Research News & Stories

Research-related news and stories from PHSA, from all programs and services.
​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.

Read about the study​​​

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.

Read about the study

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.​

Read a​bout the study 

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. ​

Read about​ the study​

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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Research supports BC families in building healthy habits to prevent childhood obesity​ 

(March 17, 2025)
Dr. Louise Mâsse  and Dr. Olivia De-Jongh González have worked on a mobile health program to help families build healthy habits to prevent childhood obesity.​

Read about the program​​​​

First-in-world BC patient successfully treated for rare immune disease

(February 27​, 2026)
Ty Sperle, who was being treated at BC Children’s Hospital for a rare disease called chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) became the first person ever to receive and be cured by a gene modification treatment known as “Prime Editing.”​​

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​Prescribing ice cream and countering misinformation: Q&A with Dr. Alastair McAlpine

(February 25, 2026)
BCCHR met with Dr. Alastair McAlpine to learn more about his medical journey, research, and commitment to counter misinformation.

Read the interview​

First-of-its-kind pan-Canadian trial to treat baby brain cancers without radiation​

(February 3, 2026​​)
Pediatric centres nationwide have united to launch  a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that uses chemotherapy delivered to the brain to avoid radiation in treating babies and young children with aggressive brain cancer.​

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​Is prenatal antidepressant exposure safe for the developing child?

(December 23, 2025)
Long-term studies reveal that ongoing maternal mental health and supportive environments play the biggest role in shaping outcomes across childhood and adolescence, versus ​prenatal antidepressant exposure.

Read about the study 

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