A stem cell scientist by day and a stand-up comedian and musician by night, @mlithopoulos.bsky.social is on a mission to make us all love science.
Two weeks before her wedding, she organized the first "Science, Stand-Up & Song," bringing scientists, comedians and music into one unforgettable show.
Posts by Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH)
The Abdelrahman, Wellington and Ciernia labs, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of BC, are hosting an Open House at DMCBH on May 9.
Join researchers, people with lived experience, caregivers and community members for a day of learning, connection and conversation about Alzheimer’s disease.
What drives us to act and when do we stop?
Dr. Milan Valyear (@milanium.bsky.social) is a new @psych.ubc.ca faculty member studying the brain circuits behind reinforcement and disengagement.
From childhood tinkering to cutting-edge neuroscience, his work is all about curiosity and discovery.
How do we detect brain injury earlier and improve recovery? Join us April 20 for Repairing the Mind, featuring UBC researchers exploring:
🧠 blood biomarkers for brain injury
🧠 spinal cord repair strategies
🧠 technologies to assess consciousness
Register: communityengagement.ubc.ca/events/repai...
Today is UBC Giving Day!
At the DMCBH, bold ideas can lead to breakthroughs in brain health — but only with support from you. Your donation helps support student training, strengthen research infrastructure and advance the search for new treatments.
Donate now:
givingday.ubc.ca/32770/gd2026...
Join us in-person or online on April 15, to celebrate Parkinson’s Awareness Day! Learn about the exciting research happening at the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre, followed by a guided exercise workshop!
Learn more and register: www.parkinsons.ubc.ca/2026
As part of a UBC research team, VCHRI investigators Drs. Julie Robillard & Lara Boyd are exploring forearm muscle signals to develop a muscle-based voice control interface, allowing users to speak or sing without using their mouth & throat:
1 in 3 people worldwide is affected by a neurological condition. Research is critical to finding new therapies, improving treatment & bringing hope to patients & families. Support brain health research at @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social this #UBCGivingDay: buff.ly/IVIjsuL
Help fund the future of brain health! Your gift to the DMCBH this #UBCGivingDay supports:
🔬 bold new research ideas
🤝 new collaborations
🎓 student training
🧠 cutting-edge tools and technologies
Donate now and double your impact - the first $1000 will be matched: givingday.ubc.ca/32770/gd2026...
Stoked to announce that I’m starting a lab as an Assistant Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Centre for Brain Health at UBC!
mcdiarmid-lab.sbme.ubc.ca
Recruiting at all levels - please share the word!
Cheers and happy long weekend all!
April is #ParkinsonsAwareness Month! A new study from Dr. Martin McKeown’s lab shows how ultrasound stimulation could help reduce Parkinson’s tremor. This research highlights the potential for safer, more precise and personalized treatments for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
In honour of #WorldBipolarDay today, the CREST.BD network is hosting its 8th annual “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) on Reddit to answer questions about all aspects of bipolar disorder. Join the conversation!
Support the DMCBH on UBC Giving Day! Your gift helps fund innovative brain health research, student training and the technologies that make discovery possible. Don’t delay – the first $1,000 in donations will be matched dollar for dollar!
Donate now: givingday.ubc.ca/32770/gd2026...
In partnership with the ALS Society of BC, we're excited to announce the formal return of #ALS clinical trials to British Columbia after nearly 15 years!
Under the leadership of Dr. Erik Pioro, the Phase 2 trial ALSTARS study is now actively recruiting candidates at the UBC ALSRD Clinic.
Meet @zachtpennington.bsky.social, a new researcher at the DMCBH and @psych.ubc.ca who is exploring how the brain regulates stress and emotion. He is also an advocate of building open-source tools to make science more accessible for all.
Read more: www.centreforbrainhealth.ca/news/from-sk...
For #BrainAwarenessWeek, we're sharing brain facts from @danafoundation.bsky.social! At the DMCBH, our research spans many neuroscience topics, from Dr. Haakon Nygaard's lab using organoids to study Alzheimer's to Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose's lab looking at the importance of healthy lifestyle habits.
We're excited that the DMCBH will be featured for UBC Giving Day on April 8! Research is essential to advancing new therapies and treatments for brain disorders, and your support plays a critical role in making breakthroughs possible.
Learn more and donate here: givingday.ubc.ca/32770/gd2026...
🧠 This #BrainAwarenessWeek, watch our new #ResearchInAction video featuring cutting-edge research led by VCHRI scientist & @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social Co-Director Dr. Lynn Raymond, exploring the brain connections to advance our understanding of Huntington's disease.
Join us on April 20 for "Repairing the Mind: The Future of Brain Injury Research and Recovery." Learn how UBC researchers are developing technologies and treatments that could transform how brain & spinal cord injuries are diagnosed and treated.
Register: communityengagement.ubc.ca/events/repai...
Congratulations to DMCBH member Dr. Xiaoxiao Li on receiving a UBC Killam Research Fellowship! Her research focuses on the intersection of AI and healthcare, theory and techniques for artificial general intelligence and AI trustworthiness.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. 👁 VCHRI researcher Dr. Joanne Matsubara explains the science behind early changes in vision & how research is informing glaucoma care: www.vchri.ca/stories/2026... #GlaucomaWeek
Can a concussion leave a "signature" in the brain?
Using EEG microstate analysis, a new study led by Dr. Naznin Virji-Babul found that adolescent athletes show altered patterns of brain activity after a concussion.
Read more: www.centreforbrainhealth.ca/news/resting...
VCHRI researcher Dr. Stefan Lang spoke to @globalnews.ca about his research exploring the use of deep brain stimulation to study mood changes in Parkinson's patients: buff.ly/Ogg6bPm @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social
As an early celebration of 2026 #BrainAwarenessWeek, @neuroethicsubc.bsky.social will be hosting its Annual Distinguished Neuroethics Lecture on March 10, featuring Dr. Oliver Rollins from MIT.
Learn more and register: neuroethics.med.ubc.ca/baw2026/
Read CAN President Douglas Zochodne's letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighting the importance of Neuroscience research and the CIHR Project Grant shortfalls.
can-acn.org/read-our-let...
Meet Alvin — a biomedical engineering student in the Ultrasound Technology and AI for Healthcare Laboratory who is using AI to expand access to quality medical imaging in communities with limited resources: www.vchri.ca/stories/2026...
The next @bcbrainwellness.bsky.social research seminar on March 4th features Dr. Stefanie Blain-Moraes, who will share how she is using arts-based interactions to support relationships with minimally communicative persons.
Learn more: www.bcbrainwellness.ca/events/resea...
UBC's Dr. Raymond Lam shares how daylight and weather can influence our mood and gives practical tips to help you get through this harsh winter with your happiness intact
via @theglobeandmail.com
UBC has launched a new micro‑certificate in Natural Language Processing to Improve Patient Care!
If you’re in healthcare or research and want practical AI + NLP skills you can apply right away, this program is for you.
📅 Starts March 10, 2026
Learn more: extendedlearning.ubc.ca/courses/over...
Photo of Dr. Zachary Pennington and Dr. Milan Valyear
We're thrilled to welcome Dr. @zachtpennington.bsky.social and Dr. @milanium.bsky.social as Assistant Professors in our Behavioural Neuroscience area and members of the @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social.
Read their Q&As: psych.ubc.ca/news