CACSR Representative: Currently Vacant

Endowed Research Chairs

Woodward Chair for Surgical Research

Ike Barber Chair for Diabetes Research

Alcan Chair in Neuroscience

Dr. Patrick J. Doyle and Dr. Quentin D. Jacks Professorship in Otolaryngological Research

Patty Clugston Chair in Breast Cancer Research

Website:

http://surgery.med.ubc.ca/research/

Overall Department Mission

The Department of Surgery has a broad range of basic, translational, and clinical research activity. Over

the past 5 years, our faculty have received almost $50 M in research grants and awards. Each division

and program has unique specialty-specific research focus:

Cardiovascular Surgery – development of new implant technologies, clinical trials

General Surgery – oncology, transplantation, trauma outcomes, colorectal surgery, diabetes

Neurosurgery – stroke and cerebrovascular disease, brain tumor therapies, trauma

Otolaryngology – head and neck cancer treatment, hearing restoration

Pediatric Surgery – surgical outcomes

Plastic Surgery – burns and wound healing, breast reconstruction

Radiation Oncology – numerous clinical trial protocols

Thoracic Surgery – lung transplantation, lung cancer

Vascular Surgery – development of endovascular device technologies

CESEI – surgical quality and safety

Branch for International Surgery – clinical care in low resource settings

Collaborative research

  • A large group within the Department of Surgery is involved in Diabetes and Stem Cell research. Based predominantly at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute they collaborate with other departments (including Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Pathology) on world leading projects such as islet cell function. There is additional translational research focus with the Islet Cell Transplantation program at the Vancouver General Hospital.
  • The Branch for International Surgical Care is fostering relationships across Departments and Faculties to develop new techniques and technologies for delivering care predominantly in low resource settings. One example is their partnership with Biomedical Engineering in a program called Engineers in Scrubs.
  • The Centre for Excellence in Simulation Education and Innovation (CESEI) provides technology and expertise in support of research into new methods of simulation education and delivery of clinical care. CESEI programs provide opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration between clinical departments and health care professionals including physicians and surgeons, nurses, respiratory therapists, and paramedical staff.
  • In the five years from 2011-2016 approximately 40% of the total number of research grants received through the Department were awarded to Clinical Faculty. In large part these were clinical trials conducted at various hospital sites. This reflects a high level of collaboration between academic clinicians and Health Authorities in research initiatives.

Research Priorities

  • Identify and actively support faculty research salary award opportunities and chairs.
  • Continue to foster research collaboration between faculty and across departments/schools (e.g. School of Biomedical Engineering).
  • Engage with Health Authority partners to develop frameworks that provide increased opportunities for clinical and translational research