Core Research Team

Ashe, Maureen

Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice, UBC
maureen.ashe@exchange.ubc.ca

Dr. Maureen Ashe's research interests are in falls and fracture prevention
in older adults. She has previously published in the area of physical activity
in older adults, mobility, bone health and exercise interventions. More recently,
she has focused her work on the recovery of mobility in older adults after a hip fracture.
Maureen Ashe: Research Projects
Maureen Ashe: Selected Publications

Cibere, Jolanda

Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, UBC
Arthritis Research Centre of Canada
http://www.arthritisresearch.ca
jcibere@arthritisresearch.ca

Dr. Cibere specializes in osteoarthritis (OA) research. Her research currently develops clinical assessments, imaging and biomarker techniques that could substantially impact the diagnosis of early knee OA.
Jolanda Cibere: Research Projects

Cripton, Peter

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering UBC
Peter Cripton
Cripton@mech.ubc.ca

Director of the Injury Biomechanics Laboratory at UBC, Dr. Cripton researches the biomechanics of human injury. His work is advancing the understanding, prevention and treatment of human injury.

Cooper, Dave

Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan
davemlcooper@gmail.com

David Cooper is an NSERC post-doctoral research fellow working under the supervision of Dr. Heather McKay. Prior to his current position, Dr. Cooper obtained a doctorate at the University of Calgary where he was a trainee in the Alberta Provincial CIHR Training Program in Bone and Joint Health. Dr. Cooper's research focuses on the dynamic structure of cortical bone and the related application of high resolution imaging to assess the micro-architectural changes associated with the process of bone remodeling. As of January 1, 2008, he will take up a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.
David Cooper: Research Projects
David Cooper: Selected Publications

Duncan, Clive

Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, UBC
cduncan@interchange.ubc.ca

Dr. Clive Duncan is Professor at the University of British Columbia. He is renowned for his research and innovations in the surgical management of complex problems involving the adult hip, has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on this subject, and has delivered more than 300 guest lectures around the world.
Clive Duncan: Research Projects

Duronio, Vincent

Director, Experimental Medicine Program
Professor, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine; UBC
http://www.iirc.vchri.ca
vduronio@interchange.ubc.ca

All cells are programmed to die eventually. If cells don't die normally, they can become harmful. Dr. Duronio's research investigates how signals are sent within individual cells to control the process of cell death as well as survival. His goal is to find ways to stimulate or block cell growth or death; this research will increase understanding of cell cycle control, cell death and cell survival and may lead to the development of new drug therapies.

Eng, Janice

Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
http://www.rehab.ubc.ca/jeng/
Janice.eng@vch.ca

Dr. Eng's research focuses on the effect of neurological impairments and their rehabilitation treatments on human mobility, postural and locomotor control. Her research is pioneering the work on exercise interventions and person with cognitive impairment. She is a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Career Scientist Scholar and Canadian Institute for Health Research New Investigator.

Esdaile, John

Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, UBC
Arthritis Research Centre of Canada
http://www.arthritisresearch.ca
jesdaile@arthritisresearch.ca

A rheumatologist and clinical epidemiologist, Dr. John Esdaile helped found the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada at UBC and is its first scientific director. Dr. Esdaile's areas of research interest include the early detection and rapid treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, spinal disease, and epidemiologic methods. His publication of the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in systemic lupus erythematosus is considered a landmark paper that has altered the treatment of this disease for many patients. In 2005, Dr. Esdaile received the Distinguished Investigator Award from the Canadian Rheumatology Association.
John Esdaile: Research Projects

Garbuz, Don

Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, UBC
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca
garbuz@shaw.ca

Director of Clinical Research and Head of the Division of Lower Limb Reconstruction & Oncology, Dr. Garbuz' major practice interests are complex reconstructive surgery of the hip and knee, with an emphasis on revision joint replacement. He has a particular interest in joint preserving surgery of the hip, including the use of pelvic osteotomies to treat the dysplastic hip in the young adult. Dr. Garbuz has a Masters degree in clinical epidemiology. Dr. Garbuz' research interests include clinical trials and quality of life outcomes after joint replacement surgery and hip resurfacing and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.
Don Garbuz: Research Projects

greidanus_nelson 2

Greidanus, Nelson

Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, UBC
http://www.arthritisresearch.ca
Nelson.greidanus@vch.ca

Director of Resident Education Division of Lower Limb Reconstruction & Oncology, Dr. Greidanus is a clinician-scientist; his research on total hip and knee arthroplasty interventions and peri-operative process of care aims to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with disabling arthritis.
Nelson Greidanus: Research Projects

Guy, Pierre

Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics
pguy@interchange.ubc.ca

A clinician-scientist, Dr. Guy's research focuses on osteoporotic bone imaging and hip fracture prevention. His involvement in developing a PalmOS based cost measurement tool has been integral in identifying the cost of hip fracture prevention.
Pierre Guy: Research Projects

Hart, Dave

Calgary Foundation-Grace Glaum Professor in Arthritis Research
Professor, Departments of Surgery, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, and Medicine, University of Calgary
hartd@ucalgary.ca; http://www.boneandjoint-training.ca/hart.htm

Inflammatory processes are critical for many aspects of host defense, are involved in the healing response of injury and contribute to pahtologic sequelae (autoimmune diseases). We are interested in the regulation of components of these processes, particularly proteinases and their inhibitors. By better understanding these processes and components, it may be possible to enhance their influence in some circumstances (healing, host defense) and negate their influence in circumstances detrimental to the host (inflammatory lung and joint diseases). The laboratory uses the tools of molecular and cell biology to study both in vitro and in vivo animal models of inflammation. Through collaboration with a number of Clinical Scientists, we also focus on various aspects of human disease whenever possible.

Handy, Todd

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UBC
http://neuroimaging.psych.ubc.ca/todd.htm
tchandy@psych.ubc.ca

Dr. Handy's research focuses on ERP and fMRI studies of visual attention and its interaction with perceptual, cognitive, and motor systems

Hodgson, Tony

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC
http://www.mech.ubc.ca
ahodgdon@mech.ubc.ca

A biomedical engineer, Dr. Hodgson's research focuses on improving surgical procedures and implants. His research aims to develop computer- and robot-assisted approaches to total knee and hip replacement to more accurately align prosthetic implants and to decrease the surgical time needed. He also studies how implant alignment affects the resulting limb biomechanics in order to understand what the optimal position of the implants is. Finally, he is working on using 3D ultrasound intraoperatively to reduce the need for the radiation exposure caused by fluoroscopic imaging.

Khan, Karim

Professor, Department of Family Practice UBC
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/
www.clinicalsportsmedicine.com
karim.khan@ubc.ca

A clinician-scientist in the field of exercise medicine for health, Dr. Khan is a CIHR New Investigator and was a UBC Peter Wall Institute Early Career Scholar. He is internationally recognized for his randomized trials of exercise prescription in patients with osteoporosis and at high risk of hip fracture and for his research into the pathogenesis of tendinopathy.
Karim Khan: Research Projects

Kopec, Jacek

Associate Professor, UBC School of Population and Public Health
Arthritis Research Centre of Canada
http://www.arthritisresearch.ca
jkopec@arthritisresearch.ca

Dr. Kopec is a Michael Smith for Health Research Senior Scholar. An epidemiologist, Dr. Kopec leads pioneering research in health measurement and epidemiology of musculoskeletal disease. He is developing a computer simulation population model of osteoarthritis in Canada and an Internet-based epidemiological and quality of life study of physical activity and osteoarthritis.
Jacek Kopec: Research Projects

Lacaille, Diane

Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology,
Department of Medicine, UBC
Arthritis Research Centre of Canada
http://www.arthritisresearch.ca
dlacaille@arthritisresearch.ca

A rheumatologist, Dr. Lacaille's research focuses on the impact of arthritis on employment and preventing work disability, as well as evaluating the quality of health care services received by people with rheumatoid arthritis in BC.

Lefaivre, Kelly

Orthopaedic Resident, Department of Orthopaedic, UBC kellylefaivre@telus.net
Supervisor: Pierre Guy

Li, Linda

Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
http://www.arthritisresearch.ca
http://www.iceberg-grebeci.ohri.ca/about/li.html
lli@arthritisresearch.ca

Dr. Li's research focuses on health services delivery; utilization of allied health professionals and alternative medicine in people with arthritis and professional practice patterns. She currently holds the Harold Robinson/ Arthritis Society Chair in Arthritic Disease.

Liu-Ambrose, Teresa

Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, UBC
tambrose@interchange.ubc.ca

Dr. Liu-Ambrose is Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on delineating the role of exercise in falls and fracture prevention in the aging population. Dr. Liu-Ambrose also aims to investigate the role of exercise in cognitive health promotion in older adults.
Teresa Liu-Ambrose: Research Projects
Teresa Liu-Ambrose: Selected Publications

Lord, Stephen

Associate Professor
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
s.lord@unsw.edu.au
http://www.powmri.edu.au/staff/lord.htm

Associate Professor Stephen Lord is a Principal Research Fellow at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney, Australia. Over the last 15 years, he has worked in the areas of applied physiology, instability, falls and fractures in older people. Associate Professor Lord's research on falls has followed two main themes: the identification of risk factors and the evaluation of prevention strategies. His studies have involved large prospective population studies and randomised controlled trials for assessing the effectiveness of exercise and targeted programs in improving vision, strength, balance and co-ordination and preventing falls in community dwelling people and residents of retirement villages. Associate Professor Lord is currently the director of the NHMRC Prevention of Injuries in Older People Partnership Project. With colleagues at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, he has recently written a comprehensive book on Falls in Older People.

MacKay, Alex

Professor, Joint Medicine/Science,
Department of Radiology/ Department of Physics & Astronomy, UBC
http://www.physics.ubc.ca
mackay@physics.ubc.ca

Dr. MacKay is the Director of the UBC Magnetic Resonance Research Centre and also directs the graduate Medical Physics Program in UBC Physics and Astronomy.
Dr. MacKay's research group develops magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for investigation of human pathology with application to neurological diseases. He is also an expert in reducing metal artefact in MR images, a field which is of particular relevance for imaging around hip and knee prostheses.
Alex MacKay: Research Projects

Marra, Carlo

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy, UBC
http://www.pharmacy.ubc.ca
cmarra@exchange.ubc.ca

Director of the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Head of the Health Economics Program at VCHRI and a Canada Research Chair in Pharmaceutical Outcomes, Dr. Marra's research focuses on quality-of-life measurement, pharmacoepidemiology, and cost- effectiveness analyses using modeling techniques.

Martin-Matthews, Anne

Professor, Family Studies, School of Social Work and Family Studies, UBC
http://www.swfs.ubc.ca/index.php?id=3016
http://www.cihr.ca/e/11510.html amm@interchange.ubc.ca

An internationally-known social scientist, Dr. Martin-Matthews has conducted research on families, caregiving, health and aging. She founded a SSHRC and NCE-funded research centre on aging, is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and is the current Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Aging.
Anne Martin-Matthews: Research Projects

Masri, Bassam

Professor and Head Department of Orthopaedics UBC
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca
Bas.masri@vch.ca

A clinician-scientist, Dr Masri's practice is restricted to adult hip and knee reconstruction and replacement and to musculoskeletal oncology through affiliation with the BC Cancer Agency. He has authored numerous research and review articles and book chapters, and has lectured extensively throughout North America and Overseas. Dr. Masri's research has been integral in developing improved surgical implants and in benchmarking waiting lists for the Federal Government.
Bas Masri: Selected Publications

McKay, Heather

Director, Centre for Hip Health and Mobility
Professor, Department Orthopaedics and Family Practice, UBC
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca
Heather.mckay@ubc.ca

Dr. McKay's research targets the relationship between physical activity and bone health across the lifespan including children and older populations of women who are at high risk for osteoporosis, falls and fracture. Research projects utilize state of the art modalities such as dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, peripheral QCT and magnetic resonance imaging to assess bone health and the bone response to exercise.
Heather McKay: Research Projects

Mulpuri, Kishore

Clinical Instructor, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, UBC
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/faculty_bios/mulpuri.html
kmulpuri@cw.bc.ca

Dr. Mulpuri's research focuses on the clinical outcomes of orthopaedic treatments in order to improvement treatments and the results of the treatments currently being made.
Dr. Mulpuri also studies problems with gait (walking) associated with neuromuscular disorders and of unknown origin. Abnormalities and diseases of hip are also one of his research focuses.

Naylor, PJ

Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Victoria
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/pjnaylor/profile.html
pjnaylor@uvic.ca

Dr. Naylor's research focuses on childhood obesity and chronic disease prevention dissemination. As well as knowledge exchange community mobilization, capacity-building population health, health promotion

O'Brien, Peter

Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic, UBC
orthotrauma@telus.net
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/faculty_bios/obrien.html

Dr. O'Brien's research interests include, the biomechanical characteristics of various internalfixation devices that are used to treat proximal humeral fractures and the potential beneficialeffect of calcium phosphate cement supplementation.

Oxland, Tom

Professor, Head of the Division of Orthopaedic Engineering Research
Department of Orthopaedics and Mechanical Engineering, UBC
http://www.mech.ubc.ca/facstaff/oxland.shtml
toxland@interchange.ubc.ca

A biomedical engineer, Dr. Oxland holds a Canada Research Chair and has done pioneering work in developing innovative orthopaedic implants.
Tom Oxland: Selected Publication

reilly_chris

Reilly, Chris

Director of Postgraduate Education in the UBC Department of Orthopaedics
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/faculty_bios/reilly.html
creilly@cw.bc.ca

Dr. Reilly's research investigates different surgical techniques for achieving the best possible spine curve correction for paediatric patients with scolosis, as well as surgical techniques for reconstruction of the ACL and post-operative functional outcomes of the knee in children and adolescents. As Director of Post Graduate Education, Dr. Reilly is interested in studying how medical students and residents are trained, with a goal of finding ways to improve the dissemination of knowledge and enhancing resident education.

Robinovitch, Stephen

Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology, SFU
stever@sfu.ca

A biomedical engineer, Dr. Robinovitch applies the tools of biomechanics to provide improved understanding on the cause and prevention of falls and fall-related hip fractures in the elderly. He is the recipient of a Canada Research Chair in Injury Prevention and Mobility Biomechanics, a CIHR New Investigator Award, and a MSFHR Scholar Award.

Rossi, Fabio

Associate Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, UBC
http://www.brc.ubc.ca/brc/Faculty/Rossi/fabio.html
fabio@brc.ubc.ca

A Canada Research Chair in Regenerative Medicine and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Fellow, Dr. Rossi is identifying bone marrow cells that can potentially repair damaged muscle, exploring their characteristics and investigating how they repair damaged tissue. Degenerative diseases have an enormous economic and social impact on BC's aging population. Identifying cells that could regenerate organs damaged by degenerative diseases could revolutionize how these conditions are managed.

Scott, Alexander

My work is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of tendon overuse injuries (tendinopathy). Using a variety of experimental approaches, I aim to answer some basic, clinically oriented questions. What is the initial event in tendinopathy development? The traditional paradigm holds that collagen microtrauma is responsible. However, new research shows tendon fibroblasts (tenocytes) are responsive to load - like osteoblasts, they are mechanosensitive. I am currently focusing on the role of tenocytes as an initiating factor in tendinopathies. My work shows that depending on the type and magnitude of loading, tenocytes may die (via apoptosis), proliferate (via IGF-I signaling) or undergo metaplasia (becoming more like cartilage cells). My methods include analysis of clinical tendon biopsies and surgical outcomes, cell and organ culture, Flexercell, flow cytometry, Western blot, cell viability assays, immunohistochemistry, laser capture microdissection, and animal models of overuse injury.

Scott, Vicky

Senior Advisor on Falls and Injury Prevention BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Ministry of Health Clinical
Assistant Professor, Health Care and Epidemiology, UBC

Dr. Scott investigates how best to reduce falls and injuries among older people and to share her knowledge with those best placed to put it into practice. As Chair of the B.C. Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition, she facilitates networking across regions, disciplines and community groups to promote the testing of fall and injury prevention interventions and support integration of evidence into feasible practice applications. Dr. Scott also assists the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport in transferring knowledge from falls prevention research initiatives into policy development and support national and international efforts on seniors' health promotion and injury prevention. Her work has resulted in a statistically significant reduction in fall-related hospitalizations and deaths for seniors in BC.

Sobolev, Boris

Professor, UBC School of Population and Public Health
www.spph.ubc.ca
sobolev@interchange.ubc.ca

A Canada Research Chair in Statistics and Modeling of Health Care, Dr. Sobolev researches the development of practical and reliable statistical models for analyzing waiting times in health care. Dr. Sobolev is also developing statistical models for analysis of adverse events while waiting, such as emergency admission for elective surgery.

tredwell_stephen

Tredwell, Stephen

Professor & Deputy Head, Department of Orthopaedics, UBC
Head of Paediatrics, Orthopaedic Division
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca/faculty_bios/tredwell.html
stredwell@cw.bc.ca

Dr. Tredwell's research areas of interest include spinal reconstruction and the pathogenesis of spinal collapse, blood loss and blood loss prevention strategies intra-operatively, and clinical outcome measures for both spinal reconstruction and trauma.

Underhill, Michael

Associate Professor,
Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, UBC
http://www.cellphys.ubc.ca
tunderhi@interchange.ubc.ca

Dr. Underhill investigates the underlying mechanisms that regulate the formation of the skeletal tissues, particularly the commitment and differentiation of skeletal progenitor cells. His lab has developed high-content screens that facilitate the analysis of gene function in chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. This approach is used to delineate the molecular regulatory networks that underlie the formation of chondrocytes and osteoblasts, which will further the understanding of skeletal development and remodeling.
Michael Underhill: Selected Publications

Wang, Rizhi

Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, UBC
http://www.mmat.ubc.ca
rzwang@interchange.ubc.ca

A Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials, Dr. Wang's research addresses bone repair and replacement by advancing bio-implant technologies. His research focuses on the material mechanisms of bone and hip fracture and the development of novel multifunctional biomaterials for better implant fixation and longevity.
Rizhi Wang: Selected Publications

Wharf-Higgins, Joan

Associate Professor & Coordinator, Leisure Service Administration,
School of Physical Education, University of Victoria
http://web.uvic.ca/~jwharfhi/
jwharfhi@uvic.ca

Wilson, Dave

Associate Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Engineering,
Department of Orthopaedics, UBC
http://www.orthosurgery.ubc.ca
Dawilson@interchange.ubc.ca

Dr. Wilson's research investigates the links between joint mechanics, clinical symptoms and the success of orthopaedic procedures. Dr. Wilson is an expert in non-invasive assessments of cartilage health using MRI. His team uses both in vivo studies and ex vivo (cadaver) experiments to investigate the biomechanics of normal and pathological joints and to assess the effects of surgical and non-surgical interventions on joint biomechanics.
Dave Wilson: Research Projects

Ron Zernicke

Zernicke, Ron

Executive Director Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute
Director, Alberta Provincial CIHR Training Program in Bone and Joint Health Wood Professor in Joint Injury Research, Faculties of Kinesiology, Medicine and Engineering, University of Calgary
http://www.albertaboneandjoint.com/leaders.htm; rfz@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Zernicke investigates human biomechanics and the functional adaptation of bone to exercise, diet, and injury. In the area of human biomechanics, he is analyzing children and adults with normal and abnormal gait patterns. His second major research focus is the functional adaptation of bone. The ability of bone to change its morphology in response to local physical stimuli is based upon the recruitment of specific bone cells.