The School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia is pleased to welcome Dr. Kathryn Whitehead and Dr. Curtis Huttenhower as part of the inaugural cohort of the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program. UBC is welcoming nine world-leading researchers as part of the $1.7-billion federal Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative launched last December. The program is providing $1 billion over 12 years to help Canadian post-secondary institutions recruit exceptional international and expatriate Canadian researchers. Chairholders will lead transformational research projects and build partnerships with industry, government, non-profit and other organizations to generate tangible impacts in addressing critical national and global challenges.
“UBC’s global reputation for research that advances knowledge and improves lives makes it a destination for leading scholars from around the world,” said UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon. “We are delighted to welcome these nine exceptional researchers, whose work will have important and meaningful impact in research areas vital to the future of British Columbia, Canada and the world. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for this timely and significant investment.”
The SBME chairs’ research programs will address some of today’s most pressing challenges including developing more precise ways to diagnose and treat disease and harnessing data to improve health at every scale.
Dr. Kathryn Whitehead, Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Translational Drug Delivery, is a leading figure in lipid nanoparticle drug delivery, a field that has rapidly grown since its use in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. Currently a professor of chemical engineering and biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Whitehead develops materials that transport fragile therapeutic molecules to specific cells and organs, accelerating technologies that could expand the use of RNA and other emerging treatments beyond their breakthrough application in COVID-19 vaccines. She will be joining the faculty of applied science and school of biomedical engineering at UBC Vancouver in summer 2027.
Dr. Curtis Huttenhower, Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Microbiome Sciences, is a global leader in computational microbiome research whose tools are used by thousands of laboratories worldwide. Currently a professor of computational biology and bioinformatics at Harvard University, Dr. Huttenhower has helped move the field beyond identifying which microbes live in and on the human body to understanding how they function, influence health and contribute to disease. He will be joining the school of biomedical engineering and faculty of science at UBC Vancouver in summer 2027.
“The Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada represent an extraordinary opportunity for Canada to connect world-leading fundamental research with translation and societal impact,turning discovery into innovations that improve lives, strengthen our economy and benefit Canadians,” said Vice-President, Research and Innovation Dr. Peter Zandstra.
With today’s announcement, UBC also now has an opportunity to recruit nine international early-career researchers for the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders award, who will work in the same strategic priority areas as its Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada.