New research shows how queen viral infections disrupt colony stability — and identifies a key pheromone that could help maintain cohesive, productive hives. | www.msl.ubc.ca
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Xin Tang, our newest Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) and the Department of Computer Science, has been awarded a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Computational Cell Biology. The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) invests approximately $311 million per year to attract and retain leading researchers in their fields across Canadian universities. Dr. Tang is among eight newly awarded Canada Research Chairs at UBC, ...| www.msl.ubc.ca
In this Q&A, professor Brett Finlay discusses tips from his new book, The Microbiome Master Key, on how to leverage the microorganisms in your body to promote healthy living and aging. | www.msl.ubc.ca
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The first successful human transplant of a kidney converted from blood type A to universal type O used special enzymes developed at the University of British Columbia to help prevent […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Xin Li, University of British Columbia; Edan Jackson, University of British Columbia, and Josh Li, University of British Columbia Genomes contain the complete library of information required to build […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
With funding from Genome BC, UBC researchers are advancing biotherapeutics, RNA medicines, cell therapies and policy innovation for Canada. Genome BC has announced funding for four new UBC research projects […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Writing by Santanu Sasidharan from the Tokuriki lab, Michael Smith Laboratories This is the fourth and final article in our Past, Present and Future series, where explore the journeys of inspiring […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
By Sarah Anderson, PhD Gold’s value lies in its unique properties, limited supply, and difficulty of extraction. The same is true of breastmilk — often touted as “liquid gold.” This […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Writing by Deepesh Panwar from the Brumer Lab, Michael Smith Laboratories This is the second article in our Past, Present and Future series, where we explore the journeys of inspiring […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
It turns out those cellulose-based thickening agents found in common foods can be digested. Researchers at the University of British Columbia have shown that our gut bacteria can feed on […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Introduction by Santanu Sasidharan from the Tokuriki Lab, Michael Smith Laboratories Behind every success and research breakthrough lies a story of curiosity, persistence, setbacks, and moments of discovery. In today’s […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Three of our MSL faculty members are involved in projects recently funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant: Spring 2025 competition. These newly funded projects will […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Three research projects lead or co-investigated by Dr. Peter Zandstra (MSL, School of Biomedical Engineering) have been awarded a total of $702,000 from the Stem Cell Network. This round of […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
When Seyed Amirhossein Nasseri began his graduate studies at UBC, the destination wasn’t entirely clear—but the direction was. “I didn’t always know what I wanted to research,” Nasseri recalls. “What […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
A study from Dr. James Piret (MSL, Chemical and Biological Engineering) and recent MSL and School of Biomedical Engineering graduate Dr. Alina Kunitskaya will help facilitate the manufacturing of CAR […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
The lab of Dr. Sabrina Leslie (MSL, Physics and Astronomy; SBME affiliate member) brings together researchers and approaches from physics and biology to drive forward the field of nanomedicine. Their […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Writing and figure by Santanu Sasidharan from the Tokuriki Lab, Michael Smith Laboratories From towering white pines to the tiniest microbes, all life forms on Earth share a common […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Writing and diagram by Deepesh Panwar from the Brumer Lab, Michael Smith Laboratories Blood transfusion and organ transplantation are cornerstones of modern medicine, saving millions of lives each year. […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
A new approach to drug design can deliver medicine directly to the gut in mice at significantly lower doses than current inflammatory bowel disease treatments. The proof-of-concept study, published today […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Anna Blakney, University of British Columbia and Pieter Cullis, University of British Columbia As the world marks World Immunization Week, attention turns once again to the lifesaving power […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
The Last of Us is back on April 13 and this season is more realistic than ever. The trailer for the hit HBO series appears to show the “zombie fungus” […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
MSL faculty members Drs. Marco Marra and Peter Zandstra have been recognized for their impactful research by the Killam Trusts. Dr. Marra (MSL, Department of Medical Genetics) was awarded the […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Researchers from BC Cancer and the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered that certain bacteria found in breast tumours could be linked to metastasis, or the spread of cancer […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Written by Drs. Phil Hieter and Hugo J. Bellen It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 to 12,000 rare diseases affecting more than 20 million people in the […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
February 11, 2025 marks the 10th annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, this day celebrates the importance of diversity in […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Dr. Marco Marra (Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Medical Genetics), through his role as the Terry Fox Leader in Cancer Genome Science, played a key role in announcing the ‘Finish […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Two collaborative research projects by Drs. Leonard Foster and Wilfred Jefferies have received priority announcement funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant: Fall 2024 competition. Both […]| Welcome | Michael Smith Laboratories
Writing and photography by Ashleigh Willis from the Miller Lab, Michael Smith Laboratories| www.msl.ubc.ca
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Damaged and misfolded proteins that cannot be repaired have to be eliminated from the cell. Failure to do so, leads to the accumulation of these proteins that will then aggregate. Protein aggregation is a hallmark of a large number of neurodegenerative pathologies including Parkinson’s and Prion diseases. The ubiquitin proteasome system pays a major role in targeting aberrant proteins for proteolysis. In this system, target proteins are first modified by the covalent attachment of ubiquitin...| www.msl.ubc.ca
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The human body routinely encounters many threatening infectious agents, including Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli. Most Salmonella and E. coli infections arise from oral ingestion of tainted food or water and are a significant cause of disease and death in animals and humans worldwide. Salmonella bacteria cause typhoid fever, a frequently fatal infectious condition that is common in the developing world. It also causes gastroenteritis, a type of food poisoning characterized by abdominal pai...| www.msl.ubc.ca
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Research in our lab is focused on the generation of functional tissue from somatic and pluripotent stem cells. Our quantitative, technology-driven approach strives to gain new insights into fundamental mechanisms that control stem cell fate and to develop robust technologies for the propagation of stem cells and their derivatives. Our primary focus is on applying these concepts to the hematopoietic system and differentiation of blood cell lineages. Our work is accomplished through 4 integrate...| www.msl.ubc.ca
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Jump-started by a $22.5 million gift, UBC’s new AI and Health Network is deploying powerful artificial intelligence tools to drive health system innovation and improve patient care.| www.msl.ubc.ca
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This article was edited by Santanu Sasidharan from the Tokuriki lab, Michael Smith Laboratories | www.msl.ubc.ca
For Karen Reid, every action is vital for the ripple effect needed to shift to more sustainable choices. Operations Manager at the Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL), Karen brings a strong environmental passion rooted in her diverse research background, ranging from working with soil bacteria and ocean viruses, to plant and tree genomics. | www.msl.ubc.ca
Drs. Thibault Mayor (left), Leonard Foster (centre) and David Ng (right).| www.msl.ubc.ca
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) announced today a total of $589.7 million of research funding awarded through the Discovery Research Program.| www.msl.ubc.ca
By Sarah Anderson, PhD| www.msl.ubc.ca
Dr. Brett Finlay has been awarded the 2024 John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award, recognizing his outstanding mentorship of the trainees in his lab.| www.msl.ubc.ca
We are excited to congratulate Credo Casmil and Ayşe Erdoğan for receiving the 2024-2025 William and Dorothy Gilbert Scholarship in Biomedical Sciences. This award, established in 1995 by Professor Terrance Snutch in honour of William and Dorothy Gilbert, celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding doctoral students at the Michael Smith Laboratories. While this year’s recipients are focussing on research that spans from basic to applied science, both their projects are helping to advanc...| www.msl.ubc.ca
The Michael Smith Laboratories Pathway to Independence Award aims to support the research and career development of outstanding MSL Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates, and we are excited to congratulate the three individuals who were selected for this award in 2025. They will lead new projects aligned with their future career research focuses, which could lead to the generation of preliminary data for future grant applications to external funding agencies.| www.msl.ubc.ca