Dogs who can sniff out disease could be a valuable addition to certain clinical settings, according to research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researchers Dr. Marthe Charles and Dr. Elizabeth Bryce.

For their pilot study, published in the Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada, the research team recruited specialist dogs and their trainers for an experiment to see whether the dogs could detect COVID-19 by its smell.

Nestled within the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), a vibrant community of emerging scientists is propelling scientific advancements in British Columbia and beyond. The VCHRI Trainee Committee emerges as a pivotal platform to support the growth of future health researchers. 

Opportunities to connect with the broader community are not always available to the over 7,000 British Columbians living with HIV and other complex care needs, such as mental illness and substance use. Faced with stigma and marginalisation, these individuals often find themselves pushed to the edges of society.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented change in the day-to-day practices of many physicians. Transitioning to virtual care impacted how physicians felt about many aspects of their roles and increased stress, according to the results of a study led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Kevin Eva and Island Health internal medicine clinician and researcher Dr. Valeria Stoynova.

Advanced genetic matching technology could result in significantly lower rates of organ transplant rejection, according to ongoing award-winning research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Paul Keown.

Peer support has promising results for people living with type 2 diabetes, according to the findings of a recent Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI)-led study, published in Diabetic Medicine.

A simple hysterectomy has been found to be a viable, effective alternative to a more invasive procedure for women with low-risk, early-stage cervical cancer. The results of the SHAPE (Simple Hysterectomy And PElvic lymphadenectomy) study co-led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researchers Dr. Janice Kwon and Dr. Lori Brotto show that patients who received the less invasive procedure experienced the same clinical outcomes as those who received a radical hysterectomy.