Gamifying daily fitness using carrots instead of sticks was the goal of a step-tracking smartphone app called Carrot Rewards. Under the direction of Dr. Guy Faulkner, a Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher and specialist in applied public health, researchers examined associations between the app’s micro-incentives and which users reached their daily step goals.
Despite being a natural part of the lifecycle, much is still unknown about the process of dying. In their groundbreaking study, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) researcher Dr. Mypinder Sekhon and PhD candidate Jordan Bird reframe the moments before death as a biological transition, rather than a single moment, filling in missing pieces of the puzzle to understanding the final stages of life.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stirling Bryan as Interim Executive Director, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), effective February 1, 2026.
Winter conditions can increase the risk of falls, especially for older adults and individuals with mobility conditions, particularly from snow, ice and reduced daylight. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Jennifer Davis shares practical strategies for staying safe and confident during the winter months.
A new study is the first to examine the complete proteome — the full set of proteins — in muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs) before and after chemotherapy treatment. Published in Nature Communications, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Peter Black’s study, led by researcher-scientists Drs. Alberto Contreras-Sanz and Gian Negri, uncovered clues to treatment resistance and response.
Sex differences could play a key role in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy, according to the results of a groundbreaking study led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Ipek Oruc. A condition that puts patients at risk of blindness, diabetic retinopathy may be more likely to progress along a given pathway depending on whether a patient was born male or female.
Kidney stones are one of the most common health concerns affecting Canadians, with new research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Connor Forbes revealing that 99 per cent of Canadians are unknowingly eating in ways that could increase their risk of developing the condition. These findings highlight a critical gap in public knowledge: while many people are not yet dealing with kidney stones, their dietary habits may be setting them up for future risk.
Research Infosource Inc., Canada’s premier research, consulting and publishing firm, has released its annual ranking of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals. With $181 million in combined research funding for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and Providence Research rank sixth nationwide.
