholars Theme Development Workshop, $700 (2017). PI: Brotto, L. A.

Honours & Awards

Award for Excellence in Mentoring Early Career Faculty

Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

OptiMYz Top 100 Health and Fitness Influencers 2020

Health Professional Book Award, Society for Sex Therapy and Research for Better Sex Through Mindfulness

UBC President’s Award for Public Education through Media

UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Researcher Award in Clinical Science Research

UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award for Service to the University and Community

The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award

Royal Society of Canada, member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

The Association of Academic Professionals in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (APOG) Excellence in Research Award

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