Research News & Stories

Research-related news and stories from PHSA, from all programs and services.
​Billions of doses later, global review confirms mRNA vaccines are safe

(July 2, 2026)
A sweeping global review research in The Lancet has found that mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. ​

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Emerging treatment options offer hope to children affected by migraine​

(June 29, 2026)
To mark Migraine Awareness Month in June, BC Children's Hospital Research highlights recent developments in treating headache disorders that can benefit patients.​​

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Gut fungi may hold the key to treating asthma, allergies worldwide​

(June 26​, 2026​​)
Two new studies reveal that certain species of fungi in the gut play a key role in the development of immune dysregulation and some pediatric allergic diseases — and may be promising targets for new therapies.

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How setting standards can save lives

(May 21, 2026)
New research by  investigator Dr. Megan Levings and her team shows how using a standard approach to tracking immune cells is needed for both scientific research and the clinic.​

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BC Children’s study finds that breastfeeding benefits last into childhood

(May 19, 2026)
New research from BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute finds that breastfeeding can benefit children’s health well into childhood, especially for families of lower socioeconomic status (SES).​

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The impact of essential supports to prevent child maltreatment during a pandemic

(May 12, 202​5)
A research team analyzed data from 1,518 hospitalizations for child maltreatment — including abuse and neglect — occurring across the country between 2016 and 2023. Results of their study were recently published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

Read about the study ​

New drug significantly reduces kidney damage in people with IgA nephropathy

(April 28, 2026)
Early results from an ongoing clinical trial suggest that a new drug being explored for treating IgA nephropathy, called atacicept, is safe and very beneficial for patients.

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Researcher Profile: Dr. Claire Harris on the benefits of pragmatic clinical trials

(April 28, 2026)
Dr. Claire Harris' research focuses on improving hemodialysis care via pragmatic clinical trials, which enable important research questions and novel solutions to be explored more easily across large patient populations. 

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New research identifies a promising target in multiple fusion-driven cancers​

(April 28, 2026)
 A new multinational study led by a BC Cancer researcher has been published in Cancer Discovery, a leading journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

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Fully virtual care during pandemic associated with higher peritonitis rates; study points to benefits of hybrid care​

(April 24, 2026)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in peritoneal dialysis infection rates (referred to as peritonitis) among kidney patients living in rural and First Nations communities in Northern BC. A study suggests an underlying reason.​

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Artificial intelligence (AI) helps capture patient voices to improve health decisions

(April 22, 2026)
A new BC Cancer– and UBC–led study explores how AI can support faster analysis of patient feedback while keeping patient perspectives front and centre. ​

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Moving towards personalized care to improve postsurgical recovery for pediatric patients

(April 20, 2026)
 Researchers at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) are investigating ways to improve pain management for pediatric patients to support a smoother recovery.​

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Study reveals teens make up most cannabis-related poisonings at BC Children's Hospital

(April 15, 2026)
 ​A BCIRPU project compared the three-year periods before and after cannabis legalization.

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