Health

New model highlights importance of virus size in SARS-CoV-2 replication

New model highlights importance of virus size in SARS-CoV-2 replication

EurekAlert, Physics.org: As the world recovers from the economic and social impacts of COVID-19, researchers like Mattia Bacca continue to study SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses to be better prepared for future pandemics. Dr. Bacca, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, used his particular expertise—micromechanics, the study of extremely tiny structures—to develop a simple […]

CARIS research on wheelchair users’ sense of autonomy in November issue of “Assistive Technology”

CARIS research on wheelchair users’ sense of autonomy in November issue of “Assistive Technology”

The November 2022 issue of Assistive Technology features research by members of the Collaborative Advanced Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CARIS) Laboratory, UBC’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD). The group, including Mechanical Engineering alumna and CARIS PhD graduate Dr. Mahsa Kalili and CARIS Director Professor Mike […]

CBR Blog features Multi-Scale Design Lab work: Emerging AI Methods to Assess Transfusion Quality

CBR Blog features Multi-Scale Design Lab work: Emerging AI Methods to Assess Transfusion Quality

PhD student and Canadian Blood Services graduate fellowship awardee Erik Lamoureux writes about his research on using AI to assess red blood cell deformability in microscopy images, as part of Dr. Hongshen Ma’s Multi-Scale Design Lab.    

SimPL Lab’s computer algorithm tracks head impacts in sport

SimPL Lab’s computer algorithm tracks head impacts in sport

VGH Research Institute: “Sport-related head injury is a significant health concern that can lead to harmful effects down the line, such as permanent brain injury. Research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Lyndia Wu and Ahmad Rezaei used a novel computer vision algorithm to create a head injury baseline that could help […]

UBC team deploys pollution-sniffing mobile lab

UBC team deploys pollution-sniffing mobile lab

Watch out, Vancouver. The PLUME van is coming soon to a location near you. An “air pollution lab on wheels,” PLUME will be used to measure concentrations of air pollutants across the city including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ground-level ozone, black carbon, methane, volatile organic compounds, and various sizes of ultrafine particles that can affect […]

New “See-N-Seq” technology enables RNA sequencing of specific single cells identified using microscopy

New “See-N-Seq” technology enables RNA sequencing of specific single cells identified using microscopy

The Multi Scale Design Laboratory (MDL) lead by Professor Hongshen Ma has recently published a new paper, “See-N-Seq: RNA sequencing of target single cells identified by microscopy via micropatterning of hydrogel porosity”. MDL researchers have developed a new method, “See-N-Seq,” that uses a micropatterned hydrogel to capture target cells for single cell RNA sequencing. This […]

Media Mention: CBC talks to Dr. Rogak on how masks are still effective & recommended indoors, despite relaxation of rules in Canada

Media Mention: CBC talks to Dr. Rogak on how masks are still effective & recommended indoors, despite relaxation of rules in Canada

CBC News: Should you wear a mask? Advice for navigating a mask-optional Canada  |  Experts who study airborne particles still recommend wearing masks in crowded indoor settings. With masks now optional in most public spaces and Quebec recently joining the rest of Canada in relaxing its rules, the mental gymnastics required to figure out whether or not […]

High-tech mouthguard tracks head impacts during varsity hockey playoffs

High-tech mouthguard tracks head impacts during varsity hockey playoffs

UBC concussion study could pave the way for safer hockey A high-tech mouthguard worn by UBC Thunderbird hockey players will record every big hit of the upcoming playoffs to capture data for UBC researchers who study concussions. The study is led by Dr. Lyndia Wu, an expert in brain injury biomechanics at UBC’s Faculty of […]

Media Mention: CBC highlights Smell Vancouver research

Media Mention: CBC highlights Smell Vancouver research

CBC News: Smell something funky? UBC researchers want to borrow your nose  – “Rotting waste, garbage cheese, pungent vinegar, death, fresh vomit.” That’s how one person described an odour they detected in Vancouver, in a report submitted to the Smell Vancouver project. While the odour sounds particularly unpleasant, Sahil Bhandari, one of the University of British Columbia researchers behind the project, […]

Researcher receives MSFHR Trainee Award to investigate the mechanics of cancer spread

Researcher receives MSFHR Trainee Award to investigate the mechanics of cancer spread

Mechanical Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Daniele Agostinelli has received a 2021 Research Trainee award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR). The MSFHR Research Trainee Program provides support to post-doctoral researchers or health professionals, helping them to develop their research careers in their field of medicine and health. Providing recipients with $45,000 per […]