We are pleased to share the appointment of Dr. Govind Kaigala as Director pro tem, School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME), effective May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
An associate professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, senior scientist at the Vancouver Prostate Centre and principal investigator at the Life Sciences Institute, Dr. Kaigala is a recognized leader in the development of miniaturized bioanalytical platforms and microfluidic technologies for clinical applications.
His research harnesses micro- and nanoscale platforms to uncover the complexity and variability within cancers and other pathologies. Dr. Kaigala’s work has contributed to the development of new bioanalytical techniques with applications in cancer engineering, preclinical research and diagnostics, opening new avenues for research and industry to have an impact within health systems. In recognition of his research excellence, he has been awarded numerous accolades, including IBM Master Inventor, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and UBC Killam Accelerator Research Fellow.
Beyond these contributions, Dr. Kaigala is widely respected for his mentorship of students and trainees and for his ability to bring people together around new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities for growth. He has built interdisciplinary teams spanning engineering, biology, and medicine, and is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment.
Most recently, Dr. Kaigala has served as SBME’s Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement, leading initiatives, such as the Conconi Family Biodevice Foundry, to strengthen relationships with clinical partners, academia and industry.
As Director pro tem, Dr. Kaigala will focus on advancing SBME’s strategic priorities to advance accelerate groundbreaking innovations in biomedical research, strengthen ties to B.C.’s vibrant life sciences and technology sectors and train Canada’s next generation of biomedical engineers and leaders. He will build on SBME’s strong foundation as a collaborative, impact-focused and innovation-driven community embedded within the broader biomedical ecosystem.
Dr. Kaigala’s appointment follows the leadership of Dr. Peter Zandstra, who has served as Director since SBME’s establishment in 2017. We thank Dr. Zandstra for his outstanding service and vision in building SBME into a globally connected hub for biomedical research, education, and training. This growth has been further accelerated by the opening of the Gordon B. Shrum Building—Canada’s first purpose-built biomedical engineering facility. We wish Dr. Zandstra continued success in his new role as UBC’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
Please join us in thanking Dr. Zandstra and welcoming Dr. Kaigala to this new role.