The University of British Columbia Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is proud to announce that Assistant Professor Dr. Joel Finbloom has been recognized with two awards that highlight his contributions to nanomedicine and antimicrobial research.
Dr. Finbloom has been selected as a 2025 Gairdner Early Career Investigator for his innovative work developing microbe-interfacing nanomaterials. He has also received a 2025 Scholar Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC for his research program focused on tackling antibiotic-resistant infections.
Within the Faculty's Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology research theme, the Finbloom lab addresses pharmaceutical science's most pressing challenges through bioinspired materials that interface with microbial communities. His research combines chemical biology, nanotechnology, and bioengineering to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and improve oral delivery of bacterial therapeutics.
Dr. Finbloom earned his PhD in chemistry from UC Berkeley and completed postdoctoral training at UC San Francisco. His recent research, published in Science Advances, demonstrates polyelectrolyte nanocomplexes that co-deliver synergistic antimicrobials to treat bacterial biofilms and lung infections. More details about Dr. Finbloom's background and research can be found here.
The Gairdner recognition enables Dr. Finbloom to present his research "Microbe-Interfacing Nanomaterials to Study and Treat Bacterial Biofilm Infections" during Gairdner Science Week 2025 (October 20–23) alongside internationally recognized researchers. Click here for full details about the 2025 Gairdner Early Career Investigators and other recipients.
The Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award provides crucial funding for early-career researchers building innovative interdisciplinary programs. Information about all 2025 Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator awardees is available here.
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences congratulates Dr. Finbloom on these well-deserved honours and looks forward to the continued impact of his innovative research program.