Research Themes

Brain, Behaviour & Development

We bring together neuroscience, mental health and child development researchers through basic, clinical, population and public health research. We care for children with complex medical, physical, developmental and mental health needs, and lead national initiatives such as Networks of Centres of Excellence.

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Childhood Diseases

Childhood Diseases includes Groups that are focused on studying childhood diseases and disorders. There is a specific focus on understanding mechanisms of health versus disease, as well as identifying and testing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

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Evidence to Innovation

We are health care innovators. Our team of clinicians and scientists are developing new health care technologies, improving patient care, advancing the safe and effective use of drugs, developing new methods of health data analytics, and shifting health system attitudes and behaviours to improve the health care and well-being of children and families. Together with the patients we serve, we are leading initiatives to inform health care policy and practice.

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Healthy Starts

Our overarching goal is to keep children and families healthy and out of the hospital by preventing lifelong health challenges and chronic diseases that are rooted in early childhood. We are passionate about furthering research into how a child’s family life and environment impact their health, shedding light on healthy childhood development before and after birth, and improving child health worldwide through innovation, advocacy, education, and capacity building.

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Recent News See all

Five things you didn’t (but should) know about measles

BCCHR and UBC experts highlight surprising facts about measles, and the best way to protect you and your family.

Continue reading Five things you didn’t (but should) know about measles

Why measuring doctor workload matters

Dr. Quynh Doan is improving how emergency departments pair patients with doctors. Her new tool helps hospital staff to better fight worker burnout. 

Continue reading Why measuring doctor workload matters

Decoding kids' health through cheek swabs: What new research reveals

Cheek swabs — they’re painless, simple, and commonly used in pediatric research. But how reliable are they across different developmental periods? And what can they really tell us about children’s health?

Continue reading Decoding kids' health through cheek swabs: What new research reveals

Cutting-edge genomic technology to help improve medication safety for children in new BC Children’s led study

Dr. Bruce Carleton will be leading a new $17 million project to make medications safer for children across Canada. By uncovering the genetic variations in patients that can lead to adverse drug reactions, this research could help explain differing medication responses and improve disease outcomes.

Continue reading Cutting-edge genomic technology to help improve medication safety for children in new BC Children’s led study

Digestive ‘treasure chest’ shows promise for targeted drug treatment in the gut

BCCHR and UBC researchers have designed a new approach to drug delivery called ‘GlycoCaging’ that transports medicine for inflammatory bowel disease directly to the gut.

Continue reading Digestive ‘treasure chest’ shows promise for targeted drug treatment in the gut

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