Women's Health Research Institute

Women's Health Research Institute We are dedicated to facilitating and building a community for women’s health research.

On April 8–9, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia hosted its second annual Transforming Health...
05/16/2026

On April 8–9, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia hosted its second annual Transforming Health Symposium, highlighting biomedical innovation, healthcare system transformation, and research-driven advances. WHRI staff Nicole Prestley and Haley Foladare attended. The event comes at a pivotal moment for BC’s life sciences sector, alongside the release of the latest Life Sciences in BC Sector Profile, which recognizes hospital-based research institutes like WHRI as key drivers of innovation.

Read more about the symposium highlights and key themes: https://whri.org/ubc-transforming-health-symposium-convening-health-innovators/

🌟BCW Research Manager Highlight – Haley Foladare🌟As Digital Health Manager for the WHRI, Haley helps researchers to navi...
05/15/2026

🌟BCW Research Manager Highlight – Haley Foladare🌟

As Digital Health Manager for the WHRI, Haley helps researchers to navigate the ever-changing landscape of Digital Health Research, supporting conversations around the evaluation of digital health tools, the use of AI in healthcare contexts, partnerships and collaboration, and codesign and engagement for digital tools. Haley also works to make Digital Health Research accessible to the community through the Digital Health Seminar Series and other knowledge sharing events.

Haley is available to support researchers in ideating evaluations for digital health tools, structured co-design processes, and the formation of partnerships to support collaborative digital health research. Haley also acts as a resource for researchers navigating the use of digital tools such as Artificial Intelligence to support research activates.

Haley shares that, “While the digital health landscape may feel challenging to navigate, many researchers taking the first steps and incorporating digital tools into their research and workflow. My aim is to ensure that digital health research feels familiar and accessible to the WHRI community, so we can use digital technologies to increase the impact and reach of the work underway at WHRI”

Researchers and clinicians who are interested in starting new digital health projects or incorporating digital tools such as AI into their workflows can reach out to Haley directly: https://whri.org/our-services/digital-health-hub/digital-health-support-at-whri/

We’re pleased to announce that Dr. Gillian Hanley has been appointed Executive Director of the Women’s Health Research I...
05/14/2026

We’re pleased to announce that Dr. Gillian Hanley has been appointed Executive Director of the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI), Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), and Director, WHRI, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), effective May 1, 2026.

Dr. Hanley is an Associate Professor in UBC’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Canada Research Chair in Population-Based Gynecologic and Perinatal Outcomes. Her research focuses on improving women’s health through population-based data, with particular emphasis on ovarian cancer prevention, gynecologic cancer survivorship, and perinatal mental health. An internationally recognized leader, her work has informed clinical guidelines in Canada and beyond.

She has been an active member of WHRI for over a decade and plays a leadership role in women’s health research collaborations across the country.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Gillian Hanley to the role of Executive Director at WHRI!

Read the full announcement : https://whri.org/congratulations-to-dr-gillian-hanley-whris-new-executive-director/

Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Wong who received the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) C...
05/14/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Wong who received the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada Trainee Research Award, which recognizes outstanding primary research conducted during infectious diseases and/or medical microbiology training, as demonstrated by the trainee’s contributions to and publication of an original research article in these fields.

In addition, congratulations to Emily Wiesenthal (OBGYN third-year resident) who received the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases - Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NCCID – CFID) Infectious Diseases Knowledge Translation Award! 🎉

Learn more about both awards and how they are improving health outcomes: https://ammi.ca/en/members/awards/

Calling all WHRI trainees and postdoctoral fellows! The WHRI Trainee Travel Grants are open for the Spring 2026 cycle. T...
05/13/2026

Calling all WHRI trainees and postdoctoral fellows! The WHRI Trainee Travel Grants are open for the Spring 2026 cycle. These grants support full-time research trainees traveling to national or international conferences and meetings.

➤ Each grant is valued at up to $1,000

➤ The Spring competition offers 5 grants

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your research, expand your network, and represent WHRI on a broader stage.

Apply now by May 29, 2026: https://whri.org/our-services/womens-health-research-institute-trainee-travel-grant-competition/

On May 7, the University of British Columbia Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, located within BC Women’s Hospita...
05/12/2026

On May 7, the University of British Columbia Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, located within BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, welcomed Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, for a site tour led by Dr. Deborah Money. The visit highlighted how research is intentionally embedded into clinical care across BC Women’s, and how the hospital’s design supports collaboration between patients, clinicians, trainees, and researchers.

Dr. Anandasabapathy’s visit included the Maternity Urgent Care Centre (UCC), the province’s only urgent care centre dedicated to birthing and postpartum parents, as well as specialized programs such as the Oak Tree Clinic and the Complex Menopause Clinic, each reflecting UBC OBGYN’s commitment to advancing care through research, much of which is facilitated through the WHRI.

The tour also underscored the Department of OBGYN’s engagement with trainees across disciplines, including health technology and biomedical engineering, and the use of simulation spaces to support hands-on learning and clinical preparedness.

The visit concluded at the WHRI offices with lunch and discussion, reinforcing the shared vision of integrating research alongside patient care to create meaningful opportunities for participation, learning, and collaboration across the hospital.

In honour of World Ovarian Cancer Day, Dr. Gillian Hanley and Dr. Brittany Bingham share their collaborative work integr...
05/08/2026

In honour of World Ovarian Cancer Day, Dr. Gillian Hanley and Dr. Brittany Bingham share their collaborative work integrating culturally safe care into opportunistic salpingectomy (the removal of the fallopian tubes).

Dr. Hanley and Dr. Bingham share that ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers for women, largely because it is often diagnosed at a late stage. We now know that many of these cancers begin in the fallopian tubes, creating a powerful opportunity for prevention during other planned surgeries. Opportunistic salpingectomy is just such a prevention strategy that uses another abdominal or pelvic surgery to also counsel patients about fallopian tube removal as a way to dramatically decrease their risk for ovarian cancer. However, access to this prevention is not equitable, particularly for Indigenous communities.

In light of the ongoing legacy of colonization, including the history of forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women, it is essential that efforts to promote opportunistic salpingectomy are approached with care, humility, and intentionality. This work prioritizes reproductive autonomy and culturally safe care, ensuring that participation is fully informed and free from coercion. Importantly, this initiative is led by Indigenous women and guided by an Indigenous advisory group whose expertise and lived perspectives shape its direction, grounding this research in community priorities, reciprocity, and accountability.

This World Ovarian Cancer Day, we recognize the importance of advancing prevention in ways that uphold trust, respect and self-determination.

Join WHRI and BCCHR for our upcoming C&W Research Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, May 20, from 12–1 pm, featuring Jeffrey Bo...
05/07/2026

Join WHRI and BCCHR for our upcoming C&W Research Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, May 20, from 12–1 pm, featuring Jeffrey Bone, who will present “Musings on statistical methods in clinical research.”

Jeffrey is an Investigator and the Biostatistical Lead at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. In this session, he will discuss perspectives on key components of statistics in medical research, common misconceptions and ways to improve the reporting of findings from statistical analyses.

All are welcome — come connect and learn research-specific skills applicable to WHRI and BCCHR landscapes.

We hope to see you there. Register now for this session: https://whri.org/news-events/whri-lunch-learn-series/

05/07/2026

For many new parents, the postpartum period can bring thoughts and feelings that are unexpected, confusing, and often difficult to talk about. This Mental Health Week, we’re highlighting research that challenges stigma and expands understanding of perinatal mental health.

Led by Dr. Nichole Fairbrother, the UBC Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab (PARLab) is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of parents and their babies through research, education, and practical tools.

From clear, compassionate infographics to evidence-informed guidance, PARLab offers resources that help normalize experiences like anxiety and unwanted intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm—while equipping parents, families, and care providers with strategies to respond in supportive, non-stigmatizing ways.

At every stage of parenthood, timely, research-driven information can make a meaningful difference. Together, these efforts reflect a shared goal: making perinatal mental health care more accessible, informed, and grounded in evidence.

Explore resources and infographics from the UBC Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab: https://parlab.med.ubc.ca/infographic-on-anxiety-in-pregnancy-the-postpartum/

In the latest episode of the Podcast, we were joined by WHRI trainee Mahfuza Sreya, a graduate student in the Women+ an...
05/06/2026

In the latest episode of the Podcast, we were joined by WHRI trainee Mahfuza Sreya, a graduate student in the Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences (WACH) Program at the University of British Columbia, supervised by Dr. Paul Yong.

Focusing on endometriosis and chronic pain, Mahfuza shares how her background in medical laboratory science and work with people living with chronic pain led her to investigate the complex biology behind endometriosis-associated pain.

Mahfuza also discusses how this work could support more precise diagnosis and more targeted treatment approaches for people living with endometriosis.

🎧 Listen now to learn more about the evolving landscape of endometriosis research and care: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/whri0/episodes/Mahfuza-Sreya-talks-Endometriosis-and-the-Science-Behind-Chronic-Pain-e3iufmf/a-ackrv5h

05/04/2026

For people navigating mental health, the journey can feel overwhelming and isolating. This Mental Health Week, we’re highlighting research-driven digital health tools that are improving access to care for women and gender-diverse people.

At every stage of life, unique challenges can arise—and timely, evidence-based support can make a meaningful difference.

Developed in collaboration with new moms and led by Dr. Lori Brotto, postpartumcare.ca is a BC-based resource that connects individuals experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety to local supports in their communities.

Also led by Dr. Brotto, ESense Health was co-designed with people with lived experience of sexual dysfunction and offers evidence-based digital therapy to support sexual wellbeing and reduce distress.

Together, these innovations reflect a shared goal: making mental health care more accessible, inclusive, and grounded in evidence.

This Mental Health Week, we recognize the importance of integrated approaches to mental, sexual, and reproductive health.

Access postpartumcare.ca and eSense Health: https://esensehealth.com.

Address

4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H3N1

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Women's Health Research Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category