{"id":830,"date":"2023-06-28T21:18:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T21:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcchrmicro.wpengine.com\/?page_id=830"},"modified":"2026-08-14T18:44:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T18:44:05","slug":"team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/team\/","title":{"rendered":"Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-container--full fndry-pt--md-3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pb--md-6 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2 fndry-pb--sm-3\" style=\"--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-tertiaryLight)\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-align--center fndry-justify--sm-center fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--6 fndry-col--md-10 fndry-col--sm-12 fndry-pl--2 fndry-pb--5 fndry-pt--5 fndry-pt--md-2 fndry-pb--md-2 fndry-pr--md-0 fndry-pl--md-0\">\n\t<div class=\"breadcrumbs align fndry-pb--2 wp-block-bcn-breadcrumb-trail has-text-color has-background\" vocab=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/\" typeof=\"BreadcrumbList\">\n\t<span><\/span>\n\t<span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to Vallance Lab.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\" class=\"home\" ><span property=\"name\">Vallance Lab<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span><span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to News.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/news\/\" class=\"post-root post post-post\" aria-current=\"page\"><span property=\"name\">News<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"2\"><\/span><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"fndry-post-title\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Team<\/h1><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--5 fndry-col--md-12\">\n\t<figure  class=\"fndry-image fndry-mb--0\" style=\"--imageWidth:100%;--img-height-all:100%\" aria-labelledby=\"img-2141\">\n\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-team-1.jpg\" class=\"fndry-image__img\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" style=\"--borderRadius:0px;--objectFit:cover;--imagePosX:50%;--imagePosY:50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-team-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-team-1-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-team-1-768x640.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pt--5 fndry-pb--5 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\">\n\t<h2 class=\"fndry-heading\">Researchers in the Vallance Lab<\/h2><p class=\"fndry-paragraph\">The Vallance Lab team is made up of Graduate and Undergraduate Students, Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Associates, and Lab Technicians.<\/p><div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--12 fndry-pr--md-0 fndry-pl--md-0\">\n\t<section  class=\"fndry-slideout fndry-grid team-slideout fndry-grid--3 fndry-grid--md-2 fndry-grid--sm-1\" style=\"--slideout-heading-color:var(--fndry-color-secondary);--slideout-excerpt-color:var(--fndry-color-secondary);--slideout-close-button-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--slideout-toggle-height:1.5em;--slideout-toggle-width:1.5em\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d12859\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d12859\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/bruce-vallance-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Bruce Vallance<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Principal Investigator<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d12859\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d12859\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/research\/find-a-researcher\/bruce-a-vallance\/\">Dr. Bruce Vallance<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Principal Investigator<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-top fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"fndry-list-item__icon\">\n\t\t\t<i class=\"far fa-envelope\"><\/i>\t\t<\/span>\n\t<a href=\"mailto:bvallance@cw.bc.ca.com\">bvallance@cw.bc.ca<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-top padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Dr. Vallance completed his PhD training in gastrointestinal inflammation at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and then moved to Vancouver in 1999 to pursue his postdoctoral studies on disease-causing bacteria. Dr. Vallance was recruited to the University of British Columbia and BC Children\u2019s Hospital as assistant professor in 2003. He has won numerous awards and currently holds the CHILD Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology. Dr. Vallance\u2019s research focuses on microbe-host interactions within the intestine, including defining the role that gut microbes play in causing chronic intestinal inflammation, as seen in Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients. Dr. Vallance is responsible for overseeing Gut4Health and fulfilling its mandate to become a key resource for microbiome researchers throughout Vancouver.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\"><strong>Awards<\/strong><br>\u2022  Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology (Tier II) \u2013 2004-2009<br>\u2022  CH.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology \u2013 2013-ongoing<br>\u2022  Canadian Children Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network, CIHR and CH.I.L.D Foundation \u2013 2013<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d1285a\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285a\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/andy-sham-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Andy Sham<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Gut4Health Project Manager<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285a\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285a\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Andy Sham<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Gut4Health Project Manager<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Dr. Andy Sham is the project manager for the Gut4Health Microbiome Core facility. Dr. Sham grew up in Vancouver, where he attended the University of British Columbia (BSc in Cell Biology and PhD in Experimental Medicine). His PhD research focused on bacterial pathogens and the interplay between bacteria and host at the gut lining to maintain intestinal health. He continued his research training as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School where he studied how small molecules resolve inflammation in the lungs. After returning to Vancouver from Boston, he worked as a research scientist with a local biotech company where he led their research team in developing new drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Sham is responsible for conceiving and developing projects as well as the general operations for the core.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d1285b\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285b\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/hyungjun-yang-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Hyungjun Yang<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Research Associate<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285b\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285b\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Hyungjun Yang<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Research Associate<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">I am a research associate specializing in mucosal immunology and animal model. I have been studying immune responses to bacterial infection at mucosal sites. Also, I\u2019m interested in establishing an animal model for human-oriented pathogens. Currently, I am focusing on E. coli pathobionts isolated from UC patients and how pathobionts contribute to intestinal inflammation through the mucus barrier impaired by genetic or environmental factors.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/qiaochu-liang-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Qiaochu Liang<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Research Associate<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Qiaochu Liang<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Research Associate<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">My current work focuses on characterizing epithelial barrier functions in both healthy and diseased conditions, with a particular emphasis on the mucus-epithelium interface and the impact of enteric infections, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and gut dysbiosis. I have developed multidisciplinary approaches to investigate host mucosal responses and the complex host-microbiota-pathogen interactions in mouse and organoid models at both cellular and molecular levels. Additionally, I work on projects aimed at building and optimizing in vitro multi-cell type platforms using patient-derived primary cell organoids for disease modeling and therapeutic testing.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/08\/lauren-davis-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Lauren Davis<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Research Associate<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Lauren Davis<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Research Associate<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">I am a Research Associate in the Vallance Lab. I completed my PhD at the University of Birmingham (UK) and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia, where I developed and used two- and three-dimensional models of human lung tissue to investigate why lung disease progresses.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">I am fascinated by how organs like our gut and lung maintain balance despite constant exposure to the outside world, and what happens when this balance is disrupted. Motivated by the potential of advanced cell culture technologies to answer these questions, I joined the Vallance Lab. Here, I am working to expand the ways we use 3-dimensional \u2018mini-gut\u2019 organoids to recreate aspects of the human intestine in the lab. I am also establishing organoid models of other tissues, such as the salivary gland and esophagus.<br>These organoid derived systems allow us to study complex biological interactions in a human-relevant and patient-specific way. For example, we can explore how bacteria from the human microbiome interact with the gut lining, and how inflammation and cell death progress in the salivary gland during autoimmunity.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/08\/hannah-wood-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Hannah Wood<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Postdoctoral Fellow<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Hannah Wood<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Postdoctoral Fellow<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Hi! I\u2019m Hannah, a farm girl born and raised in rural Ontario. I completed my PhD in the microbiome-gut-brain axis field at Queen\u2019s University in Kingston, ON. My PhD was incredibly fruitful, not only academically, but also personally, in terms of discovery and maturity. I learned a lot about myself and my interests. My PhD research explored how the luminal contents (mostly microbial) release enzymes to drive abdominal pain signalling in IBD. From there, I was able to identify specific bacteria and their enzymes as candidate targets to ameliorate abdominal pain in IBD. Knowing I loved science and chasing the inherent questions that come with scientific exploration, I decided to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship. I knew I wanted to continue with gastrointestinal research and my specialty in IBD, which is how I ended up in Bruce Vallance\u2019s lab. My current research focuses on how microbes interact with the intestinal mucus barrier, how dietary factors influence mucus barrier function, and how chronic inflammation may induce lasting epigenetic changes within the intestinal epithelium. Ultimately, I hope my research will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying intestinal health and disease, and to the development of new therapeutic approaches for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Outside of the lab, my husband and I love spending time outdoors with our two dogs, whether we&#8217;re hiking new trails or enjoying a day at the beach. On quieter days, you&#8217;ll usually find me reading a good book, playing video games, or enjoying a movie night at home.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/08\/yaqi-zhang-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Yaqi Zhang<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Postdoctoral Fellow<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-64c8263d1285c\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Yaqi Zhang<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Postdoctoral Fellow<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Dr. Yaqi Zhang\u2019s journey in science began with a fascination for how the gut influences whole-body health. During her PhD in pharmaceutics, she developed gut-targeted therapies to help people with diabetes better manage their blood sugar. Now, as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia, she studies how disruptions in bile acid signaling and mitochondrial function contribute to Crohn\u2019s disease. Using human intestinal-derived models, Yaqi aims to uncover mechanisms that could inform new translational therapies for restoring gastrointestinal balance. Outside the lab, she stays active and curious through badminton, cycling, running, and camping, always exploring, whether in nature or in science.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\"><strong>Awards<\/strong><br>\u2022  TRIANGLE Postdoctoral Award (AMPLIFY &#038; ENRICH), 2026\u20132028<br>\u2022  BCCHR Childhood Diseases Transition Grant, 2026\u20132027<br>\u2022  The Beijing Outstanding Graduates, 2024<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/ashley-gilliland-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Ashley Gilliland<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Ashley Gilliland<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">In 2022, I moved back home to Vancouver to begin my doctoral studies at UBC in the Vallance lab after completing a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Microbiology at the University of Alberta. My doctoral research focuses on Escherichia coli pathobionts (commensal bacteria with pathogenic potential) isolated from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and their interactions with the mucosal barrier. To investigate these interactions, I will use 3D organoid culture, organoid-derived monolayers, and relevant IBD mouse models. The goal of my research is to identify the mechanisms E. coli pathobionts use to cross the protective mucus layer, thus allowing them access to the colonic epithelium to promote and\/or exacerbate disease.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\"><strong>Awards<\/strong><br>\u2022  Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships (CIHR CGS-D)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/franziska-graef-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Franziska Graef<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD Student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Franziska Graef<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD Student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/maira-jimenez-sanchez-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Maira Jim\u00e9nez S\u00e1nchez<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD Student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Maira Jim\u00e9nez S\u00e1nchez<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD Student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3 fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Immune and inflammatory illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), are increasing in Western society due to changes in modern lifestyle: overuse of antibiotics and reduced exposure to sunlight, including ultraviolet B (UVB) light. My work focuses on how UVB light exposure on the skin affects gut homeostasis in mice. Specifically, we want to determine if UVB light exposure can prevent or treat inflammatory diseases such as IBD through vitamin D and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\"><strong>Awards<\/strong><br>\u2022  CONACYT (Mexican National Council of Science and Technology) PhD award, 2021<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/diana-giron-ceron-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Diana Giron-Ceron<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Diana Giron-Ceron<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">I am a clinical microbiologist and medical laboratory scientist with an MSc in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Building on my longstanding interest in immunology and host-pathogen interactions, I joined the Vallance Lab to pursue doctoral training. My research explores how the intestine protects itself from harmful bacteria and how this defense becomes compromised in inflammatory bowel disease. I focus on immunoglobulin A (IgA) and the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), which transports IgA across the intestinal epithelium. At the mucosal surface, IgA strengthens the mucus barrier and limits direct contact between bacteria and epithelial cells. Disruption of this pathway may contribute to impaired barrier function, inflammation, and tissue damage. Using mouse- and human-derived intestinal organoids, known as \u201cmini-guts,\u201d I investigate how impaired IgA transport affects mucosal barrier function and intestinal inflammation, with a particular focus on ulcerative colitis. Through this work, I aim to define the role of IgA-mediated mucosal immunity in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\"><strong>Awards<\/strong><br>\u2022  Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (2024), University of British Columbia.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/james-sousa-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">James Sousa<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">James Sousa<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">I am a PhD student in the Experimental Medicine program co-supervised by Dr. Genelle Lunken and Dr. Bruce Vallance. I came to study at the University of British Columbia after completing an MSc at the University of Calgary exploring the effects of a dietary intervention on macrophage function in patients with Crohn\u2019s disease. My research interest lies in addressing the role of the host-diet-microbiome interaction in Crohn\u2019s disease using techniques such as confocal imaging and intestinal organoids.<\/p><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Outside of the lab, I am an active member of the local Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Canada chapter and enjoy hiking and playing card games in my free time.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/lanyang-li-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Lanyang Li<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Lanyang Li<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">After earning my master&#8217;s degree, I spent three years working in the pharmaceutical industry, where I began working with 3D organoids. This experience motivated me to pursue further education, ultimately leading me to join the Vallance Lab. My current research focuses on developing a small intestine air-liquid interface (ALI) model to mimic the in vivo functional characteristics of the small intestine. Additionally, I am investigating the interactions between Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and the small intestine, specifically how EPEC passes through mucus and utilizes mucin sugars.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/08\/shokufeh-sorbini-bcchr-1.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Shokufeh Sorboni<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD Student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Shokufeh Sorboni<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD Student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Fasting is well known for its metabolic benefits, yet little is understood about how it influences the intestinal mucus barrier. This question led me to study how fasting shapes the relationship between the host and its gut microbiota. Using healthy and mucin-deficient mouse models, I investigate how the mucus barrier adapts during fasting and how these adaptations help maintain intestinal homeostasis. My long-term goal is to translate these findings into dietary approaches that promote intestinal health.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/08\/clarence-huang-bcchr-1.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Clarence Huang<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">PhD Student<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Clarence Huang<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">PhD Student<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">I am an Msc student at the University of British Columbia at the Experimental Medicine program. My research focuses on unraveling the intricate interplay between Muc2-linked free monosaccharides and the colonization dynamics of Citrobacter rodentium in the murine intestine. Specifically, I investigate the roles of Galactose, GlcNAc, and NeuNAc in bacterial expansion. My current pursuits include confirming the fitness attenuation of a mutant strain deficient in mucus sugar utilization and exploring the individual and collective impacts of Muc-2 sugars.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/irvin-ng-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Irvin Ng<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Bioinformatics Scientist<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Irvin Ng<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Bioinformatics Scientist<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Irvin Ng is a bioinformatician at the Gut4Health Microbiome Core, BC Children\u2019s Hospital Research Institute, where he leads microbiome and multi-omics analysis. His work focuses on connecting NGS data to clinical outcomes across a range of clinical conditions. He holds an MSc in Bioinformatics from the University of British Columbia and is broadly interested in using statistical and machine learning methods to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying early-life health.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/no-headshot-placeholder-2-BCCHR.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Caixia Ma<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Lab Technician<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Caixia Ma<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Lab Technician<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">My role in the lab involves taking care of the daily operations. My area of research interest is to make various bacteria mutant strains for in vivo mouse experiments in order to study inflammatory response in the intestine.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/catherine-chan-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Dr. Catherine Chan<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Lab Technician<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Dr. Catherine Chan<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Lab Technician<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Dr. Cathy Chan obtained her PhD from the University of Calgary where she studied membrane protein biochemistry of microbial systems. She continued her post-doctoral research at the University of British Columbia studying bacterial secretion systems and membrane proteomics. This was followed by a second fellowship studying anti-inflammation signalling pathways in mice as she wanted to learn more about animal models and immune systems. After an extended maternity leave with her amazing daughter, she joined a biotech company developing novel antibody-based therapeutics to combat animal gastrointestinal diseases. Her expertise in biochemistry and microbial systems is a valuable addition to the continued development in the at Gut4Health.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/sandy-lai-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Sandy Lai<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Lab technician<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Sandy Lai<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Lab technician<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">My work focuses on the development and maintenance of 3D intestinal organoids as a model to investigate Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fndry-slideout-block\" data-fndry-js=\"slideout-block\">\n    <a  data-fndry-js=\"slideout-content\" href=\"#fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\" type=\"button\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-content\" aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n        <div\n\t         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img-container\"        >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/08\/donald-tam-bcchr.jpg\" class=\"fndry-slideout-block__img\" style=\"--slideout-img-zoom:1.25\" \/>        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content\">\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap\">\n                <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading-wrap-container fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--slideout-heading-gap:5px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fndry-slideout-block__heading fndry-text-h3SectionHeadline26\">Donald Tam<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <span class=\"fndry-slideout-toggle\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fndry-slideout-block__excerpt fndry-text-slideoutExcerpt\">Lab technician<\/p>            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n    <div id=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\"\n         class=\"fndry-slideout-block__slideout-hidden fndry-collapse--hidden\"\n         data-fndry-js=\"slideout-hidden\">\n        <div class=\"fndry-slideout-block__content-hidden\">\n\t\t\t                <button data-fndry-js=\"slideout-close-btn\"\n                        class=\"fndry-slideout-block__close-btn\"\n                        aria-label=\"Close\"\n                        aria-controls=\"fndry-block-63922b5de2fe4\">\n                <\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-pt--3 fndry-pb--2 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pl--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"border-radius:5px;--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-row--gutter fndry-align--start fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--4 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--4 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<h3 class=\"fndry-heading fndry-heading--left\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Donald Tam<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-bannerSubheading14\" style=\"--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Lab technician<\/p><div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none fndry-pt--1 fndry-mt--2\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-list--custom fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\" style=\"--fndry-list-marker-color:var(--fndry-color-primary);--color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\"><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border border-none padding-left-3  fndry-pt--1 fndry-pb--1\">\n\t<ul  class=\"fndry-social-list fndry-justify--start fndry-align--center fndry-flex--row\" style=\"--fndry-social-list-size:1.5rem;--fndry-social-list-color:var(--fndry-color-primary)\">\n\t<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--8 fndry-col--md-12 fndry-pr--3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pr--sm-1 fndry-pl--sm-1\">\n\t<p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-paragraph--left\">Donald Tam is a Research Technician at the Gut4Health Microbiome Core. During his undergrad at the University of British Columbia (UBC) he completed an honors thesis in the CAPS program where he evaluated the efficacy of using ultraviolet-C (UVC) lamps against various microbes including bacteria, fungi and viruses. He then continued his education at UBC where he obtained his MSc in Experimental Medicine. During his Master\u2019s, he discovered a novel protein-protein interaction between SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 15 (NSP15) and cytokeratin-1. He is now utilizing the molecular biology techniques and knowledge he acquired during his training to support the microbiome research being conducted in the Gut4Health core.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"fndry-heading\">Past Team Members<\/h2><h3 class=\"fndry-heading\">Postdoctoral Fellows<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph\">Dr. Paula Littlejohn<br>Dr. Larissa Celiberto<br>Dr. Deanna Gibson<br>Dr. Marinieve Montero<br>Dr. Yanet Valdez<br>Dr. Lisa Mansson\u00a0<br>Dr. Maryam Zarepour<br>Dr. Martin Stahl<br>Dr. HT Law<br>Dr. Vijay Morampudi<br>Dr. Joannie Allaire<br>Dr. Travis De Wolfe<br>Dr. Genelle Lunken<br>Dr. Kevin Tsai<\/p><h3 class=\"fndry-heading\">Graduate Students<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph\">Dr. Yan Chen<br>Dr. Kirk Bergstrom<br>Dr. Natasha Ryz<br>Dr. Shauna Crowley<br>Dr. Else Bosman<br>Dr. Kiran Bhullar<br>Dr. Ganive Bhinder<br>Dr. Mohammed Khan<br>Mr. Justin Chan\u00a0<br>Dr. Vivian Han<br>Jocelyn Chan<br>Matthias Mslati<\/p><h3 class=\"fndry-heading\">Research Associate<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph\">Dr. Hongbing Yu<\/p><h3 class=\"fndry-heading\">Technicians and Visiting Scientists<\/h3><p class=\"fndry-paragraph\">Mariana Hill<br>Dr. Alana Schick<br>Dr. Adi Eindor<br>Julia Lee<br>Dr. Qin Yu<br>Tina Huang<br>Janelle Cheung<\/p><h3 class=\"fndry-heading\">Funding support<\/h3><h4 class=\"fndry-heading\">Research in the Vallance Lab is supported by the following grants:<\/h4><ul  class=\"fndry-list fndry-d--flex fndry-flex--col\"><li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>CIHR Team Grant<\/strong><br>Role of microbes in the pathogenesis of PIBD: From discovery, through causation, to novel treatments (2019)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>CIHR<\/strong><br>Colonic goblet cells: Active players in host defense and mucosal protection? (2016)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>SIGIRR<\/strong><br>Preserving gut defense by suppressing epithelial TLR\/IL-1R signaling (2018)<br>Colonic goblet cells and mucus: Defining their roles in host defense and mucosal protection (2021)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>NIH<\/strong><br>Epithelial intrinsic inflammasomes direct host defense against gut microbes (2018)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>Genome Canada<\/strong><br>Microbiome-based precision medicine in inflammatory bowel disease (2019)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>NSERC<\/strong><br>Defining a novel skin-gut axis that controls immune and microbial homeostasis in the mammalian GI tract (2018)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Foundation<\/strong><br>Bacterial pathobionts and ulcerative colitis: Causation to novel therapies (2019)<\/li>\n<li\n\t class=\"fndry-list-item\">\n\t<strong>Weston Family Foundation<\/strong><br>Characterizing the Gut Microbiome in Patients during COVID-19 Infection (2020)<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border fndry-container--full fndry-pt--md-3 fndry-pr--md-3 fndry-pl--md-3 fndry-pb--md-6 fndry-pr--sm-2 fndry-pl--sm-2\" style=\"--fndry-bg:var(--fndry-color-light)\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-container fndry-responsive-bg fndry-responsive-border\">\n\t<div class=\"fndry-row fndry-align--center fndry-justify--sm-center fndry-justify--between\">\n\t<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--6 fndry-col--md-10 fndry-col--sm-12 fndry-pl--2 fndry-pb--5 fndry-pt--5 fndry-pt--md-2 fndry-pb--md-2\">\n\t<h2 class=\"fndry-heading\" style=\"color:var(--fndry-color-secondary)\">Contact Us<\/h2><p class=\"fndry-paragraph fndry-text-intro18\">Contact us with your inquiries.<\/p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/contact\/\" rel=\"\" id=\"fndry-block-64b5562521309\" class=\"fndry-btn fndry-btn-secondaryButtonWArrow\">Contact<\/a><\/div>\n<div  class=\"fndry-col fndry-responsive-bg fndry-col--5 fndry-d--md-none\">\n\t<figure  class=\"fndry-image fndry-mb--0\" style=\"--imageWidth:100%;--img-height-all:100%\" aria-labelledby=\"img-2150\">\n\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-contact.jpg\" class=\"fndry-image__img\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" style=\"--borderRadius:0px;--objectFit:cover;--imagePosX:50%;--imagePosY:50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-contact.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-contact-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/files\/2026\/06\/vallance-lab-contact-768x640.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","fndry_alternate_title":""},"class_list":["post-830","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=830"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2241,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830\/revisions\/2241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/vallance-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}