Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging

10/23/2025

Do you care for someone with dementia who is living at home in the community of Comox, Courtenay, or Gibsons, BC? We want to hear from you!

Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) are looking for people who are currently or in the past two years have been caring for someone living with dementia to share their experiences and support needs in a research study called “Skill-Building Needs of Dementia Caregivers.”

Feel free to share this post with anyone who may be interested. Please note that if you like, follow, or comment on this post, the public can see this and might associate you with this study.

This project is being conducted through the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the University of British Columbia supervised by principal investigator Dr. Julia Henderson. For any questions/concerns please contact Emma Jinnouchi (emmajinn@student.ubc.ca; 778-231-0480).

10/16/2025

🌎 Dialogue on Aging: Coping with Heat — Recommendations and Challenges for Aging 🌞

As climate change intensifies, communities are experiencing more frequent and severe extreme heat events. How can older adults prepare for and adapt to hotter summers?

Join Dr. Theresa Pauly, Assistant Professor in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University and Canada Research Chair in Social Relationships, Health, and Aging, for a timely talk on how physical, social, and environmental factors shape vulnerability—and what can be done to protect and strengthen resilience in aging populations.

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
🕝 Time: 2:30–4:00 PM PT
💻 Location: Zoom
🔗 Register: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/pzeZ1mlwT82lvnoCbE1KXw

Don’t miss this engaging session on how aging, health, and climate resilience intersect—featuring research, practical strategies, and inspiration for individual and community action.

10/07/2025

📚✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us for the launch of The Microbiome Master Key ✨📚

We had a fantastic evening with Dr. Brett Finlay, Investigator at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, sharing insights on how the microbes in and around us shape health, aging, and disease prevention.

🔍 The book explores how caring for your microbiome can unlock the “master key” to lifelong health — from cognition and mood to immunity and resilience.

👏 Congratulations to Dr. Finlay and co-author Dr. Jessica Finlay on this exciting release!

📖 The Microbiome Master Key is now available through major booksellers.
https://theexperimentpublishing.com/catalogs/summer-2025/the-microbiome-master-key/

10/03/2025

🧬 New Student Group: Longevity Research Circle – Vancouver 🧬

Are you a student or trainee interested in aging, longevity, or regenerative medicine? A new Vancouver chapter of the Longevity Research Circle (LRC) is launching this fall with support from the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging (ELCHA) at UBC.

Longevity Research Circle is a student-led collective for advancing aging & regenerative medicine through connection, curiosity & discourse.
📌 LRC-Vancouver aims to:
- Host local discussion groups and speaker events
- Launch an interdisciplinary aging innovation challenge in spring 2026
- Connect students with opportunities in the aging field

➡️ Fill out the interest form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfymXUeoIEjHZZ0weoiyobidCjNDqAst2JBjZeIzU2DRGocaQ/viewform) or scan the QR code on our poster to get involved (we are recruiting!)
🔗 Follow LRC:
🐦 X: https://x.com/lrc_bio
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lrc.bio/

10/02/2025

🎨🌱 New Videos from the Intergenerational Arts for Climate Action Study 🌱🎶

Led by Dr. Julia Henderson (ELCHA Investigator), this project explored how older adults (60+) and children (9–12) can come together through the arts to reflect on climate change, healing, and resilience.
📹 Watch the two new videos YouTube:

1️⃣ Short Documentary: Highlights from the public sharing event at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House (Aug 24, 2024) → https://youtu.be/V_rZolZcC0Y?si=GIWL7-TZ_yAnjm5q

2️⃣ Music Video: “Climate Action Strong and Bold” — an original song written and performed by participants → https://youtu.be/VxvMYoGJGB0?si=JoJgQ4mrFPZdOW6k

These videos showcase how creative, intergenerational approaches can spark new conversations about climate resilience, community, and hope.

The ‘Climate Action Strong and Bold’ song was collaboratively written, with the leadership of Will Stroet, by the participants and research team of the Unive...

09/25/2025

Join us for a timely seminar co-hosted by the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging and Providence Healthcare, featuring Dr. Mei Lan Fang (Simon Fraser University) on empowering older adults as leaders in the face of climate change.

📖 Talk Title: Building Climate Resilience with Older Adults: Insights from the COALESCE Project

Discover how the COALESCE Project is working with seniors in Metro Vancouver to co-develop strategies for coping with extreme heat, monitoring air quality, and strengthening social supports—turning climate challenges into opportunities for resilience and community leadership.

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
🕑 Time: 1:00 PM PT
📍 Location: Zoom

💻 Register here: https://ubc.zoom.us/meeting/register/fBLuUg-7Qe6JVvBzpq7x1g

Don’t miss this inspiring talk on reimagining Age-Friendly Cities and Communities to be more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to climate change.

09/18/2025

🎙️ Our very own ELCHA Investigator Dr. Brett Finlay is featured on the Death Clock Podcast in an episode titled “Why Your Microbiome Might Be the Key to a Longer Life.” They dig into how the microbes living in and on us shape immunity, aging, and what we can do now to support them.

➡️ Listen here:
Spotify: Death Clock — Why Your Microbiome Might Be the Key to a Longer Life Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4TkffkrQwBRelH2cdCFvtD?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/death-clock/id1567446832

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaU26Zl33KoOxHpoW2JrKxC_7N8G40Yug

📚 And don’t forget: the Book Launch for The Microbiome Master Key is coming up on October 2, 2025, 6:30–9:00 PM PT at UBC. Spaces are limited—register here:
🔗 https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ubc-aging/book-launch-the-microbiome-master-key-dr-brett-finlay-and-dr-jessica-finlay

09/17/2025

📚✨ Book Launch: The Microbiome Master Key ✨📚
Join us on October 2nd to celebrate the launch of The Microbiome Master Key with co-author Dr. Brett Finlay, Investigator at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging.
📖 Discover how microbes inside and around us shape health, aging, mood, cognition, and disease prevention. This groundbreaking new book reveals how caring for your microbiome can unlock the “master key” to lifelong health.

📅 Date: October 2, 2025
🕡 Time: 6:30–9:00 PM PT
📍 Location: UBC (full details in registration link)
🔗 Register (limited attendance): https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ubc-aging/book-launch-the-microbiome-master-key-dr-brett-finlay-and-dr-jessica-finlay

Spaces are limited—don’t miss this special evening with Dr. Finlay!

Join in as we celebrate the launch of "The Microbiome Master Key", with Dr. Brett Finlay, one of the co-authors of the book and investigator at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging.  Book description: Learn the secret to whole-body, lifelong health: the teeming world of micr

04/07/2025

📣 Upcoming Public Lecture: Geriatric Oncology Panel
Join us for a powerful in-person session hosted by the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging and Providence Health Care, in partnership with the UBC School of Nursing.

🗓️ May 5, 2025
🕑 2:00–3:30 PM
📍 BMO Great Hall, VanDusen Botanical Garden (in-person only)
🔗 Registration: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/events/event/dialogue-on-aging-public-presentation-geriatric-oncology-panel

Cancer as an Older Adult: Preparing, Managing, Thriving
This Dialogue on Aging Public Presentation will bring together experts in geriatric oncology to share insights on prevention, recovery, and thriving through cancer care in later life.

🎙️ Panelists:

Dr. Shabbir Alibhai (University of Toronto)

Dr. Kristin Campbell (UBC)

Dr. Enrique Soto Pérez de Celis (University of Colorado Anschutz)
💬 Moderated by Dr. Kristen Haase (UBC Nursing)

🧠 Topics include: Maintaining wellbeing as you age, Prehabilitation before treatment, Recovery and building resilience

We hope to see you there!

03/12/2025

📢 Join us for the geXc Life Course Symposium 2025! 📢
The Genomic Exchange Community (geXc) Life Course Symposium, co-hosted by the UBC Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging and Michael Smith Laboratories, is a one-day research conference exploring aging and the life course through cutting-edge molecular technology.

📅 Date: May 8, 2025
📍 Location: LSI West Atrium, UBC (2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC)
🎟️ RSVP & Learn more: https://www.gexcsymposia.com/events/gexc-life-course-symposium

🔬 Topics include:
✨ Single-cell & spatial technologies
✨ Multi-omic approaches
✨ Advances in sequencing & data analysis
✨ Biosocial factors shaping human longevity
👥 Connect with industry & academia through:
🔹 Panel discussions with experts
🔹 A trainee poster competition 🏆 (with wine & cheese! 🍷🧀)
🔹 Career-building workshops

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leading researchers and industry professionals at the intersection of genomics, aging, and life sciences!

03/11/2025

🧫 Healthy Living and Aging with Our Microbes 🧬
Join us on March 19, 2025 (2:00-3:00 PM PST) for a virtual Dialogue on Aging Public Presentation with Dr. Brett Finlay from UBC!

Dr. Finlay will explore the profound influence of the microbiome on human health and aging, discussing its role in disease prevention and proactive steps we can take to improve our well-being.

📅 Date: March 19, 2025
🕑 Time: 2:00-3:00 PM PST
💻 Location: Virtual (Zoom)
🔗 Register here: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/events/event/5591

Don’t miss this insightful talk from one of Canada’s leading experts on microbiology!

02/20/2025

🧠 Dialogue on Aging Public Presentation: Dr. Elissa Epel 🧠

Join us for a virtual presentation with Dr. Elissa Epel, an internationally recognized expert on stress, well-being, and aging from the University of California, San Francisco.

📖 Title: The Stress Prescription: Ridding Toxic Stress and Using Daily Stress for Good
🔬 Learn how different types of stress impact aging and discover ways to improve your stress resilience in everyday life.

📅 Date: February 26, 2025
🕑 Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM PST
💻 Location: Virtual (Zoom)
✨ Register here: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/events/event/dialogue-on-aging-public-presentation-dr-elissa-epel

Dr. Epel is a best-selling author and co-wrote The Telomere Effect with Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, offering groundbreaking insights into longevity and well-being. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field!