University Of British Columbia

This study looks at whether women living with HIV can get the same protection from the HPV vaccine with 2 doses instead of the usual 3. Researchers will compare immune responses in 275 Canadian women aged 18-45 who have never received the HPV vaccine. If 2 doses work as well, it …

This study compares two forms of iron (ferrous fumarate and ferrous bisglycinate) in prenatal supplements to see which one boosts iron stores better and causes fewer stomach issues. About 172 healthy pregnant women in Vancouver will take one of the two types daily from mid-pregna…

This study tests ST-02, a gel-like chemotherapy placed directly into the kidney, to treat low-grade upper urinary tract cancer. About 70 adults with small, low-grade tumors will receive six weekly doses. The goal is to see if the treatment can destroy the tumors and keep them awa…

This study tests if doing many short, one-minute exercise sessions throughout the day (called 'exercise snacks') can improve fitness and health in adults with obesity. Researchers will enroll 80 inactive adults aged 35-64 with a BMI of 30-45. The goal is to see if this approach i…

This study tests whether adding a special diet (the Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet, or CDED) to standard infliximab therapy helps children with Crohn's disease achieve better control of their condition. About 140 children starting infliximab will be randomly assigned to receive e…

This study looks at whether giving iron supplements to children with low iron before hip surgery can reduce the need for blood transfusions and improve recovery. The trial involves 180 children aged 0-18 who are scheduled for specific hip surgeries, many of whom have cerebral pal…

This study tests whether a non-invasive spinal cord stimulation device can help people with chronic spinal cord injury improve autonomic functions like blood pressure, bladder, bowel, and sexual control. About 30 adults with complete paralysis at or above T6 will receive targeted…

This study is testing whether a 6-month program combining exercise, mindfulness training, and nutrition guidance can improve thinking, movement, sleep, and overall health in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will also look at changes in inflammation, gut bacteria, and …

This study tests a program called AHEAD that helps young people aged 16-19 with type 1 diabetes improve their blood sugar control as they move from pediatric to adult care. About 306 participants will either get usual care or the AHEAD program, which offers tailored support to bu…

This study compares two surgical sling procedures for stress urinary incontinence (leaking urine with activity) in women aged 60 and older. One uses a synthetic mesh tape, the other uses the patient's own tissue. Researchers will check for new pelvic pain at 6 months and cure rat…

This study will test whether people with Parkinson's disease can stick to a Mediterranean-style diet for 18 months and whether it helps their gut health and symptoms. About 40 participants without dementia will be randomly assigned to either the special diet or a standard diet. R…

This study aims to find a non-invasive way to predict uterine cancer risk in people with abnormal bleeding. About 1,000 participants will fill out a health questionnaire and some will provide self-collected vaginal samples for genetic and microbiome testing. The goal is to see if…

This study tests whether a 6-month online educational program called Brain Health PRO can help people at risk for dementia make lasting lifestyle changes—like improving diet, exercise, sleep, and social connections. About 700 Canadian adults with mild memory concerns or risk fact…

This study tests whether drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice helps people with fibrotic interstitial lung disease exercise longer. Fifteen participants will compare beetroot juice to a placebo juice during cycling tests. The goal is to see if this simple dietary addition can imp…

This study tests whether a noninvasive spinal cord stimulation device can safely improve bladder, bowel, sexual, and heart function in people with spinal cord injury. About 60 veterans in Canada and Ukraine will receive either real or sham stimulation alongside standard rehab. Th…

This study tests whether virtual reality (VR) can help people with vaginismus, a condition where pelvic floor muscles tighten involuntarily, making vaginal penetration painful or impossible. The idea is that gradual VR exposure to feared situations may reduce the phobic response.…

This study looks at whether a 6-week pelvic floor muscle training program is practical and helpful for people with spinal cord injury during inpatient rehab. Researchers want to see if it can improve bladder, bowel, and sexual function and quality of life. About 50 adults with sp…

This study explores whether listening to personalized music can help reduce apathy (lack of motivation and emotion) in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will use brain scans to understand how music affects the brain's reward and motivation centers. Fifty participants w…

This study explores whether a combination of psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) and talk therapy can help adults with chronic pain safely reduce or stop their opioid painkillers. Ten participants will receive one or two guided therapy sessions over 8 weeks, wit…

This study tests whether health coaching can help older adults with limited mobility become more physically active. About 290 participants will either receive coaching or general health education. The goal is to see if coaching improves their ability to move and reduces sedentary…

This study looks at whether simply monitoring babies with mild hip dysplasia is as effective as using a brace. About 514 babies under 3 months old from seven countries will be randomly assigned to either bracing or observation. The goal is to see if careful monitoring can avoid u…

This study looks at whether a twice-weekly exercise program can improve sleep quality in people who had a stroke at least a year ago and currently have poor sleep. About 62 adults aged 55 and older will take part in a 6-month program. The goal is to see if exercise helps with sle…

This study explores whether a 3-month pelvic floor muscle training program is practical and beneficial for people with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury. Researchers will track how many people join and stick with the program, any side effects, and whether it improves bladder, b…

This study tests a mobile app designed to help adults with eating disorders stay motivated and ready for treatment while they are on a waitlist. About 74 people will either use the app for four weeks or continue waiting as usual. Researchers will check if the app improves motivat…

This study tests whether a daily probiotic supplement can reduce depression in people with Parkinson's disease. Sixty adults aged 40–80 with mild to moderate Parkinson's and depression will take either a multi-strain probiotic or a placebo for 12 weeks. Researchers will measure c…

This study is testing an online program called eSense-Cancer to help people who have had gynecologic cancer with sexual health concerns. About 60 participants will use the program and report changes in sexual distress and satisfaction. The goal is to see if this online tool can p…

This study tests whether a short course of prednisone, an anti-inflammatory medication, can help treat complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) early after a wrist fracture. About 40 adults who had wrist surgery and are at risk for CRPS will receive either prednisone or a placebo fo…

This study tests an online program called STEP for couples who are distressed by having different levels of sexual desire. About 216 couples will be randomly assigned to a therapist-guided version, a self-guided version, or a waitlist. The goal is to see if the program reduces di…

This study looks at how the bacteria and diet of pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may affect their baby's gut health. Researchers will collect samples from mothers and infants over one year after birth. The goal is to find patterns that could lead to better di…

This study is building a Canada-wide registry of people who come to emergency departments after an opioid overdose. Researchers will track treatments and outcomes for 7,200 patients to find the best ways to save lives and prevent future overdoses. The goal is to create a tool tha…

This study looks at whether a special breathing workout can make healthy athletes feel less breathless during exercise. Researchers will train 32 cyclists or triathletes for 5 weeks using a device that strengthens breathing muscles. The goal is to understand how this training aff…

This study aims to find out why some people have serious side effects from medicines while others don't. Researchers will collect samples from 7,000 children and adults who have had bad drug reactions, as well as those who haven't. By comparing their genes, they hope to create pe…

This study tests whether a virtual reality (VR) tool called bWell is practical and acceptable for people with major depression who have trouble with thinking and memory. Forty adults aged 19-55 will try the VR assessments and either cognitive training or VR scenes twice a week fo…

This study looks at whether a 3-month virtual program called Choose to Move Replacement Ready is practical for people waiting for hip or knee replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis. About 60 participants will answer surveys and interviews about their activity, pain, and well-b…

This study looks at whether asking new mothers simple questions within 24-48 hours after an unplanned C-section can predict if they will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to childbirth. Researchers will follow 420 participants for 3 months, comparing early scr…

This study watches the brains of 30 organ donors after they have been declared dead to make sure no brain activity or blood flow returns during a procedure that restores blood to organs for transplant. Using special monitors, researchers aim to prove that death is truly irreversi…

This study looks at whether changing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a child's breath during anesthesia affects how deeply asleep they are. Researchers will measure brain activity in 100 children aged 3-11 undergoing minor procedures. The goal is to see if higher CO2 levels…

This study looks at whether giving protein all at once (bolus) or slowly over time (continuous) helps critically ill children ages 1 to 11 maintain weight and muscle mass better. Researchers will measure arm size and thigh muscle using a tape measure and ultrasound. The goal is t…

This study looks at whether salbutamol, a common asthma medication, can improve exercise performance in non-asthmatic endurance athletes. Researchers will test if a select group of athletes with breathing limitations might benefit from the drug. The study involves 64 healthy, hig…

This study looks for genetic reasons why some people develop rare but serious side effects after COVID-19 vaccination, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, blood clotting disorders, or heart inflammation. Researchers will compare the DNA of people who had these side effects with thos…

This study is a registry that collects health information from 714 Canadian adults with severe asthma over five years. Researchers will track treatments, symptoms, and asthma attacks to learn what works best. The goal is to use this real-world data to improve care for people with…

This study tests if regular text messages can help pregnant people learn more about healthy pregnancy and make positive changes. About 3,000 participants will receive either health-promoting texts or general interest messages. Researchers will track weight gain, doctor visits, an…

This study looks at whether women need different amounts of the essential amino acid phenylalanine during their menstrual cycle. Current recommendations are based on studies in men and may not fit women's changing hormone levels. Researchers will use special diets and breath test…

This study looks at how much leucine, a key protein building block, healthy pregnant women need during early and late pregnancy. About 40 women will eat special meals and give breath, urine, and blood samples so researchers can track how their bodies use leucine. The goal is to i…

This study looks at whether 6 months of resistance exercise (like lifting weights) can improve memory and thinking in perimenopausal women aged 40-55 who are not very active and have noticed some mental fogginess. Researchers will also check if exercise helps with sleep, mood, he…

This study looks at whether simply counting daily steps can help doctors measure frailty in older adults (65+) who are in the hospital. Researchers will track 120 patients' upright time and step counts, then compare these to standard frailty scores and health outcomes like readmi…

This study is testing a genetic test in 150 children to see if it can help predict and prevent side effects from common medicines like painkillers, antibiotics, and mental health drugs. Researchers want to learn how doctors, pharmacists, and families use the test results and what…

This study is looking at 500 Canadian teens and adults who vape to see if it harms their lungs. Researchers will use new breathing tests, exercise tests, and lung scans to find early signs of damage that standard tests might miss. The goal is to give people who vape clear informa…

This study looks at whether a new counseling approach based on Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines can help physically frail older adults become more active. Researchers will compare this new method to the current one used by physiotherapists. The study involves 20 participants …

This study aims to find out if the unique mix of bacteria and fungi in the gut can predict how well a person with Crohn's disease will respond to therapy. Researchers will collect stool, blood, and tissue samples from 100 adults in British Columbia during routine colonoscopies an…

This study looks at whether leg muscle issues contribute to shortness of breath and exercise problems in people with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Researchers will compare leg muscle structure and function in 40 ILD patients, and test if muscle fatigue limits exercise. They wi…

This study tests a 28-day program where mothers learn to feed their young children (7-23 months) using local foods and hygiene practices. The goal is to reduce chronic malnutrition. 200 children will be followed for up to 12 months to see if the program helps them gain weight and…

This study looks at whether people with Lynch syndrome can collect their own vaginal samples at home to check for early signs of uterine cancer. About 30 participants will use a self-collection kit and answer surveys. The goal is to see if this method is practical and acceptable,…

This study tests whether a machine learning program can detect hidden lumps (lipohypertrophy) under the skin where people with diabetes inject insulin. These lumps can change how insulin is absorbed, but they are hard to feel. The study will use ultrasound images to train the com…

This study tests whether a set of tools can help doctors and nurses order fewer unnecessary lab tests for hospitalized patients. Researchers will compare hospitals that use the tools at different times, involving up to 700,000 patients across 16 hospitals in British Columbia. The…

This study looks at whether using extra devices to check vital signs (like heart rate and breathing) in the hospital and at home can help people who had major abdominal or vascular surgery spend more days at home and recover better. About 110 adults will be split into two groups:…

This study looks at whether eating more fatty fish, fruits, and vegetables can help protect the lungs from the harmful effects of woodsmoke. Researchers will ask 48 healthy adults to follow a special diet and then measure their lung health after breathing in woodsmoke. The goal i…

This study looks at whether having peer support workers—people who have personally used drugs—in the emergency department can make patients who use drugs feel more comfortable and less likely to leave before their treatment is done. About 3,181 adults visiting the ER at Vancouver…

This study looks at whether Cambodia's health system is ready to give pregnant women a new type of vitamin that includes more nutrients than just iron and folic acid. Researchers will talk to healthcare workers, survey 630 pregnant women, and check vitamin supplies to find gaps a…

This study follows 4,000 children who already have or will receive orthopedic implants (like rods, screws, or plates) for bone fractures, deformities, or hip problems. Researchers will monitor how well the implants work, how long they last, and any side effects over time. The goa…

This study follows 3,500 adults who have large colon polyps (20 mm or bigger) to see how well doctors remove them using a scope. No new treatments are tested—doctors use standard care. The goal is to learn what leads to successful removal and fewer complications.

This study looks at how a 6-month program of exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition affects thinking, inflammation, sleep, and physical health in 60 healthy adults aged 50 to 75. Participants either start the program right away or wait 6 months before starting. The goal is to under…

This study looks at how histamines, the same molecules that cause allergy symptoms, affect blood flow in the lungs after exercise. Researchers will measure blood pressure in the lungs of 20 healthy adults aged 19-39 after they exercise, comparing results when histamine action is …

This small study is testing whether combining electrical stimulation of a nerve in the leg with standing therapy can improve pelvic floor muscle function in adults with chronic spinal cord injury. Twelve participants will undergo 12 weeks of combined therapy and complete question…