New Canada Research Chairs appointed in the Faculty of Medicine

Seven researchers in the Faculty of Medicine have been named Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) in recognition of excellence in their respective fields of study.

The chairs include five new appointments and two renewals.

Newly appointed CRCs in the Faculty of Medicine:


Liam Brunham, Canada Research Chair in Precision Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, focuses his work on genetic aspects of cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, and pharmacogenomics.
He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and a Principal Investigator at the UBC Centre for Heart and Lung Innovation.


Hector Caruncho, Canada Research Chair in Translational Neuroscience, focuses on the neurobiology of psychiatric illness.
He is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC, a Professor of Neuroscience in the Division of Medical Sciences at the University of Victoria and an Adjunct Professor of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan.


Sarah De Leeuw, Canada Research Chair in Humanities and Health Inequities, focuses her research on marginalized peoples and social-cultural geographies.
She is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at UBC, and an Associate Professor in Geography and in the Northern Medical Program at the University of Northern British Columbia.


Jennifer Hutcheon, Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Population Health, is working to improve our understanding of maternal and infant health.
She is an Associate Professor in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC.


Peter Zandstra, Canada Research Chair in Stem Cell Bioengineering, focuses his work on how individual cells form complex tissues and organs.
He is Director of the School of Biomedical Engineering and Director at the Michael Smith Laboratories at UBC.

Reappointed CRCs in the Faculty of Medicine:


Sarah Gray, Canada Research Chair in Integrative Physiology of Diabetes, focuses on the connections between obesity and type 2 diabetes.
She is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences at UBC and the Assistant Dean, Curriculum of the Northern Medical Program.


Stephanie Willerth, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering, works in the field of tissue engineering to restore function to diseased or damaged tissue.
She is an Adjunct and Affiliate Member with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC, and an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Victoria.

The federal government invested $156.5 million to support 187 new and renewed CRCs at 49 institutions across the country from the most recent competition.

“Our government is committed to promoting equity and diversity within research and to supporting the next generation of research leaders. These prestigious Canada Research Chairs are improving the lives of Canadians and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, helping ensure a bright future for Canada,” said Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, in a release.