Core Area
Research
Strategic Area
Industry and health sector engagement to drive impact and entrepreneurship and to enrich learner and faculty experience
Goal Status
In Progress
Objectives
- Invest in research content on website and other communications tools (2026).
- Develop a platform for PharmSci ventures to advertise on e@ubc for recruitment and collaboration (2024–26).
Achieved Goals
- Launched Pharmaceutical Research Network (PRN) events to enable Faculty members to connect and network (March 2023).
- Strategic Plan Implementation Investment Fund (SPIIF) fund approved project to launch networking event (May 2023); held successful Catalyze event with 50 attendees ncluding donors, industry leaders, and research partners. (April 2025).
- Launched UBC Pharm Sci Innovative Thinkers Webinar Series (Sep 2023).
- Supported workshop for grant and industry partnership with faculty principal investigators, including funding mechanisms and processes/support, delivered by MITACS (Feb 2023); entrepreneur-in-residence supported implementation.
- Promoted and supported electronic Health Technology Assessment (eHTA) and other research and development activities within Nanomedicines Innovation Network (NMIN) community (initiated summer 2023 and ongoing).
- Supported launch of e@ubc Venture Founder incubator program (2024).
- Highlighted a number of our faculty members who have received major research awards: Dr. Ly Vu, received a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in RNA biology in hematological malignancies (2023), and the V Foundation for Cancer Research, Women Scientists Innovation Award for Cancer Research (V Scholar) (2023); Dr. Karla Williams renewed as Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Oncology (2023); Dr. Brian Rodrigues awarded the 2023 Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) /Pfizer Research Career Award; Dr. Jacquelyn Cragg awarded the 2024 Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) New Investigator Research Award; Dr. Ricky Turgeon awarded a 2023 Michael Smith Health Research BC Health Professional-Investigator Award; Dr. Simon Wisnovsky awarded a 2023 Michael Smith Health Research BC & Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation Scholar Award; Dr. Kate Johnson and Dr. Tom Velenosi awarded 2024 Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Awards; Dr. Erica Wang awarded a 2024 Michael Smith Health Research BC Health Professional-Investigator Award. Renewed CORE PI Jacquelyn Cragg's Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) ($500,000 over 5 years) (2025).
- The Office of Development and Alumni Engagement completed three research lab tours with the Associate Dean, Research, including the From Lab to Market: Tours and Venture Connections as part of the UBC Innovation Day initiative (fall 2025).
- Launched a 'know-the-lab' program to spotlight volunteer labs in presenting tours, activities and highlights that strengthen faculty awareness and connection (Nov 2025).