Areas of Research

BCCDC’s collaborative, trans-disciplinary research programs and projects span all service lines.

Public health research

We focus on communicable disease threats like hepatitis C virus (HCV), antimicrobial resistance, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB) influenza, Mpox and COVID-19. Our work also explores roles for public health in mitigating the health effects of climate change, informing injury prevention policies, responding to the toxic drug crisis in our province and pioneering real-time, linked-cohort analysis to guide care and response.

Our researchers employ innovative technologies and methodologies, such as genomics, mathematical modeling and novel epidemiological and statistical tools.

Health equity and Truth and Reconciliation

Woven throughout our operations and research is our commitment to acting on Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous communities and advancing health equity. We recognize this is an ongoing effort that takes continuous collaboration with Indigenous communities, settlers and researchers.

Project areas

BCCDC’s research programming is designed to respond and adapt to the health care needs of the moment. Our research projects are currently focused across several targeted areas:

COVID-19 response & recovery
Overdose emergency response
Climate change adaptation
Mental health resiliency
Emerging hazards preparedness
Indigenous health promotion
Chronic disease prevention
Public health genomics
Advancing data science

Currently funded studies (selected)

2R2: Higher Dose Rifampin for 2 months vs Standard Dose

Project lead: Dr. James Johnston

A precision public health approach to eliminating TB transmission
Project lead: Dr. James Johnston

A randomized trial of doxycycline chemoprophylaxis for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM)
Project lead: Dr. Troy Grennan

Addressing key knowledge gaps in testing to inform STI prevention & control strategies
Project lead: Dr. Mark Gilbert

APHC research allowance: Improving the equity, appropriateness and sustainability of sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infection testing systems through implementation science research
Project lead: Dr. Mark Gilbert

Assessing the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines Across Large and Diverse Populations Using the 17-country Global Vaccine Data Network Consortium
Project lead: Dr. Monika Naus

Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC): From Discovery to Implementation - Theme 2 monitoring the cascade of care
Project lead: Dr. Naveed Janjua

CTN core co-lead of the co-infections and related conditions (CRC) core
Project lead: Dr. Troy Grennan

Discourse on COVID-19 and illicit drug toxicity on social media
Project lead: Dr. Naveed Janjua

Enhanced wastewater surveillance to support safe restart in British Columbia
Project lead: Dr. Natalie Prystajecky

Estimating the value and long-term impact of implementing risk mitigation guidance to reduce the harms of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a simulation modeling analysis
Project lead: Dr. Amanda Slaunwhite

Evaluating Prescribed Safer Supply Among Formerly Incarcerated Persons During an Overdose Public Health Emergency
Project lead: Dr. Amanda Slaunwhite

Evaluating the differential impact of what we have done, as we prioritize what to do next: a multi-provincial intervention modeling study using population-based data
Project lead: Dr. Naveed Janjua‎

Host immune responses to Chlamydia Trachomatis candidate vaccine antigens and their association with clinical correlates of protective immunity in women
Project lead: Dr. Robert Brunham

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes care among South Asian population
Project Lead: Dr. Geoffrey McKee

Improving the equity, appropriateness and sustainability of sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infection testing systems through implementation science research
Project lead: Dr. Mark Gilbert

Opioid prescribing evaluation & research activities (OPERA)
Project lead: Dr. Jane Buxton

Predicting and evaluating anal cancer in HIV with novel biomarkers: the PEACH study
Project lead: Dr. Troy Grennan

PeptAid antimicrobial peptides to replace antibiotics in farm veterinary practice
Project leads: Dr. Erin Fraser and Dr. Linda Hoang

Preventing Opioid Deaths due to COVID Related Increase in Smoking Illicit Substances (Preventing OD CRISIS)
Project lead: Dr. Jessica Moe

RAPID-mNGS - Rapid Agnostic Pathogen IDentification Using Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing
Project Lead: Dr. Amee Manges

Role of early childhood viral infection on the development of childhood sleep disordered breathing
Project lead: Dr. Agatha Jassem

Tacking the 2 greatest obstacles to TB elimination
Project lead: Dr. Victoria Cook

Teasing apart the differential impact of variants of concern on COVID-19 severity and health inequities: a population-based genomic epidemiological investigation in Ontario and British Columbia
Project lead: Dr. Hind Sbihi

The DISCO study: rethinking STI prevention
Project lead: Dr. Troy Grennan

The effects of in utero and neonatal wildfire smoke exposure on birth outcomes and health in early life
Project lead: Dr. Sarah Henderson

The impact of COVID-19 and related control measures on the hepatitis C virus care cascade
Project lead: Dr. Naveed Janjua

Treadwell Canada: COVID-19 Vaccine Alliance
Project lead: Dr. Robert Brunham
Understanding contextual factors to scale up GetCheckedOnline
Project lead: Dr. Mark Gilbert

Unified pathogen control onehealth approach specifically targeting norovirus (UPCOAST-N)
Project lead: Dr. Natalie Prystajecky

Unified pathogen control onehealth approach specifically targeting vibrio (UPCOAST-V)
Project lead: Dr. Linda Hoang

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