Lori Brotto
PhD
Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Executive Director, Women’s Health Research Institute
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.
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
Every day, our researchers work towards breakthroughs to transform the lives of kids in BC and around the world. Learn about our latest innovations and advancements in child health.

On February 11, in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) will host Women in Science. This year, the event is dedicated to mentoring high school students of all genders who will have the opportunity to network with a diverse group of 25 trainee…

Congratulations to the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) investigators and their teams who were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Spring 2023 Project Grant competition. Our research community received around $8 million in new research grants as principal…

Dr. Lori Brotto is executive director of the Women’s Health Research Institute, Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health, director of the UBC Sexual Health Laboratory and a professor in the university’s department of obstetrics & gynaecology. She also maintains a private practice. Dr. Brotto will moderate the Women in Science event on Feb. 10,…
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