SFU Faculty of Health Sciences

SFU teams up with Fraser Health to launch new health research institute Simon Fraser University is partnering with Fraser Health to launch a new health research institute aimed at tackling some of the most pressing health issues across the region. The SFU-FH Health Res...

🤝 @sfuscience.bsky.social & @fraserhealth.ca have partnered to launch a new health research institute aimed at tackling the most pressing health issues across the region.

The SFU-FH Health Research Institute will bring together expertise to expand research opportunities: bit.ly/4of34Ys

#SFUFHS #SFU #SFUResearch #HealthResearch #EnvironmentalHealth #CIHRProjectGrant #OverdosePrevention #PathogenGenomics

William Hsiao's project "Smarter integrated pathogen genomics ecosystems for threat detection and risk assessment."

webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/...

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Kanna Hayashi's project "Evaluating the impacts of overdose prevention interventions among people who use opioids in Vancouver, BC amidst the evolving unregulated drug supply."

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Ryan Allen's project "A Randomized Air Cleaner Intervention Study of Particulate Air Pollution, Fetal Growth, and Early Childhood Development"

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The image shows white text on a red bar along the left side of the image, with three round headshots of Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences researchers. The name of each researcher is featured in red, and the title of their successful project is listed below the names. Text on the image: 2025 CIHR Project Grant recipients Ryan Allen - A Randomized Air Cleaner Intervention Study of Particulate Air Pollution, Fetal Growth, and Early Childhood Development Kanna Hayashi – Evaluating the impacts of overdose prevention interventions among people who use opioids in Vancouver, BC amidst the evolving unregulated drug supply William Hsiao - Smarter integrated pathogen genomics ecosystems for threat detection and risk assessment

Congratulations to FHS researchers Ryan Allen, Kanna Hayashi and William Hsiao who each secured a CIHR Project Grant during the 2025 competition, totalling $2.5M of funding for the next five years.

Project info 🔗 in 🧵.

#SFUFHS #SFUResearch #SFU #HealthResearch

Great profile of #IndigenousHealth Systems researcher and FHS adjunct professor Namaste Marsden:

"[Indigenous people] need our own data, our own indicators, our own ways of tracking what matters,” she says. “Western models weren’t made for us — they won’t carry us forward.”

#SFUFHS #KT #SFU

Congratulations to the @sfu-fhs.bsky.social awardees, including BC-CfE-affiliated Evan Barad and Dr. Aniqa Shahid who are respectively receiving Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master) and CIHR Fellowship (Postdoctoral) awards.

You can find our six award recipients supporting health research at:
@bccfe.bsky.social
@advancinghealth.bsky.social
@bccancerfdn.bsky.social
heartlunginnov.bsky.social

#ResearchPartners #ResearchCollaboration

Six circular headshots are featured on a grey background. A red stripe is featured along the left edge of the image, with the text "2024 CIHR Award Recipients" in white. The six head shots are of the recipients: Evan Barad, Sarah (Yu seon) Chae, Noah Katsuno, Aniqa Shahid, Puneet Sidhu and Milad Vahedi.

Six of our learners received research awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)! 🎉

Please join us in congratulating:
Evan Barad
Sarah Chae
Noah Katsuno
Aniqa Shahid
Puneet Sidhu
Milad Vahedi

🔗: www.sfu.ca/fhs/news-eve...

#SFUFHS #SFU #HealthResearch #ResearchAward

Students and instructors from SANTHE, SFU Faculty of Health Sciences, and the African Health Research Institute gathered together in Durban, South Africa for a course: “Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the global burden of HIV and health inequities among youth in Sub-Saharan Africa.” The groups is shown standing together in front of a building at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine.

Did you know that we offer field schools?

FHS Professor Robert Hogg led a course this past May in Durban, South Africa, bringing together students from the global north and south and fostering meaningful academic exchange for emerging researchers.

🔗: www.sfu.ca/.../news/202...

#SFUFHS #SANTHE

YouTube video by CBC News: The National CBC News: The National | Canada-U.S. trade talks resume

Christine Schwartz of the Children's Health Policy Centre spoke with CBC's The National about the benefits of early prevention, school-based programs to divert youth from misusing substances.

#YouthSubstanceUse #SFUFHS #SFUResearch #SubstanceUseDisorders

youtube.com/watch?v=WhAl...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

@ubcrhsc.bsky.social student Avneet Dhillon, OSOT faculty Dr. Suzanne Huot & @skyebarbic.bsky.social, and colleagues from @foundrybc.bsky.social & @sfu-fhs.bsky.social examine the use of integrated youth services by demographic in BC in Can. J. Psychiatry:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... #OT365

FHS professor Susan Erikson's new book, "Investible! When Pandemic Risk Meets Speculative Finance" examines how investors looking to make money in the realm of public health can have a substantive impact (with unintended consequences) on health outcomes.

#SFUFHS #SFUResearch #NewBookAlert

2025 FHS Undergraduate Awards Five FHS undergrads are recipients of the 2025 FHS Undergraduate Awards.

Congrats to our five fantastic 2025 FHS Undergraduate Award recipients who were recognized for their academic achievement, citizenship, community service and more! ⭐🎉
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Read more about each of their awards for service and academic achievements: www.sfu.ca/fhs/news-eve...

A movie poster featuring the film title "Nechako: It Will Be A Big River Again" in English and an Indigenous language overlaid onto an image of swirling white water. There are also movie production credits and logos of funders and supporters on the poster.

Assistant Professor Lyana Patrick spoke with @healthresearchbc.bsky.social about her first feature film, "Nechako: It Will Be A Big River Again" which follows Saik’uz and Stellat’en First Nations' fight to restore the Nechako River.

healthresearchbc.ca/news_article...

#SFUFHS #IndigenousHealth

Drs. Zabrina Brumme and Aniqa Shahid at the SFU Faculty of Health Sciences convocation.

🎉Congratulations to Dr. Aniqa Shahid who received the 2025 Governor General’s Gold Medal during June’s @sfu-fhs.bsky.social convocation!

This prestigious award recognizes outstanding academic achievement & is among the highest doctoral honours conferred to graduate students.

Graduate Dean's Convocation Medal awarded to dedicated health sciences researcher PhD alumnus Amanda Rowlands has been awarded the 2025 Graduate Dean's Convocation Medal.

Congratulations to PhD alumnus, Dr. Amanda Rowlands, who is the 2025 recipient of the Graduate Dean's Convocation Medal! 🎉🏅

This annual award recognizes graduating students that have accomplished outstanding academic achievement.

🔗: www.sfu.ca/fhs/news-eve...

#SFUFHS #SFU

Lynette Lucas, Director of Health, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council; adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University

The i-HeLTI (Indigenous Health Life Trajectories Initiative) is an Indigenous-led, community co-led research program that aims to restore healthy family systems in First Nations communities in BC and Alberta.

cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54345.html

#SFUFHS #IndigenousHealth #ResearchPartner

Passionate research mentor receives Governor General's Gold Medal Aniqa Shahid, a new PhD alumnus, was awarded the 2025 Governor General's Gold Medal, an annual award that recognizes graduating students that have accomplished outstanding academic achievement.

Congrats to Dr. Aniqa Shahid who won the 2025 Governor General's Gold Medal! This award recognizes graduating students with outstanding academic achievements.

“I’m proud that [my research] provided new methods and insights, bringing us closer to...an HIV cure.”

www.sfu.ca/fhs/news-eve...

#SFUFHS

Using a Discrete Choice Experiment to Elicit Patient Preferences for Physical Therapist Services after Surgery for Breast Cancer AbstractImportance. Patients often experience challenges accessing physical therapy for breast cancer-related impairments. Eliciting patient preferences fo

Just out!

Sharing some new research led by @hmctaggartcowan.bsky.social from @sfu-fhs.bsky.social and BC Cancer that I was involved with.

We used a discrete choice experiment to elicit patient preferences for physiotherapy services post-surgery for breast cancer.

academic.oup.com/ptj/advance-...

Thanks for the tag, Cassandra!

Fun fact: filmmaker Lyana Patrick is an assistant professor at SFU Health Sciences. We're very excited to see this feature get the attention it deserves!

#IndigenousHealth #IndigenousKnowledge

SFU studies highlight growing dangers of wildfires in B.C. The growing threat of wildfires in British Columbia and associated health risks are laid bare in two studies from experts at Simon Fraser University.

#WildfireSmoke and #ExtremeHeat co-occur frequently in #BritishColumbia and can significantly impact lung and heart health as well as pregnancies. Learn more about FHS Assistant Professor Stephanie Cleland's recent findings on these threats to #BChealth.

ow.ly/M9cn50VYS68

#SFUFHS #ClimateChange

A new study led by FHS Assistant Professor Nicole Catherine found that the Nurse-Family Partnership (#NFP) showed promise in reducing exposure of young mothers and their children to intimate partner violence (#IPV), while also improving mental health outcomes.

#SFUFHS #SFU #MentalHealth

FHS professor @drscottlear.bsky.social warns that exercising and eating fruits + veggies to prevent cardiovascular disease might not be applicable worldwide.

"The environments in which people live and the kind of work they do makes a huge difference to their health.”

ow.ly/eJY850VXs1n

#SFUFHS

ICKMI: FHS Assistant Professor @kiffercard.bsky.social's important work at the intersection of young people, #MentalHealth and #ClimateChange was highlighted by Michael Smith Health Research BC. Learn how Card is helping to build resilience in a rapidly changing climate.

#SFUFHS #HealthResearch

FHS Asst Prof, Stephanie Cleland wrote about how wildfire smoke and extreme heat together can amplify the health impacts caused by both environmental threats.

#SFUFHS #SFUResearch #WildfireSmoke #ExtremeHeat #ClimateChangeResearch #EnvironmentalHealth

Are you a planner looking to improve community sustainability? Consider designing more safe and comfortable biking infrastructure!

This new resource from FHS prof Meghan Winters and her team offers a visual guide to get you started! #EarthDay2025 🚲

summit.sfu.ca/item/39274

#SFUFHS #ClimateChange

Breaking Barriers to Cycling in Surrey

#Youth-led, #CommunityEngaged research is everywhere!

#SurreyBC youth presented their recommendations in four workshops to make the city's e-bike share programs more accessible and useful for youth.

www.sfu.ca/reach-cities...

#SFUFHS #eBike #HealthResearch #ClimateChange #HealthyCities