Bridging Research & Action
Bridging Research & Action Catalyzing collaboration to bring knowledge...
UBC Health, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, is proud to announce the awarding of seed grant funding for six research projects in 2025, all of which respond directly to critical health priorities in British Columbia.
This initiative supports research projects that align with the Ministry of Health’s strategic priorities, which included a focused stream on smoking cessation this year, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing health through interdisciplinary research collaborations and knowledge exchange between UBC and the Ministry. UBC Health convened a review committee, including interdisciplinary experts and patient and community voices, that informed the funding recommendations.
“The diversity of perspectives in the review process helped ensure that selected projects reflect a broad range of expertise and lived experience.” said Teo Quay, Assistant Director, Research at UBC Health. “By bringing together faculty, patient and community partners, and Indigenous perspectives, the committee assessed proposals through multiple lenses, strengthening the relevance and potential impact.”
Christie Newton, Associate Vice-President, Health added, “our ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Health continues to bridge UBC research with health policy and system needs.” This particular program she emphasized, “catalyzes the development of meaningful collaborations that are producing innovative health solutions to meet the needs of British Columbians.”
The following projects were selected, highlighting the significant expertise and capacity in these priority areas across the province.
General Stream
Project Title: Exploring factors associated with increasing referral rates to the BC Autism Assessment Network
Principal Investigator: Angie Ip, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
This project seeks to explore the factors driving the tripled referral rates to the BC Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN) for autism assessments over the last decade.
Project Title: Improving Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder: Exploring Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Inform Recommendations
Principal Investigator: Adam Esterbrook, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
This project aims to identify potential improvements in care for individuals with opioid use disorder by exploring community pharmacists’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators they face in providing care.
Project Title: Evaluating Crisis Response Models and Resource Allocation for Mental Health Services Utilizing the Perspectives of Clients, Caregivers, and Providers
Principal Investigator: Craig Mitton, Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
This project evaluates two crisis response models for mental health emergencies in British Columbia: police-clinician co-response teams and civilian-led programs. The aim is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of these informing community-centered recommendations for resource allocation and program improvement.
Project Title: A "Health in All Policies" Key Performance Indicator to Guide BC Budgeting
Principal Investigator: Paul Kershaw, Associate Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
This project aims to explore a "Health in All Policies" approach into provincial budget planning, seeking to inform Population and Public Health of opportunities to reconcile discrepancies in how medical, social, and education spending is categorized to guide budget decisions.
Smoking Cessation Stream
Project Title: Beyond Prescriptions: The Role of Community Pharmacists in Providing Non-Pharmacologic Nicotine Cessation Support to British Columbians
Principal Investigator: Karen Dahri, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC Vancouver
This project aims to explore how community pharmacists in British Columbia deliver non-pharmacologic nicotine cessation support and identify the barriers and facilitators influencing their ability to provide this care.
Project Title: Beyond Prescriptions: The Role of Community Pharmacists in Providing Non-Pharmacologic Nicotine Cessation Support to British Columbians
Principal Investigator: Theresa Charrois, Associate Dean, Practice Innovation, Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC Vancouver
This project aims to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing and adhering to nicotine cessation support provided through BC’s community pharmacies, with a focus on vulnerable populations, including Indigenous Peoples, rural residents, and youth.
We congratulate all the grant recipients and appreciate their efforts in contributing to improving BC’s health system. For more information about UBC Health’s Interdisciplinary research initiatives, visit our website.
