David Wright

PhD

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital

My laboratory is interested in understanding the impact, and underlying mechanisms, of exercise, nutrition and pharmaceutical interventions on fat tissue (adipose) and the liver and in turn how this influences how the body utilizes and stores fat and carbohydrate. A particular area of emphasis over the past few years has been examining the metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medications, a class of drugs that are prescribed to individuals with schizophrenia. In this area of research, we have been attempting to identify the utility of lifestyle approaches, i.e. diet and exercise, to offset weight gain and hyperglycemia caused by antipsychotic medications.

Academic Affiliations

  • Professor, , School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia
  • Professor, , , Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia
  • Research Theme: Childhood Diseases
  • Research Group(s): Clinical Pharmacology; Diabetes; Mental Health and Behaviour

Contact Information

Location

950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4H4

Grants

CIHR Project Grant (2021-26): Identifying a Novel Role for GDF15 during Exercise

CIHR Project Grant (2018-24): Targeting Exercise Activated Pathways to Offset the Metabolic Side Effects of Anti-Psychotic Drugs

NSERC Discovery Grant (2017-22): Role of Adipose Tissue and IL-6 in Liver Metabolism

Honours & Awards

Tier II Canada Research Chair in Lipids, Metabolism and Health (2010-2020)

Young Investigator Award Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (2012)

CIHR New Investigator Award (2008-10)

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