Since the 1950’s, UBC has been the site of groundbreaking discoveries in understanding, diagnosing and treating a number of brain disorders and diseases. It is also home to Canada’s largest integrated research and treatment facility – the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.
Today, more than 500 researchers continue to be at the forefront of brain research, pioneering their work around mental health and addictions, dementia, and movement disorders.
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Discoveries
- 2017: Controversial treatment for MS found to be ineffective
- 2017: Link between vitamin A and Alzheimer’s disease
- 2017: Scientists create mouse that resists addiction
- 2016: Antibiotic restores brain cell communication damaged by Alzheimer’s
- 2015: Regular exercise can reduce risk of dementia
- 2012: Gene linked to Parkinson’s disease found
Key Research Groups
- BC Centre on Substance Use
- Brain, Behaviour & Development
- Centre for Research on Personhood in Dementia
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
- Dynamic Brain Circuits and Connections in Health and Disease cluster
- Edwin S.H. Leong Healthy Aging Program
- Institute of Mental Health
- Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre
Spotlight
Study of exercise and Parkinson’s disease yields positive results
Habitual exercise may confer an advantage in combating Parkinson’s disease by facilitating the brain’s production of dopamine.
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Advances in technology are shaping Parkinson’s research
UBC Professor Martin McKeown talks about his research interests, what he hopes to accomplish and his recent collaboration with Conquer Mobile.
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UBC helping with national study of opioid addiction treatment
Evan Wood will lead the B.C. arm of the study, which will compare methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone.
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Mental health rehabilitation through the patient lens
Occupational therapist and postdoctoral fellow Skye Barbic says our current understanding of mental health recovery on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is too narrow.
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An evidence-based alternative to MoodPanda
Professional-grade tools to track moods are rare. UBC faculty members, sensing a need, went to work. The result: MoodFx.
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