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Welcome to Pathology's Bi-Weekly Bulletin | April 10, 2026

MAPcore Receives VPRI Shared Research Platform Designation

Dr. Zu-hua Gao and Genevieve MacMillan recently visited the Molecular and Advanced Pathology Core (MAPcore) to congratulate the team on its designation as a UBC Shared Research Platform through the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) Shared Research Platforms Competition.

This designation includes three years of core funding and recognizes research infrastructure that supports a broad community of users. MAPcore is one of nine platforms selected across UBC.

The designation reflects more than two decades of excellence in tissue-based cancer research, from the Genitourinary Pathology Evaluation Centre (GPEC) to MAPcore's current work in spatial omics and translational research.

Read our full story | Read the UBC announcement

Dr. David Huntsman Receives 2025 Rosalind Franklin Prize

Dr. David Huntsman (BC Cancer; UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine) has been awarded the 2025 Rosalind Franklin Prize for Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research by the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA).

The award recognizes his contributions to advancing understanding of ovarian cancer subtypes as distinct diseases, an approach that has informed more targeted treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. Dr. Huntsman is also a co-founder of OVCARE, a BC-based multidisciplinary ovarian cancer research program.

The Rosalind Franklin Prize is awarded annually to a senior researcher whose work has significantly advanced ovarian cancer research.

Read the full announcement

Research Awards and Grants

• Dr. Citlali Marquez and Dr. Inna Sekirov – TFRI & CIHR Team Grants: Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention
• Dr. Cornelia Laule – Canada Foundation for Innovation's Innovation Fund
• Dr. Leandro Venturutti – Canada Foundation for Innovation's Innovation Fund
• Dr. Katey Enfield – Terry Fox New Investigator Award
• Dr. Marcel Bally and Dr. Patrick Tang – BC Genomics Applications Partnership Program

Faculty Promotion

Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Roth on his promotion to Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Roth is also a Principal Investigator at BC Cancer and holds a joint appointment with the UBC Department of Computer Science.

Faculty Update

Dr. Mari DeMarco will be leaving the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine to take on a new role at the University of Pennsylvania, where she will lead the clinical mass spectrometry laboratory and dementia biomarker program.

During her time at UBC and Providence Health Care, Dr. DeMarco made significant contributions to clinical chemistry services, research, and education, including advancing testing in neurodegenerative disease and mentoring trainees.

We thank Dr. DeMarco for her contributions and wish her all the best in her new role.

Recently published work from our department

• CAPS Plus: A Clinical Biomarker Scoring System to Predict Aβ Positivity and Facilitate Enrollment in Anti-Amyloid Clinical Trials
  Cheryl Wellington, Jennifer Cooper, et al. (Wellington Lab)
  In this new publication from the Wellington Lab, the authors introduce CAPS Plus, a clinical biomarker composite score designed to predict Aβ positivity in individuals presenting with clinical Alzheimer's syndrome, including prodromal and mild Alzheimer's disease stages. The tool may support more efficient and accurate enrollment in anti-amyloid clinical trials. Biomarker concentrations were quantified using UBC-CFNBI's Quanterix Simoa HD-X platform. Read the full article
• Regional Variation in Community Bacteremia Pathogens in British Columbia, Canada
  E.Y.H. Yeung et al. (Clinical Faculty)
  This study found that Salmonella species was the most common cause of gram-negative bacteremia in BC Lower Mainland communities from 2020 to 2024. Read the full article
• Pediatric Ear Culture Antibiogram for British Columbia Communities: A Retrospective Analysis of Outpatient Data (2020–2024)
  E.Y.H. Yeung et al. (Clinical Faculty)
  This retrospective outpatient study examines pediatric ear culture antibiogram data from British Columbia communities between 2020 and 2024 and contributes to regional antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Read the full article
• Commentary on Wastewater Surveillance for Viral Pathogens
  Natalie A. Prystajecky et al. (BCCDC)
  Investigators at BCCDC published a commentary on wastewater surveillance, drawing on lessons from SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox virus, norovirus, and influenza A virus monitoring. The article outlines key considerations for designing wastewater surveillance programs and highlights its role as a population-level, non-invasive public health tool. Read the full article

Clarisse L. Dolman Memorial Lecture

Members of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are invited to attend the Thirtieth Clarisse L. Dolman Memorial Lecture, held in honour of Dr. Clarisse L. Dolman, the first neuropathologist in British Columbia and founding Clinical Professor of Neuropathology at UBC.

Speaker: Dr. Manuela Neumann, MD
Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Tübingen & German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

Title: TDP-43 Proteinopathies: Insights from Molecular Neuropathology & the Translational Impact

Date and Time: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 8:00 am
Location: Eye Care Centre, 100 Lecture Theatre
Zoom: https://ubc.zoom.us/
Meeting ID: 99196328761
Passcode: 328761

Hosted by: Clarisse L. Dolman Lectureship Committee (Dr. Ian Mackenzie, Dr. Peter Schutz, Dr. Chris Honey) View full invitation

Clinician Scientist Career Acceleration Program (CSCAP)

Faculty members are invited to apply to the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine's Clinician Scientist Career Acceleration Program (CSCAP).

This program supports laboratory clinicians and accredited clinical scientists across BC health authorities by providing protected research time to help develop their research programs.

The Department will provide $50,000 per year for up to five years per successful applicant.

Application deadline: June 30, 2026

Applications and inquiries can be submitted to Genevieve.macmillan@ubc.ca.

Terms of Reference | Application Form

Call for FLEX Advisors (UBC MD Program)

Faculty members are invited to apply to serve as FLEX Advisors in the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Flexible Enhanced Learning (FLEX) is a longitudinal component of the UBC MD undergraduate program (MEDD 419, 429, 449) that provides students with dedicated time to pursue scholarly interests and individualized learning opportunities. Advisors mentor small groups of medical students and support their project development.

Both in-person (Year 1) and online (Years 2 and 4) opportunities are available. Faculty interested in undergraduate teaching are encouraged to apply.

MEDD 419 (Year 1) details
MEDD 429 (Year 2) details
MEDD 449 (Year 4) details

Opportunities and Resources for Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to explore the following professional development, teaching, and career resources:

• UBC Professor in Training Program
  A professional development program designed to support postdoctoral fellows pursuing academic careers, including training in teaching, research, and academic job applications. Learn more
• Case-Based Learning (CBL) Teaching Opportunities
  The UBC MD undergraduate program offers opportunities to gain teaching experience through CBL sessions. Interested fellows can submit their CV to hanh.huynh@ubc.ca to receive training and be connected with teaching opportunities.

PathDay 2026

The PathDay 2026 website is now live. Speaker information and a tentative program schedule are available. PathDay registration and abstract submission can be accessed directly through the website.

Please visit the site regularly for updates, deadlines, and program details.

Visit the PathDay 2026 website