Collaborative Research
We encourage and value collaboration at all levels. The Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation funds Excellence Clusters and Institutes, whereas the Faculty funds the Centres.
Research excellence clusters
Research Excellence Clusters are interdisciplinary networks of researchers focused on solving key challenges facing society. The Eminence Program funds each cluster for three years. Funding for the Aging in Place and Homelessness clusters was renewed for 2023/2024.
Aging in Place
Dr. Jennifer Jakobi, Co-Lead | Dr. Kathy Rush, Co-Lead
The objective of Aging in Place Research Cluster is to support the needs and choice of older women and men to age in place through high quality, inter-disciplinary research for the development of in-home supportive technologies aimed at maintaining active living, functional independence and social/emotional health.
Kelowna Homelessness Research Collaborative
John Graham, Lead
The Kelowna Homelessness Research Collaborative is an Excellence Cluster that gathers, develops, and disseminates research evidence and lived experience perspectives to strengthen understanding of homelessness in small to medium sized cities. Their mission is threefold: guide upstream actions to support vulnerable populations and prevent homelessness; improve services to enhance the lives and trajectories of those currently experiencing homelessness; and orient supports to sustain successful exits out of homelessness.
Institutes
Research Institutes led or co-led by FHSD faculty provide opportunities for researchers from diverse disciplines to collaborate and share knowledge with each other and with the communities they serve as well as national and international colleagues.
Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (IHLCDP)
Dr. Jennifer Jakobi, Director
The Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention creates knowledge and fosters its use to enhance healthy living and chronic disease prevention. Through the development of interdisciplinary and community-based collaborations, the institute conducts community-based health research that benefits individuals, families, and communities and reduces the burden of chronic disease.
Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship
Dr. Rachelle Hole, Co-Director | Dr. Tim Stainton, Co-Director
A partnership between the Schools of Social Work at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, community living organizations, and supporters, the institute seeks to further the inclusion and full citizenship of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The institute is the only university-based research institute in Canada with a dedicated focus on intellectual disability policy and practice.
Centres
Centre for the Study of Services to Children and Families
Dr. Sarah Dow-Fleisner, Co-Director | Dr. Barbara Lee, Co-Director
The Centre for the Study of Services to Children and Families advances research to support the development of evidence-informed policies, programs, and services aimed at improving the lives of children, youth, and families from diverse social contexts. The centre addresses three main areas: factors impacting wellbeing; implementation and evaluation; and education and training.
Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health
Dr. Neil Eves, Co-Director | Dr. Phil Ainslie, Co-Director
The Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health produces and disseminate internationally leading research into the causes, consequences and treatment of cardiovascular, pulmonary and cerebrovascular diseases. The centre performs research from basic molecular and cellular sciences, through integrative systems physiology and translational sciences into population health.
Centre for Behaviour Change
Dr. Mary Jung, Director
The Centre for Health Behaviour Change conducts and translates research to develop best-practices that support the initiation and maintenance of physical activity and healthy eating, and the cessation of smoking. The Centre’s research activities are underpinned by the principles of integrated knowledge translation (IKT). The underlying premise of IKT is that by engaging knowledge users as equal partners alongside scientists, the resulting research is more useful to end-users than if conducted by scientists alone.