New This Week
Results – 2024 Department of Pediatrics Celebrate Research Day (CRD)
The annual Department of Pediatrics Celebrate Research Day was a great success, showcasing the tremendous work that our trainees have completed this past year.
This year’s winners showed outstanding talent, and with their mentors, presented high quality research. [See Full List]
Revisit all the abstracts and posters in the 2024 CRD booklet:
https://med-fom-pediatrics.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/04/CRD-2024-Event-Booklet-1.pdf
Big thanks to the Residents Research Committee for planning CRD and a shout out to: Drs. Jonathan Rayment, Brett Schrewe, Thiviya Selvanathan, Carolina Silva, and Lori Tucker, and all DoP faculty for their contribution to residents research.
See you at Celebrate Research Day 2025!
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B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) funding | Dr. Alexander Rauscher
Through another round of B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) funding, the Government of B.C. is providing approximately $52.3 million to support infrastructure for 25 research projects at five post-secondary institutions, including the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria (UVic), Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). [FULL ANNOUNCEMENT]
Congratulations to Dr. Alexander Rauscher on his recent award to fund his project, “Field Camera and Shim System for Precision MRI.”
MORE:
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Leadership announcement: Dr. Mona Patel, Associate Head, Education | Department of Pediatrics, UBC & BCCH
We are celebrating Dr. Mary Bennett’s successful tenure as the Department’s Associate Head, Education. Her impact in enhancing our undergraduate and postgraduate education programs across the province is lasting. We are grateful for the support she provided to so many of us in this role.
The Department of Pediatrics thanks Dr. Bennett for her leadership and service to our community of staff, faculty, and learners. Although she is stepping down from her leadership position, Dr. Bennett will continue her role as a Clinical Professor within the Division of Critical Care.
At this time, we welcome Dr. Mona Patel who will be assuming the Associate Head, Education position with us, effective April 1 2024. In her new appointment, Dr. Patel will provide leadership and guidance to faculty members; set priorities for medical education and scholarship for learners; and direct teaching and learning activities within the department. [Full Announcement]
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Leadership announcement: Dr. Laura Sauvé, Assistant Head, Clinical Partnerships | Department of Pediatrics, UBC & BCCH
Dr. Laura Sauvé will be taking on a new senior leadership position with the Department of Pediatrics. Effective April 1 2024, Dr. Sauvé will assume the role of Assistant Head, Clinical Partnerships for the Department of Pediatrics. In her new appointment, she will be working closely with departmental leaders and faculty to create a provincial network to enhance clinical pediatric care in BC.
Dr. Sauvé will also work with health authority leadership and Child Health BC to support pediatric outreach programs with attention to underserved communities; she will liaise with relevant internal and external partners to foster provincial capacity and rigour in health data; and she will engage in efforts to foster and support international engagement and global health in the Department of Pediatrics to name a few. [Full announcement]
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C17 Research Grant Competition 2023/2024
Congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Deyell, her project, “Impact of Body Composition and Pharmacogenomics on Toxicity and Survival Outcomes in Childhood Bone Sarcoma,” received a 100% Fund Grant Award from C17 Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders in the 2023/2024 competition.
C17, is an organization composed of the institutionally appointed heads of the sixteen pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant programs across Canada and represents the interests of children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders and acts as an authoritative Canadian voice.
C17, has a strong record of accomplishment and has developed a clear strategy for continuing its mission to improve health outcomes and quality of life for children and adolescents in Canada with cancer and blood disorders.
More:
https://bcchr.ca/rdeyell
https://www.c17.ca/research-grants
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Faculty Spotlight | Dr. Thiviya Selvanathan, Assistant Professor, Division of Neurology
Meet Dr. Thiviya Selvanathan, Assistant Professor, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Staff Neurologist at BC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Thiviya Selvanathan is a Pediatric Neurologist with additional subspecialty training in Neonatal Neurology. She completed her residency and fellowship training at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Dr. Selvanathan is also a PhD Candidate at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto and she is completing her training under the supervision of Dr. Steven Miller.
Dr. Selvanathan is passionate about studying early fetal, neonatal and childhood brain development using advanced neuroimaging techniques. Her research focuses on understanding how brain injury, clinical factors and social determinants impact early brain development in infants at high risk for developmental disabilities, such as those born preterm or with congenital heart disease, with an aim to improve child health outcomes.
Recent Publication:
Journal name: Neurology
Title: Major Surgery, Brain Injury, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants
Link to article: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207848
More:
https://bcchr.ca/tselvanathan
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Faculty Spotlight | Dr. Cyrus Boelman, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Neurology
Meet Dr. Cyrus Boelman, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Staff Neurologist BC Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Boelman’s research focuses primarily on Epilepsy in the pediatric population, as well as epilepsy genetics.
He has had 6 research projects funded over the past 12 years, and he has had 38 peer-reviewed journal articles published.
In addition to, supervising and mentoring a number of trainees, Dr. Boelman is a member of the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Childhood Diseases and Rare Diseases Research Groups.
MORE:
https://bcchr.ca/cboelman
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The American Pediatric Society 2024 Election Results
We are excited to announce that Dr. Steven Miller has been elected to the APS Council!
Steven Miller, MDCM, FRCPC, FRSC, is Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics at The University of British Columbia, and Chief of Pediatric Medicine at BC Children’s Hospital. He serves as Chair of the Institute Advisory Board for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Human Development Child Youth Health and leads the advocacy theme team of the Pediatric Chairs of Canada. Dr. Miller also co‑directs Child-Bright, an innovative pan-Canadian patient-oriented research network that is leading new research engagement strategies for children, youth, and parents. An APS member since 2015 and past-President of SPR, Dr. Miller is grateful for the opportunity to serve the APS and strengthen its partnerships with related societies.
Founded in 1888, the American Pediatric Society (APS) is the first and most prestigious academic pediatric organization in North America. Nearly 1,200 members strong the APS is dedicated to the advancement of child health through the promotion of pediatric research, recognition of achievement and cultivation of excellence through advocacy, scholarship, education and leadership development. Members of APS are recognized as academic leaders in pediatrics, and they continue to contribute to the overall progress of child health while inspiring the next generation of child health professionals. [MORE]
Learn more about Dr. Miller:
https://pediatrics.med.ubc.ca/about/department-heads-message/
https://bcchr.ca/news/integrating-care-new-chief-pediatrics-dr-steven-miller
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The Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
Congratulations to Dr. Alex Rauscher!
Together with his Co-Lead, Dr. Piotr Kozlowski of the Department of Radiology / Urologic Sciences, their proposal for a Field Camera and Shim System for Precision MRI was awarded a grant by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
The Innovation Fund provides continued investments in infrastructure, across the full spectrum of research, from the most fundamental to applied through to technology development. Projects funded through the Innovation Fund will help Canada remain at the forefront of exploration and knowledge generation while making meaningful contributions to generating social, health, environmental and economic benefits and addressing global challenges.
Congratulations all!
MORE:
https://bcchr.ca/arauscher
https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/ubc-medicine-research-awarded-18m-from-cfi-nserc-and-sshrc
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Diagnostic Neurophysiology (EEG & EMG)
Meet the Diagnostic Neurophysiology (EEG & EMG) Team or EEG Department because the most common test they perform is an EEG (electroencephalogram).
Neurophysiology a highly regarded tertiary service at BC Children’s Hospital. Although this Department is operationally independent of the Division, all of the medical staff in the Department are neurologists.
This year, the service expanded to new areas, developing more exact determination of brain resection in epilepsy surgery patients and more robust and reliable techniques for intraoperative monitoring.
Did you know that most tests require children to be sleep deprived or sedated?
EEG does not hurt. Even babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have this test done.
We do more than 25 tests on the brains, nerves and muscles of children!
MORE:
http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/hospital-services/diagnostic-neurophysiology-eeg-emg#About
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The UBC Quarter Century Club
Dr. Elke Roland is an Associate Professor in the Division of Neurology since 1993 with a focus in Pediatric Neurology, Neonatal Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases.
Dr. Roland was inducted into the UBC Quarter Century Club, with the designation of Tempus Fugit for her 35 years of service in 2023.
The UBC Quarter Century Club was established in 1996 by President David Strangway to recognize active full-time faculty members and librarians with 25 years of service. In 2003, the club began recognizing active members who have reached the additional milestone of 35 years of service. This group is known collectively as Tempus Fugit, or “time flies.”
The first members of the Club were those faculty still active at UBC prior to the Club’s establishment in the fall of 1996. Faculty members who had retired prior to fall 1996 were not considered to be eligible. New members are inducted at a special dinner held each fall.
Dr. Roland’s Career Highlights:
– Recipient of over 30 grants to support her research.
– Published over 40 journal articles to date.
– Over 135 presentations discussing her work.
– Former Director of the Neuromuscular Diseases Clinic at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital.
– Member of the Pediatric Neurology Residency Training Committee, 2015-present.
– Member of the International Child Neurology Association.
Congratulations Dr. Roland and thank you for your years of service to the department and the children of British Columbia.
MORE:
https://ceremonies.ubc.ca/honours-recognition/quarter-century-club/
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UBC Killam Research Prize
Congratulations! Dr. Stuart Turvey is a recipient of a 2023 UBC Killam Research Prize for outstanding research and scholarly contributions in the category of Applied Science, Medicine and Sciences.
Established in 1986, ten UBC Killam Research Prizes are awarded annually to top campus researchers with funds provided annually from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies established through a bequest from the late Dorothy J. Killam.
This award recognizes research excellence and scholarly achievements. Award recipients are selected by UBC’s Faculty Research Awards Committee and include early career researchers through to established members of faculty.
Announcement:
https://prizes.research.ubc.ca/news-announcements/faculty-research-award-winners-2023
More:
https://bcchr.ca/sturvey
Recently articles:
March 1, 2024, Volume 330, Issue 3 of Scientific American:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/helpful-gut-bacteria-seem-to-reduce-allergic-disease-in-kids/
August 29, 2023, Nature Communications:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40336-4
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2024 CaRMS R-1 Match
We are so excited to announce that we have successfully filled all of our program positions for the 2024 CaRMS R-1 Match.
Please join us in welcoming a fantastic group of incoming trainees, and a big thanks to all of the staff and faculty that made this year’s CaRMS possible!
Warm regards,
Drs. Mia Remington and Melissa Chan, Co-Directors, Residency Program
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YWCA Women of Distinction Awards
On Friday, March 8 2024, Dr. Shazhan Amed was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the category of Research, the Sciences & Technology for her work in pediatric diabetes research.
Recognized nationally, the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards presented by Scotiabank, honours extraordinary women leaders and businesses.
Dr. Amed is the Head of Pediatric Endocrinology at BC Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Professor with UBC. She is a scientist dedicated to public health research.
Learn how her program, Live 5-2-1-0, is working to build healthier communities for children in British Columbia.
Best of Luck!
MORE:
https://bit.ly/43hnS7x
https://live5210.ca/pages/home
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THANK YOU! Celebrating Canadian Women Physicians’ Day | March 11 2024
Today we honour and thank our Canadian Women Physicians.
Celebrated for the first time on March 11, 2021 with the generous support of Canadian Women in Medicine. March 11 was the date of licensure of Dr. Jennie Trout, the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada.
Canadian Women Physicians’ Day (CWPD) was created by Dr. Liana Hwang, a family doctor at Canmore General Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre in Alberta.
CWPD is a way to remember the amazing women who paved the way and to celebrate those who are making a difference today.
THANK YOU!
MORE:
https://cmajblogs.com/announcing-the-first-ever-canadian-women-physicians-day/
https://www.cma.ca/about-us/what-we-do/press-room/cma-recognizes-canadian-women-physicians-day
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International Women’s Day | Mar 8 2024
For International Women’s Day, we are showcasing some special individuals from our community. Let’s celebrate their unique contributions and extend our thanks to each of them for helping us to create a thriving community that support and inspire each other.
Learn more about our 2024 staff & faculty spotlights, which are: Ms. Louise Aromin, Ms. Zufina Shirazneen Ali, Dr. Jennifer Retallack, Dr. Nita Jain, Ms. Sarabjit Bains, Dr. Lára Malks-Jjumba and Ms. Natalie Garrett. VIEW PROFILES
International Women’s Day is one of the most important days of the year to:
• Celebrate women’s achievements
• Educate and awareness raise about women’s equality
• Call for positive change advancing women
Learn more: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/History
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2024/25 Catalyzing Research Cluster (GCRC) Grant | Child and Youth Overdose Prevention Cluster
Congratulations to Dr. Matt Carwana and his team. They are the recipients of a 2024/25 grant from the UBC Office of the Vice-President Research + Innovation.
A total of 45 research excellence clusters led by researchers at UBC Vancouver will be supported through the Research Excellence Clusters initiative in 2024/25. These clusters are inter-departmental networks of researchers at UBC who collectively represent leaders in a particular field of study.
The Child and Youth Overdose Prevention Cluster led by Drs. Matthew Carwana and Danya Fast is studying the effects of Illicit drug toxicity and overdose, which are the leading causes of death for children and youth aged 10-18 in British Columbia. Research indicates that there are significant gaps in substance use care for this population, particularly those experiencing structural vulnerabilities along axes of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. This cluster will bring together world-leading experts at UBC with colleagues across Canada and the United States to improve quality of care and health outcomes for young people that use drugs. [MORE]
To learn more or to get involved, contact: Matt.Carwana@cw.bc.ca
The Child and Youth Overdose Prevention Cluster Team
Co-Leads:
Drs. Matthew Carwana & Danya Fast
Members:
Drs. Dzung Vo, Sara Jassemi, James Wang, Eva Moore, Emily Jenkins and Hasina Samji
Congratulations to all of the 2024/25 GCRC competition grant recipients.
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A safer treatment path for high-risk children to overcome food allergies
New UBC research reveals a safe path to overcoming food allergies for older children and others who can’t risk consuming allergens orally to build up their resistance.
It’s called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), and it involves placing smaller amounts of food allergens under the tongue.
A study conducted by UBC clinical professor and pediatric allergist Dr. Edmond Chan and his team at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute found SLIT to be as safe and effective for high-risk older children and adolescents as oral immunotherapy is for preschoolers.
“Our work confirms the safety and effectiveness of SLIT for older children and adolescents with multiple food allergies at higher risk of severe reaction,” said Dr. Chan. “These are patients for whom oral immunotherapy would typically be denied because it’s felt to be too risky, so this could be the best approach for that population.” MORE
Learn more:
https://bcchr.ca/eschan
Cross-posted with permission.
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Canadian Cancer Society 2023 Challenge Grant (CHA-24)
Congratulations to Dr. Catrina Loucks!
Dr. Loucks and her team are the recipients of a Canadian Cancer Society 2023 Challenge Grant (CHA-24) for their project, “Better pain management for children with cancer.”
This project will analyze genetic patterns that may influence how children with cancer respond to pain medication. DNA from samples donated by children with cancer and their families will be compared to the data of children who did and did not experience painful side effects from their cancer treatments.
More:
https://www.bcchr.ca/cloucks
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Helpful Gut Bacteria Seem to Reduce Allergic Disease in Kids
Did you know that in babies, the right combo of gut bacteria might stave off later allergies, so scientists are testing “cocktails” of helpful microbes as therapy?
In infancy the gut microbiomes of children who later develop allergies or asthma look different from those of children who don’t go on to have allergies. “Children who are at the highest risk are missing important health-promoting bacteria in that first year of life,” says Stuart Turvey, a pediatric immunologist at the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Children’s Hospital.
In a study of more than 1,100 children published in 2023, Turvey and his colleagues found that children who had these microbiome disruptions at age one were more likely to be diagnosed with eczema, food allergies, allergic rhinitis or asthma at age five. “Not every kid gets all four [diagnoses], but often the kids who had two or more had a more pronounced microbiome imbalance signature,” he says.
Another type of bacteria that has a positive effect on humans is Bifidobacterium infantis, which eats sugars in breast milk and is more abundant in some children who are breastfed. B. infantis was once common in people’s guts but is much less so now in Western countries. “Only 16 percent of Canadian kids have this, and rates are lower in the U.S.,” Turvey says. Among youngsters who had to have antibiotics in infancy, the presence of B. infantis protected them against developing asthma by age five, Turvey’s studies have shown.
Link to MARCH 1, 2024 Issue of Scientific American
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