CIHR Project Grants awarded to UBC Engineering research tackling stroke, spinal deformity and more

Four projects led or co-led by UBC Engineering researchers have been awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants: Fall 2021 competition. 

The CIHR’s Project Grant program aims to support ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related research and knowledge translation, as well as to promote collaboration and “contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.” 

In the Fall 2021 competition, three of the UBC Engineering-affiliated projects received research grants, while one received a priority announcement grant. Awardees were selected based on the significance, impact and feasibility of the research projects. 

The UBC Engineering-affiliated projects, which address health issues like stroke and spinal deformity, are: 

Research Grants 

Decoding human cis-regulatory logic in development and disease 
Principal Investigator: De Boer, Carl G (Biomedical Engineering) 
Research Institution: UBC 
*Conditionally funded at time of posting 

Subject-Specific Biomechanical Modelling in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients: A Surgical Planning and Failure Prediction Toolkit 
Principal Investigator: Oxland, Thomas R. (Orthopedics, Mechanical Engineering) 
CO-PIs: Brown, Stephen H; Fels, Sidney S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Street, John; Wilson, David R. 
Research Institution: UBC 
Funding Amount: $795,600 (five years)  

Using Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Imaging to Improve Stroke Risk Assessment and Management 
Principal Investigator: Tsang, Teresa S. (Medicine) 
Co-PIs: Abolmaesumi, Purang (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 
Research Institution: UBC 
Funding Amount: $581,401 (three years) 
 

Priority Announcement Grant

A bioengineering platform to promote safe cell therapies 
Priority Announcement: Genetics 
Principal Investigator: Shakiba, Nika (Biomedical Engineering) 
Co-PIs: Goyal, Sidhartha (University of Toronto) 
Research Institution: UBC 
*Conditionally funded at time of posting 
 

For more information about all UBC-led projects awarded Project Grants during this funding round, please see the announcement on the UBC Research and Innovation website.