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DNA-guided Platform Paves Way for More Precise Cancer Treatments

New ‘baited-SELEX’ technology merges small-molecule drug design with chemical biology to potentially improve treatment accuracy and reduce side effects.

A collaborative team of researchers from the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Vancouver Prostate Centre (VPC) have developed a new method to design safer, more targeted cancer drugs. The platform, called baited-SELEX, uses DNA molecules to mimic antibodies and selectively target cancer cells...

Dr. Eva Nichols Awarded Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Molecular and Interfacial Electrocatalysts

Congratulations to UBC Chemistry Assistant Professor, Dr.Eva Nichols, for being one of five new Canada Research Chairs appointed at UBC Science.

Dr. Nichols’ group’s research centres around the development and understanding of catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of oxidized carbon into valuable products. Her research group works to improve catalyst activity and selectivity using lessons from biology by applying...

Drs. Huan, Schindler, & Stephenson Awarded Funding from CFI JELF Competition

Chemistry faculty members Dr. Tao Huan, Dr. Corey Stephenson, and Dr. Corinna Schindler are among the recipients of a total of nearly $134 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). This funding will be used to support research infrastructure projects at 63 postsecondary...

UBC Chemistry Hosts Dr. Shichang Miao

UBC Chemistry recently had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Shichang Miao, a distinguished UBC Chemistry PhD graduate, seasoned biotech drug developer, investor, advisor/consultant, and leader in scientific societies. Dr. Miao, who completed his PhD in organic chemistry under Professor R.J. Andersen and post-doctoral training in biochemistry with Professor S.G. Withers at UBC, returned to the department for an eventful visit.

Dr. Miao toured the department, met with graduate students and...

UBC Enzyme Technology Clears First Human Test Toward Universal Donor Organs for Transplantation

UBC scientists Dr. Stephen Withers (UBC professor emeritus of chemistry) and Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu (UBC professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine and the Centre for Blood Research) have helped achieve a breakthrough for kidney transplants. In a first-in-human experiment, the enzyme-converted kidney was transplanted into a brain-dead recipient with consent from the family, allowing researchers to...

Dr. Tao Huan Research Highlighted in The Analytical Scientist

Congratulations to Dr. Tao Huan, who’s recent work “Why Adduct Choice Matter in Tandem Mass Spectrometry” was featured in The Analytical Scientist. Read the article here and the original work here....

UBC Chemistry Graduate Student Poster Prize Winners

Congratulations to the following graduate students who were selected as one of the top ten posters at the Graduate Student Imagine Day Poster Session.

Shambhu Chandra
Rama El-khawaldeh
Naysilla Dayanara
Joseph Chang
Sofia Sirohey
Juliette Froelich
Evelande Gedeon
Sepehr Nikkho
Daelin Peel-Smith
Amirhossein Rashidi

UBC Chemistry Graduate Students Honoured with Awards

Congratulations to the following UBC Chemistry graduate students for being award recipients!

Indigenous Graduate Fellowship

The University of British Columbia offers multi-year fellowships to master's and doctoral Indigenous students. Award winners are selected on the basis of academic merit through an annual competition administered by the Faculty of Graduate and...

Dr. Allan Bertram Elected to the Royal Society of Canada

Congratulations to Professor Allan Bertram for being elected to the Royal Society of Canada as a Fellow!

Dr. Bertram's research has significantly advanced the understanding of atmospheric aerosols. He developed new methods to study aerosols, characterized key properties, and contributed theoretical frameworks to predict their behaviour. His work has improved our understanding of air quality and climate and supports models...

Why Distance Doesn’t Make Wildfire Smoke Safer

Assistant Professor Nadine Borduas-Dedekind spoke to CBC News Vancouver meteorologist and science reporter, Johanna Wagstaffe, about how wildfire smoke undergoes chemical reactions as it travels farther from its source.

Watch the video here.

Dr. Mark MacLachlan's Side Hustle is Creating Crosswords for The New York Times

Dean MacLachlan has created a special UBC-themed crossword - can you solve it?

In his day-to-day life, Dr. Mark MacLachlan is a professor of chemistry researching supramolecular materials and dean of science at the University of British Columbia.

For the average individual, relaxing after work might involve scrolling...

Dr. Paul Hébert, CIHR President, Marks Historic Visit to UBC Chemistry Department

The Department of Chemistry was honored to host Dr. Paul Hébert, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in a landmark visit today. This marks the first time in the department's history that a CIHR President has visited, underscoring the growing recognition of UBC Chemistry's contributions to scientific research and innovation in the health sciences sector.

During the visit, UBC Chemistry...

New Tracer Could Enable Surgeons to See and Hear Prostate Cancer

A preclinical evaluation of a new ’dual-mode’ tracer agent shows promise in not only helping surgeons image and plan prostate cancer procedures, but also provide them with much more consistent and targeted guidance during surgery.

The agent uses a single tracer molecule labeled with Fluorine-18—a common isotope used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans—for diagnostic imaging. It also provides a one-step, widely accessible solution that would enable combined fluorescence-guided...

Researchers Use Electrochemistry to Boost Nuclear Fusion Rates

Researchers from the Berlinguette Group have demonstrated that electrochemically loading a solid metal target with deuterium fuel can boost nuclear fusion rates. Large-scale magnetic confinement fusion—which puts plasmas under extreme temperatures and pressure—is being widely explored as a method for clean energy generation, the researchers took a different approach. They loaded a metal target made of palladium with high...

UBC Chemistry Welcomes Dr. Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor of Canada, for Visit

On August 11th, the Department of Chemistry had the honor of hosting Dr. Mona Nemer, Canada's Chief Science Advisor, for a special visit to learn about how UBC Chemistry is a key enabler of Vancouver's growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology landscape. This significant visit marks the first time Canada's Chief Science Advisor has visited the Department of...

UBC’s Hein Lab and Seoul National University Partnership: Expanding Self-Driving Labs for Clean Energy Innovation

Collaboration accelerates AI-driven discovery of advanced battery materials.

A ground-breaking partnership between the University of British Columbia’s Hein Lab, Seoul National University (SNU), and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) is pushing the boundaries of battery energy storage research. Through developing self-driving laboratories, the teams aim to revolutionize material discoveries for high-performance battery electrolyte...

Team Canada Triumphs at IChO with Silver and Bronze Medals

In a remarkable display of scientific excellence, students representing Team Canada have made an incredible mark at the prestigious International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), securing two Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals. The competition, one of the most challenging and respected in the world, brought together the brightest young minds in chemistry from over 80 countries. This year, Team Canada stood out, thanks in part to a 10-day...

Mahsa Zarei Receives SAS Graduate Student Award

Mahsa Zarei, a PhD student in Professor Ed Grant's group, has been awarded the prestigious SAS Graduate Student Award, also known as the Barbara Stull Graduate Student Award. This award is given to up to two graduate students in recognition of outstanding research in the area of spectroscopy.

Zarei has developed innovative Raman-...

Dr. Tao Huan Receives President's Award by the Metabolomics Society

Congratulations to Associate Professor Tao Huan for receiving The President's Award, presented by the Metabolomics Society! Dr. Haun was invited to attend Metabolomics 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic where he was presented the award.

The President’s...

UBC Chemistry Prepares Top Young Chemists for the International Chemistry Olympiad

The four best high school chemists in Canada are gearing up for the International Chemistry Olympiad in Dubai this July, and they’re getting ready with an intensive 10-day training camp at UBC’s Department of Chemistry.

The camp includes hours of courses, labs, and problem-solving sessions each day, where students are learning everything from coating maple leaf bottles in silver to changing fire colors.

Last year, Canada won...

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