Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging

Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging We are a research centre at UBC with the goal to help people maintain health and well-being as they age

05/01/2026

UBC Medicine researchers are leading two new federally funded training programs to strengthen Canada’s biomedical research and innovation capacity.

Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) CREATE program, these initiatives will prepare students and postdoctoral fellows to tackle some of the biggest challenges in health:

🧬 AGEnomics, led by Dr. Stefan Taubert, will unlock the biology of aging using advanced multi-omics approaches to better understand why we age—and how to help people stay healthy, longer.

🔬 BioHuMS, led by Drs. Sarah Hedtrich and Govind Kaigala, will train researchers to use biodevices and human-based model systems to accelerate drug development.

Explore how these programs are building a highly skilled workforce to turn discovery into real-world impact: https://bit.ly/4t8MyKP

🔬 Announcing our inaugural Catalyst Grant recipientsThe Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging is pleased to share th...
04/02/2026

🔬 Announcing our inaugural Catalyst Grant recipients
The Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging is pleased to share the recipients of our first-ever Catalyst Grant Competition, supporting innovative, interdisciplinary research on aging.
This year’s funded projects include:
• Dr. Lillian Hung & Dr. Katherine Davies — testing a WHO framework to support early detection and care planning in primary care
• Dr. Mahmoud Pouladi & Dr. Thibault Mayor — investigating how genetic variation influences brain aging and neurodegenerative disease
• Dr. Julia Henderson & Dr. Laura Hurd — exploring the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults through a community-engaged arts project
Together, these projects span health systems, biomedical science, and community-based research — advancing healthier aging across diverse populations.
Read more: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/uncategorized/announcing-the-recipients-of-elchas-inaugural-catalyst-grant-competition

03/26/2026

The Motor Skills Lab at UBC is recruiting both younger (aged 18–30) and older (aged 60–80) adults to participate in a research study on motor learning and motor imagery!

This study investigates how people learn and imagine reaching movements. Participants will complete tasks involving either physically reaching to visual targets or imagining those movements in a controlled environment.

🕒 Duration: 60–75 minutes (completed in one session)
💰 Honorarium: $20 (cash, provided upon completion)
📍 Location: Motor Skills Lab, School of Kinesiology, UBC

Eligibility criteria:
• Aged 18–30 or 60–80
• Right-hand dominant for most tasks
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and colour vision
• No injury to the right hand
• No physical conditions affecting full-body movement
• No known neurological disorders
• Comfortable understanding English instructions

If you are interested in participating, please contact:
📧 noah.britt@ubc.ca

📞 905-730-8799

If calling, please leave a message if there is no answer.

You are also welcome to sign up with a friend — back-to-back sessions can be arranged.

This study is led by Dr. Nicola Hodges in the UBC School of Kinesiology.

🧠 Webinar: Hearing Loss in AdultsJoin this upcoming webinar on how to better support adults with suspected hearing loss....
03/24/2026

🧠 Webinar: Hearing Loss in Adults
Join this upcoming webinar on how to better support adults with suspected hearing loss.

Designed for primary care providers and hearing health professionals, this session will cover practical approaches to screening, communication, and care navigation.

Topics include:
• Identifying and responding to hearing loss
• Communication strategies for clinical settings
• Using Pathways BC tools to guide patient care
🎓 Up to 1.5 Mainpro+ Certified Activity Credits
📝 Live captioning will be provided
📅 April 9, 2026
🕡 6:30–8:00 PM PT
💻 Online

Register here:
https://ubccpd.ca/learn/learning-activities/course?eventtemplate=1073-recognizing-and-responding-to-hearing-loss-in-adults-what-every-primary-care-provider-needs-to-know

UBC CPD

🎬 Join us March 29th, for a special screening of Silver ScreamersThe Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging invites y...
03/10/2026

🎬 Join us March 29th, for a special screening of Silver Screamers

The Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging invites you to a screening of Silver Screamers, a heartwarming and spine-tingling documentary that follows a group of spirited older adults as they take on an unexpected challenge: creating their own horror film.
Blending humour, creativity, and friendship, the film offers an engaging look at community, identity, and the many ways people continue to explore new passions later in life.

Following the screening, stay for an interactive talk-back panel moderated by Dr. Kirsty Johnston (Professor and Head, UBC Department of Theatre and Film), featuring director Sean Cisterna and age studies scholar Dr. Julia Henderson.

📅 Sunday, March 29th, Doors open: 12:30 PM
🎥 Screening begins: 1:00 PM
💬 Talk-back panel: 2:30 PM
📍UBC Frederic Wood Theatre

🎟 Free event – registration required
Register here:
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ubc-aging/silver-screamers-film-screening-and-talkback-panel

We look forward to seeing you there!

📩 Healthy Aging Tip #1Subscribe to the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging newsletter:🔗 https://healthyaging.med....
03/10/2026

📩 Healthy Aging Tip #1

Subscribe to the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging newsletter:
🔗 https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/contact

Each newsletter includes a tip for healthy aging from an ELCHA Investigator who is an expert in the field.

This edition’s tip comes from Dr. Stephen Wright, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy:

“Keep or get active to maintain health as we age! The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology recommends that adults 18–64 years old perform moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activities to accumulate at least 150 minutes per week, as well as strengthening activities using major muscle groups at least twice a week. These same activity goals are also recommended for adults 65+ years old, with the addition of some physical activities that challenge balance. People often ask whether certain activities, like walking, running, cycling, or swimming, are better or worse — in my opinion, the best ones are the ones you enjoy and can do safely and routinely.”

Staying active doesn’t have to be complicated — consistency and enjoyment matter most.

Want more evidence-based healthy aging insights delivered to your inbox each month? Subscribe to the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging newsletter:
🔗 https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/contact

Celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) by attending the Vancouver premiere of the inspiring documentary Tough Old...
03/06/2026

Celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) by attending the Vancouver premiere of the inspiring documentary Tough Old Broads, presented as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival.

The film features three extraordinary women whose work reshaped sport, human rights, and public life: Kathrine Switzer, Siila Watt-Cloutier, and Sharon Farmer. From becoming the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, to championing the link between climate change and human rights, to serving as the first female Chief White House Photographer, each has broken barriers and continues to lead, inspire, and create well into later life.

After the screening, stay for a special talk-back panel with five accomplished women, including Dr. Julia Henderson, Investigator of the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging at UBC. The panel will reflect on the themes of the film and share perspectives on leadership, resilience, and the power of aging boldly.

Join for an evening celebrating women who continue to redefine what is possible at every stage of life.

🧧 Happy Lunar New Year!We were delighted to gather for a Lunar New Year lunch with members of the ELCHA community.It was...
02/28/2026

🧧 Happy Lunar New Year!

We were delighted to gather for a Lunar New Year lunch with members of the ELCHA community.

It was a wonderful opportunity to share a meal, spend time together, and welcome the new year.

Wishing everyone who celebrates a joyful and prosperous year ahead.

🎬 Thank you to everyone who joined us for our screening of Tough Old Broads!It was inspiring to come together to celebra...
02/25/2026

🎬 Thank you to everyone who joined us for our screening of Tough Old Broads!

It was inspiring to come together to celebrate the stories of Kathrine Switzer, Siila Watt-Cloutier, and Sharon Farmer — women whose leadership, creativity, and advocacy continue to shape public life.

We are especially grateful to director Stacey Tenenbaum and our distinguished panelists for a thoughtful and engaging discussion following the film. The conversation reflected the very themes at the heart of our work: dignity, participation, representation, and the many ways people continue to contribute meaningfully across the life course.

Thank you to all who attended, asked questions, and helped create such a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

To learn more about the film, visit https://www.facebook.com/tougholdbroadsdoc/reels/ or watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5EYPddyJZQ

Thinking about how you can prioritize your health this year? Check out research-backed tips from Centre director Michael...
01/20/2026

Thinking about how you can prioritize your health this year? Check out research-backed tips from Centre director Michael S. Kobor and investigators Lillian Hung (UBC IDEA Lab), Julie Robillard, Najib Ayas, and Silke Appel Cresswell.

📊ELCHA 2024–2025 Year in ReviewFrom research seminars and public talks to new investigators and trainee support, the Edw...
01/20/2026

📊ELCHA 2024–2025 Year in Review
From research seminars and public talks to new investigators and trainee support, the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging had a year of growth, collaboration, and impact.
Highlights from our 2024–2025 Annual Report include:
• Research, training, and community engagement across the Centre
• New investigators welcomed to ELCHA
• Awards and recognition across our community
• $161,504 allocated by ELCHA to support trainees through awards and fellowships
• Translating healthy aging research into practice
👉 Explore the full Annual Report: https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/about/annual-reports

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Vancouver, BC
V6T1Z3

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