Recognition includes support to build world-leading research programs
Two UBC Okanagan researchers have received a significant financial boost to their research projects through the Michael Smith Health Research BC (MSHRBC)’s Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) programs.
Both the Scholar and HP-I programs provide $90,000 in funding for up to five years, with the Scholar program geared towards outstanding early-career health researchers and the HP-I program to health professionals actively involved in patient care.
Dr. Gabrielle Legault – 2025 Scholar Program recipient.
Dr. Gabrielle Legault, Assistant Professor in Indigenous Studies, is a 2025 Scholar recipient. Her research aims to address health research gaps for urban Indigenous people. While urban Indigenous people represent 78 per cent of BC’s Indigenous population, Dr. Legault notes that health research for these communities often lacks meaningful engagement, limits their agency and inadequately represents their diverse Nations, cultures and lived experiences.
Her research will co-develop scalable, culturally responsible governance models for health research that center urban Indigenous perspectives. The team will engage with urban Indigenous health leaders, community members and health researchers to co-create community-informed pathways and help health studies better reflect and serve urban Indigenous communities in BC.
“The knowledge generated from this project will address systemic gaps in Indigenous health research by developing inclusive research practices and ensuring that urban Indigenous priorities shape the research agenda,” says Dr. Legault.
Dr. Barbara Oliveira – 2025 Health Professional-Investigator recipient
A Registered Dietitian and Research Associate in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Dr. Barbara Oliveira received the Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) award. Her research project centers around type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission, when patients’ blood sugar levels return to sub-diabetes levels without any medication to lower glucose.
Many patients, and their health-care providers, are unaware T2D remission is possible through changes to diet and lifestyle. The project will use social media to connect with potential candidates and educate them about this possibility, ultimately referring to dietitians specially trained in the research program’s strategies for T2D remission. With this awareness and personalized expert support, the project aims to empower people living with T2D to both reach and maintain remission.
“The HP-I award gives me the chance to keep building my research,” says Dr. Oliveira. “This opportunity helps me focus on patient-centered care for type 2 diabetes remission and work with a great team to make science more accessible to everyone.”
Ongoing MSHRBC funding support helps researchers develop and build leading-edge research programs and train the next generation of scientists while giving recipients expanded potential to make significant contributions to their field.
Across both campuses, the 2025 MSHRBC awards celebrated and supported 10 UBC researchers to help build BC’s health research talent.