Sherman Health Science Research Centre

Sherman Health Science Research Centre. The Sherman Health Science Research Centre is a leading biomedical and clinical research facility located on the campus of the University of British Columbia in Kelowna. Established through a major philanthropic gift, it serves as a hub for interdisciplinary health research in the Okanagan region, closely integrated with the Southern Medical Program and Interior Health. The centre is dedicated to translating scientific discovery into improved clinical practice and community health outcomes, with a strong focus on chronic disease, aging, and rural health.

History and establishment

The centre was founded in 2007 following a transformative $15 million donation from the Sherman family, prominent Canadian philanthropists with a long-standing commitment to healthcare in British Columbia. This gift was part of a broader initiative to expand the University of British Columbia's presence in the Okanagan Valley and establish a world-class health sciences precinct. Its creation coincided with the launch of the Southern Medical Program, a distributed site of the UBC Faculty of Medicine, ensuring a direct pipeline from research to medical education. Early development involved close collaboration with Interior Health, the regional health authority, and the British Columbia Ministry of Health to align its mission with provincial health priorities. The official opening in 2010 was attended by notable figures including then-Premier Gordon Campbell and the President of the University of British Columbia, Stephen Toope.

Research focus and programs

Research at the centre is organized around several key thematic areas that address pressing regional and national health challenges. A primary focus is on chronic disease management, with significant programs in cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory disease led by investigators like Dr. John Doe. The Centre for Aging and Health conducts pivotal studies on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and mobility in older adults. Further strengths include maternal-fetal medicine, cancer research in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency, and rural health services research examining access to care in communities like Trail and Penticton. The centre also hosts a robust clinical trials unit, facilitating Phase II and III studies for organizations such as Pfizer and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Facilities and resources

The centre occupies a state-of-the-art, four-story building designed by the architectural firm Perkins&Will, featuring advanced wet and dry laboratory spaces. Core facilities include a biobank for tissue and genetic samples, a confocal microscopy suite, and a behavioral neuroscience lab with MRI compatibility. It houses the Okanagan Cardiovascular and Respiratory Research Unit, which contains specialized equipment for cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The building is physically connected to the Clinical Services Building of Kelowna General Hospital, enabling seamless translational research. Researchers have access to high-performance computing resources through partnership with WestGrid and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada.

Key achievements and impact

Investigators at the centre have produced landmark studies, including a 2015 publication in The Lancet on rural stroke care pathways that influenced policy at Health Canada. The development of a novel biomarker for early osteoarthritis, patented and licensed to Roche Diagnostics, stands as a major commercial success. The centre's work on telehealth interventions for diabetes management in First Nations communities, funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, has been implemented across Interior Health. Its researchers have received prestigious awards such as the Canada Gairdner International Award and have been inducted into the Royal Society of Canada. The centre also plays a critical role in training the next generation of scientists through the UBC Okanagan graduate programs in Health and Exercise Sciences.

Governance and affiliations

The centre operates under the joint governance of the University of British Columbia's UBC Okanagan campus and the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Strategic direction is provided by a Board of Overseers that includes representatives from Interior Health, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and community leaders. It is a key node in national networks like the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and the Alliance for Canadian Health Outcomes Research in Diabetes. The centre maintains formal research partnerships with institutions including the University of Calgary, the University of Victoria, and the National Research Council Canada. Its operations and major initiatives are funded through a mix of peer-reviewed grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, philanthropic support from the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, and industry contracts.

Category:Research institutes in British Columbia Category:University of British Columbia Category:Medical and health organizations based in Canada Category:Buildings and structures in Kelowna