Faculty Spotlight: Darren Mullane

Faculty Spotlight: Darren Mullane

The Faculty & Trainee Spotlight Series shines a light on the incredible people who make up the heart of UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Amidst the remarkable achievements and developments within the department, it is a pleasure to share the stories of the dynamic trainees and faculty who bring passion, curiosity, and insight that drive the areas of anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics forward. 

Meet Dr. Darren Mullane! 

Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor 

SiteVancouver General Hospital (VGH) 

Dr. Mullane completed his anesthesia training (FCAI) and ICU training (JFICMI) in Ireland, followed by two years of subspecialty training in cardiothoracic anesthesia in Dublin and cardiac anesthesia in Canada. His fellowship in Canada ultimately led to a staff position at VGH, where he joined an environment well aligned with his interests in cardiac anesthesia and critical care. These interests have since evolved into his current role as Medical Director of the Cardiac Surgery ICU at VGH. 


“It’s an environment [VGH] where you’re always learning and every day can be a school day!”  

— Dr. Darren Mullane, Clinical Assistant Professor; UBC 


What do you find most rewarding about your work? 

The collegial culture at VGH is one of its greatest strengths. We care for a wide range of complex patients, and there is always someone available and willing to discuss cases and share perspectives. Our group benefits from a strong mix of experience alongside colleagues fresh from fellowship, which helps continuously evolve and improve care. It’s an environment where you’re always learning and every day can be a school day! 

What drew you to anesthesiology/pharmacology/therapeutics as a specialty or area of research? 

I initially had my sights set on a career in surgery. Fortunately, in Ireland we didn’t have to commit to a specialty until after completing rotations in both medicine and surgery after graduation. During my time in the operating room, I was consistently struck by my anesthesia colleagues’ ability to resuscitate critically ill patients while staying calm under pressure. They had a great understanding of respiratory and cardiac physiology and, despite my many distracting questions, were always happy to teach. That’s really what drew me in, and I haven’t looked back since. 

What have you learned from working with residents and students that has surprised or inspired you? 

I really enjoy working with residents and students, as they help keep me current. Medicine is constantly evolving, and I value hearing about their experiences on recent rotations and the pathologies they’ve encountered, particularly those I haven’t revisited in some time. 

If you weren’t in this field, what do you think you’d be doing instead? 

Likely engineering — I’ve always been drawn to understanding how things work and the systems behind them. 


Research in Focus: Olumuyiwa Bamgbade 

Research in Focus shines a light on the innovative studies and discoveries taking shape across the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Through each feature, we celebrate the minds driving meaningful change in research, education, and clinical practice across anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics.   

For Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, chronic pain clinics are about more than managing symptoms—they play a vital role in protecting both individual patients and the communities around them through risk management.  

Dr. Bamgbade’s research explores how these clinics mitigate social risks related to substance misuse, particularly in contexts like driving, family life, and workplace safety. 

Drawing on an observational study of over 1,200 patients receiving care, Dr. Bamgbade and his team found that pain clinics are often at the front lines of identifying and responding to these broader safety concerns. Some patients received targeted support to ensure they could drive safely, care for their families, or perform their jobs without risk to themselves or others. The study also revealed important patterns in who received different types of support, highlighting how factors like age and gender can shape both risk and care needs.  

Thus, chronic pain clinics are not just places of treatment, but contributors to public safety and social well-being.  


“I hope this work will encourage clinicians to view chronic pain care more broadly, not only as symptom control but also as a driver of safety, function, and prevention.”  

 Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, Clinical Associate Professor; UBC 


Meet Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade! 

SiteSurrey Pain Clinic 

Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor   

Dr. Bamgbade’s academic journey spans continents, beginning with medical school in Nigeria and continuing through residency training in the United Kingdom, academic work in the United States, fellowship training in South Korea, and ongoing clinical research in Canada. Along the way, he has trained and worked across diverse health systems, gaining experience in anesthesiology, pain medicine, perioperative care, intensive care, palliative care, and clinical teaching. 

These global experiences have shaped a broad, comparative perspective on patient care, health equity, and health system performance, while deepening his commitment to practical, clinically relevant research. Today, this international foundation informs his work as a UBC clinical researcher, where he focuses on advancing evidence-based care, driving innovation, and improving real-world health outcomes. 


What drew you to this particular research question or problem? 

I was drawn to this research problem by seeing how chronic pain and substance misuse affect far more than symptoms alone. They shape driving safety, family stability, workplace function, and public risk. I wanted to show that chronic pain clinics do not only treat individuals. They also protect families, communities, and society. 

How does this project fit into your broader research interests or goals? 

This project fits my broader research goals by advancing my focus on value-based, real-world health care research that improves both patient outcomes and societal well-being. It reflects my interest in pain medicine, safety, health systems, and public health. Furthermore, it supports my goal of generating practical evidence demonstrating how clinical services can deliver wider benefits to patients, families, workplaces, and communities. 

What impact do you hope this work will have on clinical practice, education, or society in general? 

I hope this work will encourage clinicians to view chronic pain care more broadly, not only as symptom control but also as a driver of safety, function, and prevention. In education, I hope it strengthens training on the social and public health impact of pain medicine. In society, I hope it shows that effective pain clinics can protect families, improve workplace safety, support safer driving, and reduce wider harm linked to pain and substance misuse. 

What’s one thing you hope people will take away from this study? 

I hope people take away that chronic pain clinics do far more than treat pain. When they deliver safe, value-based, and comprehensive care, they also improve public safety, protect families, support workplace function, and reduce broader social harm linked to pain and substance misuse. 


Read the full publication: Pain Clinic and Societal Safety: Promoting Road Safety, Family
Well-being, Workplace Safety, and Risk Management


Dr. Judith Anne Dowd passed away on November 15, 2025 

Our department is saddened by the passing of Dr. Judith Anne Dowd on November 15, 2025.

Born in Osgoode, Ontario, Dr. Dowd was a long-time resident of Vancouver. She followed her father’s footsteps and pursued a career in medicine and graduated from Queen’s School of Medicine, specializing in Anesthesiology. Judy had an uncommon intellect and very good aptitude with patients; she found the work challenging and rewarding. She spent her career at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she mentored many junior staff and earned the enduring respect of her peers. 

Post-retirement, she pursued interests including birdwatching and nature travel. Judy travelled frequently with groups to see the wildlife in places such as Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, India, Chile, Costa Rica, and Belize. She will be remembered by her family for always providing a loving home environment, particularly for the holidays, and for being a great support and confidant. She was also an incredible character with a laugh that would be sorely missed.


Obituaryhttps://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/judith-anne-dowd-1093355054 

Dr. Laine Bosma Appointed as the Department’s Representative in the Faculty of Medicine’s Clinical Faculty Advisory Committee (CFAC) 

Congratulations to Dr. Laine Bosma for being appointed as the Department of Anesthesiology’s Representative on the Faculty of Medicine’s Clinical Faculty Advisory Committee (CFAC) 

The Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Laine Bosma, Clinical Associate Professor as our new representative on the Faculty of Medicine’s Clinical Faculty Advisory Committee (CFAC) starting July 1, 2026. Dr. Bosma succeeds Dr. Matthew Klas, who has served in the role since July 2023 and who has now transitioned into his new position as Department Head for St. Paul’s Hospital Anesthesia effective January 1, 2026. 


About the Clinical Faculty Advisory Committee (CFAC) 

The Clinical Faculty Advisory Committee (CFAC) is the key advisory body within the Faculty of Medicine that provides guidance to the Dean on matters related to Clinical Faculty. The committee brings together representatives from across programs and regions to strengthen collaboration, support interprofessional engagement, and enhance the partnership between Clinical Faculty and the Faculty. 

 CFAC also serves as a crucial communication forum, facilitating conversation between Clinical Faculty and leadership, offering input to the Director of Clinical Faculty Affairs, and liaising with other academic and administrative committees. Through its work, the committee helps ensure that the perspectives of Clinical Faculty are reflected in decision-making processes, while reporting annually to the Faculty Executive Committee. 

Trainee Spotlight: Shams T. Osman

The Faculty & Trainee Spotlight Series shines a light on the incredible people who make up the heart of UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Amidst the remarkable achievements and developments within the department, it is a pleasure to share the stories of the dynamic trainees and faculty who bring passion, curiosity, and insight that drive the areas of anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics forward. 

For Shams T. Osman, improving medication usage in long-term care is both a research focus and a meaningful personal goal. Her work centers on ensuring that medication use among older adults is safer, more appropriate, and aligned with what matters most to residents. 

From Egypt to Vancouver, Shams Osman’s research focuses on strengthening medication management practices in long-term care settings, with a particular emphasis on promoting more intentional and patient-centered approaches to medication use and resident care.  

She is working to identify priority areas for optimizing medication use through a structured consensus process that engages healthcare providers, decision-makers, residents, and caregivers. At the same time, she is examining current medication management practices, including prescribing, reviewing, dispensing, and administration through a rapid literature review and interviews with key stakeholders. 

By integrating these approaches, Osman’s work seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of both current practices and areas of improvement. This dual perspective ensures that future interventions are not only evidence-based, but also practical, contextually relevant, and grounded in real-world practice. Ultimately, her research aims to support safer and more deliberate medication use among residents in long-term care. 


“I hope this research can support more practical and context-aware approaches to optimizing care. Ultimately, the goal is not just to reduce medications, but to ensure that each one is meaningful, appropriate, and aligned with what matters most for residents.” 

— Shams T. Osman, PhD Candidate; UBC


Meet Shams T. Osman! 

Role: PhD Candidate; Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, UBC

Site: UBC Vancouver  

Shams T. Osman is a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia whose research focuses on bridging the gap between evidence-based medication practices and their implementation in long-term care settings.  

She spent the past few years in Egypt completing her undergraduate and master’s degrees in pharmaceutical sciences at Alexandria UniversityDuring her master’s, she led a cohort study investigating the neuroprotective effects of newer antidiabetic medications. For Shams, this experience truly highlighted the challenges of polypharmacy and reinforced the importance of optimizing medication use, particularly in older adults. 

Motivated by these insights, she pursued further research in this area, leading her to University of British Columbia. Her current work builds on this foundation, focusing on developing practical, context-aware strategies to improve medication management in long-term care settings. 


What impact do you hope this work will have on clinical practice, education, or society in general?

I hope this work helps shift the conversation around medication use in long-term care toward more thoughtful, patient-centered decision-making. In practice, residents are often on multiple medications, sometimes more than 10, and it’s not always clear which ones are still providing benefit. By identifying priority areas and better understanding how medications are prescribed, reviewed, dispensed, and managed in long-term care, I hope this research can support more practical and context-aware approaches to optimizing care. Ultimately, the goal is not just to reduce medications, but to ensure that each one is meaningful, appropriate, and aligned with what matters most for residents.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy the most?

Outside of work, I’ve been really enjoying exploring Vancouver as a family, especially through my little one’s eyes. Moving countries is a big change and doing it with a child somehow makes everything feel more intentional. Even simple things like being outdoors feel more special. Coming from Egypt, the change in scenery has been pretty striking, from a very different climate and landscape to all the greenery here. It’s been a really nice way to take it all in. 

What’s been the most rewarding moment in your research journey so far?

One of the most rewarding moments in my research journey so far was giving my first oral presentation at an international conference. I remember feeling really nervous beforehand, but once I started, it turned into a mix of adrenaline and excitement. It was the first time my work felt truly “out there,” and being able to share it with people from different backgrounds, and hear their questions and perspectives, was a really memorable experience. It made all the effort behind the scenes feel worth it. 


Read full publication here: Repurposing of Novel Antidiabetic Drugs to Mitigate Mild Cognitive Impairment in Diabetic Patients on Metformin: Proteomics, Target Identification, and Molecular Docking 


Congratulations To Our Spring 2026 MSc and PhD Graduates

Tuum Est. It is Yours. 

Graduation marks both an end and an exciting new beginning. From neuronal regeneration to respiratory disease, our Spring 2026 MSc and PhD graduates represent the depth and breadth of the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics.  

We are proud to celebrate this important milestone and the journeys ahead as they carry their knowledge and training into new paths. These scholars have enriched our community, the fields of anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics, and we look forward to how they will continue to shape the world around them.  

Meet the Class of 2026 and learn more about their research.


MSc Graduate

Arezoo Assadinia 

Research Area: Neuropharmacology and Neuroregeneration

MSc Thesis: Screening for axon regeneration promoters in injured hiPSC-derived cortical neurons 

Citation: Arezoo Assadinia’s thesis investigates molecular and pharmacological candidates that promote axon regeneration in injured human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)-derived cortical neurons. Through systematic screening approaches, the study identifies key pathways and compounds that enhance neuronal repair, contributing to the development of therapeutic strategies for central nervous system injuries and neurodegenerative conditions. 


PhD Graduates

Dr. Zeren Sun

Research Area: Muscle Dystrophy and Therapeutics

PhD Dissertation: Dyslipidemia in Muscular Dystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

Citation:  Dr. Sun’s research explores mechanisms underlying neurological disease progression, with a focus on identifying molecular and cellular factors contributing to neurodegeneration. Through experimental and analytical approaches, the study advances understanding of disease pathology and highlights potential targets for therapeutic intervention in neurological disorders.


Dr. Najmeh Assadinia

Research Area: Respiratory Disease Pathobiology

PhD Dissertation: Investigating the spatial pathology of fibrosis and inflammation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis  

Citation: Dr. Assadinia’s thesis focuses on the spatial characterization of fibrosis and inflammation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Using advanced imaging and molecular analysis techniques, the work examines how fibrotic and inflammatory processes are distributed and interact within lung tissue. The findings provide new insights into disease progression and heterogeneity in IPF, highlighting potential spatial biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improved diagnosis and treatment. 


We are proud of them and the impact they are making at UBC and beyond.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Faculty Spotlight: Ilana Sebbag

The Faculty & Trainee Spotlight Series shines a light on the incredible people who make up the heart of UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Amidst the remarkable achievements and developments within the department, it is a pleasure to share the stories of the dynamic trainees and faculty who bring passion, curiosity, and insight that drive the areas of anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics forward. 

Meet Dr. Ilana Sebbag! 

Rank: Clinical Associate Professor 

Site: BC Women’s Hospital

Dr. Ilana Sebbag began her career in Brazil, where she completed her MD and residency in Anesthesiology at the University of São Paulo. Early in her career, she balanced dual roles as a staff anesthesiologist and a military physician in the Brazilian Air Force, experiences that helped shape both her clinical expertise and sense of purpose. Driven to deepen her subspecialty training, she moved to Canada, where she completed fellowships in Obstetric and Regional Anesthesia at the University of British Columbia. 

Her academic path continued at McMaster University, where graduate training in Clinical Epidemiology strengthened her research foundation and sharpened her approach to evidence-based care. Through faculty appointments at Western University and now UBC, Dr. Sebbag has woven together clinical practice in obstetric anesthesia with research leadership, teaching, and mentorship. These experiences have collectively shaped her identity as a clinician-educator and investigator dedicated to advancing maternal–fetal health. 


“Teaching is not only about transferring expertise, but about shaping thoughtful, reflective, and humane physicians.”  

— Dr. Ilana Sebbag, Clinical Associate Professor, UBC 


How did your career path lead you to UBC and to your current position? 

My career path has been shaped by a longstanding commitment to obstetric anesthesia and academic medicine. After completing my medical degree and anesthesiology training in Brazil, I pursued fellowship training in obstetric and regional anesthesia at UBC, which first introduced me to the academic and collaborative environment in Canada. I subsequently built my academic career at Western University, where I developed my research program, took on leadership roles in fellowship education and obstetric anesthesia research, and advanced to Associate Professor. Returning to UBC and BC Women’s Hospital felt like a natural progression, bringing together my subspecialty expertise, research focus in maternal–fetal health, and commitment to education within a leading centre for obstetric care. 

What have you learned from working with residents and students that has surprised or inspired you? 

Working with residents and students has deepened my appreciation for how formative and vulnerable the learning process in medicine can be. In obstetric anesthesia, we care for both mother and baby in time-sensitive, emotionally charged situations. I have learned that, beyond technical skills, learners need psychological safety, validation, and space to reflect. 

What has inspired me most is witnessing their growth not only in competence but also in compassion. Debriefing after challenging cases often reveals insight, empathy, and self-awareness that go far beyond clinical knowledge. These moments remind me that teaching is not only about transferring expertise but also about shaping thoughtful, reflective, and humane physicians. 

What do you find most rewarding about your work? 

What I find most rewarding about my work is the privilege of caring for patients during one of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments of their lives. In obstetric anesthesia, we support both mother and baby, often in situations that are urgent and emotionally intense. Being able to relieve pain, provide reassurance, and contribute to a safe delivery is deeply fulfilling. 

Equally rewarding is teaching in that environment—watching learners grow in confidence, technical skill, and empathy. Seeing a resident evolve into a thoughtful, compassionate clinician reminds me that our impact extends far beyond a single clinical encounter. 

What’s one piece of advice you received early in your career that has stayed with you? 

Early in my career, someone told me, “Never give up.” At the time, I did not fully appreciate how often I would need that advice. Moving countries, retraining, rebuilding credentials, facing research setbacks, and balancing professional and personal responsibilities all required resilience. There were moments of doubt and exhaustion, but persistence carried me through. 

I learned that growth rarely happens in a straight line—it happens through sustained effort, humility, and the willingness to keep going even when the path feels uncertain. That lesson has shaped not only my career but also how I encourage my trainees when they face their own challenges. 


Research in Focus: Matthew Wiens 

Research in Focus shines a light on the innovative studies and discoveries taking shape across the UBC Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Through each feature, we celebrate the minds driving meaningful change in research, education, and clinical practice across anesthesiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics. 

For Dr. Matthew Wiens, care doesn’t end at the hospital door—it continues in the communities where patients return. 

Over the past 13 years, Dr. Wiens has led the development and implementation of a series of studies focused on deriving and validating clinical prediction models for post-discharge mortality among children with sepsis in East Africa. His research has contributed to a growing understanding of how risk can be identified early and acted upon effectively in low-resource settings. 

He leads the Smart Discharges digital health research program, an initiative designed to improve patient outcomes by identifying vulnerable individuals and strengthening the transition from facility-based care to community-based support following discharge. Through this work, he aims to ensure that high-risk patients do not fall through the cracks once they leave the hospital. 

Building on this foundation, his latest project, REConeCteD: Risk Enhanced Community Care after Discharge, advances a risk-differentiated care approach. By digitally linking facility-based and community-based health systems, the project enables personalized health education and targeted follow-up plans tailored to each patient’s risk profile and co-morbidities—bringing continuity of care beyond the hospital and into the community. 


“REConneCteD represents a new model for pediatric care—one that recognizes recovery does not end at the hospital door, but continues in the communities where children and families live, supported by technology that connects all parts of the healthcare system.”  

— Dr. Matthew Wiens, Assistant Professor; UBC, Researcher; BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute 


Meet Matthew Wiens! 

SiteBC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) 

Rank: Assistant Professor; UBC, Researcher; BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute 

Dr. Matthew Wiens is a global health researcher dedicated to improving sepsis outcomes in resource-limited settings. His work sits at the intersection of clinical epidemiology, prediction modelling, and digital health, where he focuses on developing practical, data-driven solutions to address critical gaps in care. 

Dr. Wiens spent six years of his training, which included a PhD in Epidemiology at UBC, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at UBC and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, living and working in Uganda. Immersion in local health systems fostered a deep and continually evolving understanding of the complexity and nuance required to achieve sustainable change in resource-limited settings. 

These experiences ultimately shaped his commitment to working within existing systems and workflows. Today, Dr. Wiens is driven by a passion for embedding risk-differentiated care approaches into clinical practice, approaches that support more informed decision-making and more effective resource allocation, with the goal of improving outcomes for children with sepsis. 


What drew you to this particular research question or problem? 

When children in East Africa recover from serious infections and leave the hospital, their journey to full health is far from over. Many of these children face a dangerous period after discharge—they remain at high risk of becoming sick again or even dying from recurring infections. Families encounter numerous barriers to caring for their child at home and are often left to navigate this high-risk period on their own, sometimes with devastating consequences. In countries such as Uganda, there have been concerted efforts to strengthen referral systems and better connect community care to facility-based care; however, the reverse is not true. Once a child is discharged from the hospital, there are often insufficient resources or strategies in place to inform home communities of the need for follow-up care. 

How does this project fit into your broader research interests or goals? 

The goal of the Smart Discharges and REConneCteD projects is to identify and prioritize children at the highest risk, emphasize the importance of healthy behaviors at home, support timely care-seeking, and maintain connections to the healthcare system. One way this has been facilitated is through the introduction of the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS)—a mobile application developed by the Ministries of Health in several African countries to digitize community health services. 

By digitally linking eCHIS with a child’s electronic health record, REConneCteD helps ensure that the most at-risk children are reconnected with community health workers for follow-up after discharge. It also provides information and education to health workers, community health workers, and caregivers on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood diseases. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, the system enables more personalized care, ensuring that children at highest risk receive the greatest attention and resources. 

What impact do you hope this work will have on clinical practice, education, or society in general? 

REConneCteD represents a new model for pediatric care—one that recognizes recovery does not end at the hospital door, but continues in the communities where children and families live, supported by technology that connects all parts of the healthcare system. 

At its core, the program creates a digital bridge between hospitals and community health workers. When a child is discharged, their information and care plan are securely shared with community health workers through connected digital systems, enabling timely and coordinated follow-up. 

REConneCteD aims to transform post-discharge care by strengthening community health services, reducing the burden on families who face barriers to accessing follow-up care, and creating feedback loops that help hospitals continuously improve their services. By linking facility- and community-based care through digital tools, the program works to ensure that no child falls through the cracks during the vulnerable period after hospitalization. 

What’s one thing you hope people will take away from this work? 

The post-discharge period remains an overlooked and highly vulnerable time for children recovering from sepsis. However, by using simple risk-prediction tools, strengthening digital linkages across health systems, connecting patients to existing services, and ensuring comprehensive caregiver counselling, we can go a long way toward improving outcomes for these children. 


Brandon Kohlen and Ryan Loke Awarded Dr. K. Leighton Pharmacology and Therapeutics Graduate Award 

Congratulations to Brandon Kohlen and Ryan Loke, this year’s recipients of the Dr. K. Leighton Pharmacology and Therapeutics Graduate Award! Each have been awarded $700 through an endowment established by APT professors emeriti in recognition of their outstanding progress and productivity in their studies and careers. 


Brandon Kohlen 

Brandon is a PhD candidate under the supervision of Dr. Tillie Hackett. 

Patients with systemic sclerosis experience progressive scarring of the skin and vital organs, particularly the lungs, which can lead to respiratory failure and premature death. Brandon’s research investigates platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling in fibroblasts (the key cells responsible for producing scar tissue) to understand why fibroblast processes become dysregulated. By identifying the molecular drivers of fibrosis, he aims to advance more precise therapeutic strategies that can slow disease progression, alleviate patient symptoms, and improve quality of life. 

“The Dr. K. Leighton Graduate Award will support my participation in the European Respiratory Society conference, enabling me to share my research and engage with researchers and clinicians working with systemic sclerosis patients.” 


Ryan Loke  

Ryan Loke is a PhD candidate under the supervision of Dr. John (Kip) Kramer. His research investigates how chronic pain reshapes the brain—specifically, how it alters brain structure across multiple chronic pain conditions at a large scale. Currently, he is leading the largest cross-condition neuroanatomical individual participant data meta-analysis in chronic pain to date. Ryan is motivated by the reality that chronic pain is often an invisible condition—one that profoundly affects quality of life yet remains poorly understood and undertreated. He believes that mapping its neuroanatomical signature is a meaningful step toward a better understanding of this pathology. 

“This award will support my attendance at the International Association for the Study of Pain 2026 World Congress on Pain in Thailand, where I plan to present findings from my ongoing research and engage with the international pain science community. As I approach the later years of my doctorate, this congress represents a valuable opportunity to disseminate my work, strengthen existing international collaborations, and explore the next steps in my research career.” 

Dr. Jason Chui Awarded $250k in Seed Funding for the PRIME Program at VGH 

Congratulations to Dr. Jason Chui on being awarded $250,000 in seed funding from the VGH Foundation to support the development of the PRIME (Perioperative Research in Brain Integrity, Mental Health, and Engineering) program at Vancouver General Hospital! 

Since joining the UBC department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Therapeutics, Dr. Chui, an anesthesiologist at VGH and UBC, and recognized researcher and leader in neuroanesthesia, has been actively building new research infrastructure and expanding the department’s work in perioperative neuroscience. Building on the research initiatives and collaborations he developed during his time at Western University, Jason is now leading the development of the PRIME (Perioperative Research in Brain Integrity, Mental Health, and Engineering) program at VGH. This foundational investment will help establish the infrastructure needed to launch several cutting-edge research initiatives within the department. 

The PRIME initiative is highly innovative, bringing together advanced technologies and rigorously designed clinical trials to deepen our understanding of perioperative brain health and mental health outcomes following surgery. 


Dr. Jason Chui on the PRIME Program 

What excites you most about the PRIME program? 

I’m incredibly excited to launch the PRIME (Perioperative Research in Brain Integrity, Mental Health, and Engineering) research program at Vancouver General Hospital. This initiative is about bringing together clinical care, neuroscience, and emerging technologies to better understand and protect the brain and mental health of patients undergoing surgery. 

What impact do you hope the program will have on perioperative brain and mental health research? 

What motivates us most is the opportunity to close the gap between innovation and real-world patient care—developing tools and evidence that can directly improve brain function and mental health in the perioperative setting. 

How do you see the program benefiting patients, trainees, or the broader research community? 

Through PRIME, we hope to build a collaborative platform that not only advances research but also trains the next generation of clinicians and scientists that ultimately translates into meaningful improvements in patient experience and perioperative outcomes. 


Further details about the program and upcoming projects are expected to come out later this year. In the meantime, you may notice colleagues experimenting with Apple Vision goggles or wearing gel in their hair as some of the new technologies are being piloted; indicative of the exciting signs of the advancements being made!