Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging

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!

02/07/2025

The Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging is happy to partner with the North American Network in Aging Studies on a joint research seminar on February 13th. Dr. Nadine Changfoot, a Professor of Political Science and the Acting Director of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society, will present on Wshkiigmong Dibaajmownan/Curve Lake Storytelling, a digital storytelling project she leads in partnership with Anishinaabekwe Elders of Curve Lake First Nation.

See our website for information on how to register: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/events/event/nanas-research-seminar-dr-nadine-changfoot

02/05/2025

Thank you to Dr. Grace Park for presenting at the January 27th Dialogue on Aging Public Presentation session on Healthy Aging and Preventing Frailty. In her talk, Dr. Park discussed how lifestyle and supportive health and wellness interventions can prevent or delay frailty. Furthermore, she discussed how research in geroscience and healthy aging can pave the way to age well at home and to build connections within the community. Did you miss the presentation? View the recording using the link below: https://providencehealthcare.yuja.com/V/PlayList?node=6410988&a=1436340199

02/05/2025

Thank you to the RTOERO Foundation for funding this work!

👏 Congratulations to the S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging at University of British Columbia for receiving a grant of $50,000 from the RTOERO Foundation! The Foundation is proud to support their project titled "Sharing Knowledge on Geroscience for Healthy Aging."
🍎🧘‍♂️This project aims to raise awareness about Geroscience among older adults, emphasizing how lifestyle, environmental, and behavioral factors can help maintain health and prevent disease.

02/05/2025

👏 Congratulations to the S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging at University of British Columbia for receiving a grant of $50,000 from the RTOERO Foundation! The Foundation is proud to support their project titled "Sharing Knowledge on Geroscience for Healthy Aging."
🍎🧘‍♂️This project aims to raise awareness about Geroscience among older adults, emphasizing how lifestyle, environmental, and behavioral factors can help maintain health and prevent disease.

01/15/2025

Artists’ Night 2025 brought together creativity, community, and celebration as we unveiled the winners of the Healthy Aging Visual Art Prize! A heartfelt congratulations to:

Public Category:

🏆 1st Place: Lifegiving by Esmie Gayo McLaren (https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/uncategorized/lifegiving)

🥈 2nd Place: Transformation: One Day or Day One by Gloria Daly (https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/uncategorized/transformation-one-day-or-day-one)

🥉 3rd Place (tie): Harmony by Merry Meredith (https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/uncategorized/harmony) and Home by Annette Nieukerk (https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/uncategorized/home)

Centre-affiliated category:

Top Investigator Entry: Aspiration: Dancing ‘Auntie’ by Naznin Virji-Babul (https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/uncategorized/aspiration-dancing-auntie)

Top Trainee Entry: Aging Gracefully: The Joy of Generational Bonds by Navaneetha Ravichandran (https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/artwork/aging-gracefully-the-joy-of-generational-bonds)

We were honoured to welcome Premier David Eby and the new BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt, who joined us to celebrate the incredible talent and vision of BC artists. Their presence underscored the provincial importance of supporting healthy aging through creativity and community.

We would like to thank everyone who made this night unforgettable – our finalists, attendees, and jurors, and Dr. Julia Henderson, the Chair of the Healthy Aging Visual Art Prize. A special thank you to the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health for partnering with us on this remarkable initiative. Your efforts are helping redefine the narrative around healthy aging through art!

To view all of the incredible submissions to the contest, access the digital art gallery here: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/art-contest/digital-art-gallery.

11/30/2024

🌟 Artist's Night is Here! 🌟

Join us for an Artists’ Night on January 10th, 2025, to celebrate the incredible submissions of the finalists from over 50 submissions to the Healthy Aging Visual Art Prize! 🖼️

This exciting evening will feature an art exhibition, conversation, food, and beverages, culminating in the announcement of the contest winners. Don’t miss this chance to explore artistic representations of “Healthy Human Aging” and connect with the participating artists and community members. This event is open to all (UBC-affiliated individuals and members of the public)!

🎉 Event Details:

📅 Date: January 10, 2025
🕓 Time: 4:30–6:30 PM
📍 Location: Lower Atrium, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, 2215 Wesbrook Mall
✨ Free event, but registration is required! Register here: https://ubc-aging.ticketleap.com/healthy-aging-visual-art-prize-artists-night/

For any questions, please contact healthy.aging@ubc.ca. We hope to see you there!

11/26/2024

🧠 Join us for this year’s final Dialogue on Aging Public Presentation! 🧠

Did you know that sensory loss—like changes in hearing and vision—can impact cognitive health? Learn tips to prevent, manage, and live well with sensory aging from Dr. Kathy Pichora-Fuller and Dr. Walter Wittich, leading experts in sensory health and aging.

📅 Date: December 12, 2024
🕑 Time: 2:00–3:30 PM PST
💻 Location: Virtually on Zoom, Register here: https://shorturl.at/2wAUZ

Join us for this informative session hosted by the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging and Providence Health Care. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how staying active — physically, mentally, and socially — can benefit cognitive health.
✨ Register here: https://shorturl.at/2wAUZ

11/12/2024

Mark your calendars for November 16! The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health is hosting a special (Free!) screening of “Capturing Grace,” an award-winning documentary that highlights the intersection of grace and resilience as individuals with Parkinson’s find strength through dance.
Join in-person or virtually for an inspiring event that showcases the transformative power of art!
📅 Event Date: November 16, 10am-12pm PST
👉 Register here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5sB3RmoiITvHguW 🧠