Welcome to Pathology's Bi-Weekly Bulletin | February 6, 2026
|
Clinical Faculty Promotion Requirements – New for 2026
Updated Clinical Faculty Promotion Requirements are now available. Promotion is an optional, faculty-initiated process that recognizes sustained academic, teaching, and service contributions and is not based on years in rank. The 2026 requirements include important updates from previous years.
Clinical faculty considering promotion in the upcoming July 1, 2026 cycle are encouraged to review the new requirements and connect with their Site Head or Supervisor to discuss readiness. The submission deadline to the department is March 15, 2026.
View the updated Clinical Faculty Promotion Requirements
|
World Cancer Day: Spotlight on AI-Driven Cancer Research at UBC
In recognition of World Cancer Day, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada highlighted the work of Dr. Ali Bashashati, Associate Professor at UBC in the School of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Director of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research at OVCARE, for his leadership in advancing cancer detection and treatment through artificial intelligence.
Dr. Bashashati and his team are using AI to improve screening methods for ovarian, endometrial, prostate, and other cancers, while also supporting the development of more precise, personalized treatment approaches. This work is supported through the federal Research for Our Future program, which funds bold research ideas and helps translate them into real-world health solutions.
Meet Ali Bashashati
|
New Publication: Advancing Understanding of Hodgkin Lymphoma
Dr. Christian Steidl, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and his team have published new research on Hodgkin lymphoma in Cancer Discovery. The study reflects a collaborative effort involving researchers across multiple institutions.
The work shows that classic Hodgkin lymphoma is not a single disease, but consists of biologically distinct subtypes driven by different genetic changes and immune interactions—findings that have important implications for understanding tumour behaviour and improving treatment strategies.
Congratulations to all team members involved on this important publication.
Read more about the study
|
Clinical Biochemistry Editorial Highlights Planetary Health in Laboratory Medicine
A newly published editorial in Clinical Biochemistry by Dr. Andre Mattman, Clinical Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC and Dr. Janet Simons examines the role of clinical laboratories in supporting both patient health and planetary health, and encourages reflection on how laboratory practices influence long-term health outcomes.
The editorial explores how test utilization, diagnostic decision-making, and laboratory systems contribute not only to individual patient care, but also to broader environmental and societal determinants of health. It invites laboratory professionals to consider sustainability as part of high-quality, responsible clinical practice.
Using the concept of a future Patient Advocate Virtual (PAV), the authors offer a forward-looking perspective on how present-day laboratory decisions may affect the health of future generations.
Read the editorial in Clinical Biochemistry
Explore the full Clinical Biochemistry theme issue on Planetary Health
|
Recent Publications
Dr. Eugene Yeung, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC, has published three abstracts in the January 2026 supplement of Open Forum Infectious Diseases, focusing on diagnostic approaches and pathogen detection in gastrointestinal infections.
-
Yeung E. A Practical Antibiogram for Community-Acquired Gastroenteritis in British Columbia, Canada.
View abstract
-
Yeung E. Increased detection of Clostridioides difficile in adults’ stool specimens with multiplex infectious diarrhea panel nucleic-acid amplification testing.
View abstract
-
Yeung E. Increased detection of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli in adults’ stool specimens with multiplex infectious diarrhea panel nucleic-acid amplification testing.
View abstract
Congratulations to Dr. Yeung on these contributions to clinical microbiology and infectious disease diagnostics.
|
John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) – June 2026 Competition
Information is now available for the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) Unaffiliated competition for the June 2026 submission cycle. JELF supports the acquisition of research infrastructure and equipment, with provincial matching through the BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF).
Faculty members interested in applying must submit a UBC Notice of Intent (NOI) to help the Institutional Programs Office (IPO plan internal review and support. The NOI deadline is March 31, 2026. For projects involving renovations or construction, the NOI deadline is March 2, 2026.
Applicants should also note that CFI Research Security requirements now apply to all unaffiliated JELF applications and must be completed in the CFI Awards Management System (CAMS).
John R. Evans Leaders Fund – program overview and internal timelines
Submit the UBC Notice of Intent (NOI)
Renovation and Infrastructure Cost Estimates (RICE) tool
Register for the CFI Awards Management System (CAMS)
The IPO team is available to meet with applicants to discuss eligibility, timelines, and submission requirements. For assistance, contact ipo.admin@ubc.ca.
|
2026 Wall Fellowships and Wall Research Awards Now Open
The 2026 Wall Fellowships and Wall Research Awards competitions are now open. These awards support research and scholarly activities focused on sustainability, with an emphasis on British Columbia and relevance to broader Canadian and international contexts.
The current areas of focus include sustainable urban development (such as water, energy, and transportation infrastructure), environmental protection of oceans and waterfronts, and sustainable approaches to resource-intensive industries.
Faculty Awards
Graduate Student Awards
- Wall Research Awards for graduate students valued at $25,000–$30,000 per year.
Full application deadline: March 31, 2026
The Wall awards are collectively valued at approximately $4 million annually and are made possible through the generosity of Dr. Peter Wall.
Visit the Wall Legacy Awards website for full details and past award recipients
|
Funding Opportunities, New Awards & Cancer Research News
The latest newsletter from the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) highlights a wide range of upcoming funding opportunities, new award programs, research features, and events relevant to the cancer research community.
Highlights include team grants focused on cancer survivorship, new CIHR–ARCC research awards, CIHR Project Grant priority announcements, early career and trainee opportunities, and upcoming webinars, conferences, and deadlines.
View the full ICR newsletter: Funding Opportunities, New Awards & News
|
Weekly Province-wide Pathology Rounds
Friday, February 6, 2026 — Province-Wide Pathology Rounds (12:00 noon – 1:00 pm)
Please join us for Province-wide Pathology Rounds featuring a presentation by:
Dr. Stuart Turvey
Learning from Our Patients: Discovery of New Human Inborn Errors of Immunity
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the spectrum of human inborn errors of immunity.
- Assess how primary atopic disorders represent a key subgroup of inborn errors of immunity.
- Understand some of the molecular mechanisms underlying newly discovered primary atopic disorders.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Stuart Turvey, MBBS, DPhil, FRCPC is a Pediatric Clinical Immunologist, a Professor of Pediatrics at The University of British Columbia, and holder of the Tier1 Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Precision Health.
As a practicing pediatric immunologist based at BC Children’s Hospital, Dr. Turvey’s research program responds to major challenges in contemporary pediatric medicine. Specifically, his research focuses on childhood immune deficiency diseases and disorders of immune dysfunction including asthma, allergies, and autoimmunity.
Dr. Turvey is internationally recognized for his research in developing precision health-based strategies to address childhood asthma and pediatric immune system disorders, and he is a highly effective mentor for the next generation of child health clinician-scientists.
Date & Time:
Friday, February 6, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Reminder: When you receive a meeting invitation in Outlook that you plan to attend (or tentatively attend), please click “Accept” so it appears in your calendar. This ensures you’ll receive any updates or changes to the meeting such as time adjustments, Zoom details, or agenda updates.
Zoom Access
- Go to ubc.zoom.us and click “Join a Meeting”
- Meeting ID: 661 1423 1597
- Passcode: 564976
- Meeting link: Join via Zoom
- Dial-in option: +1 778 907 2071 (long-distance charges may apply)
🔁 Missed a session? View recordings of previous rounds here:
Past Rounds Archive
💡 Have ideas for future rounds or speakers?
We’d love to hear from you! Email us at
pathassist@pathology.ubc.ca
|
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
|
📣 Have News to Share?
Do you have a story, publication, award, event, or other exciting update to share with the UBC Pathology community?
We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to Debbie Bertanjoli at
dbertanjoli@pathology.ubc.ca.
Let’s celebrate our collective achievements and keep our community connected!
|
|
|
|
|
