David McArthur

University of Alberta, 1992, PhD, Plant Physiology

University of British Columbia, 1987, MSc, Horticulture

University of British Columbia, 1983, BSc (Agr)

Reproductive biology of fruit crops including hormone physiology
Fruit crop responses to environment (cold injury) and cultural management
Efficiency of nutrient uptake and allocation; nutrient leaching due to soil-type & nutrient-source.
Plant nutrition and plant–microbe interactions (mycorrhizae)
Use of advanced microscopic techniques (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, SEM, TEM) to characterize flower development, mycorrhizae and plant roots.

APBI 322: Horticultural Techniques
APBI 360: Food & Environment II
APBI 490 002: Sustainable Fruit Production
FNH 330: Introduction Wine Science I
FNH 335: Introduction Wine Science II

McArthur DAJ (2001) Optimizing nutrient delivery in variable soils for sustainable highbush blueberry production. Acta Horticulturae 564: 393-406

McArthur DAJ, NR Knowles (1993) Influence of species of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus nutrition on growth, development and mineral physiology of potato. Plant Physiol 102: 771-782

McArthur DAJ, NR Knowles (1993) Influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the response of potato to phosphorus deficiency. Plant Physiol 101: 147-160

Non-referee:

McArthur DAJ, Mauza B (2003) Hidden winter injury in BC cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait): frost, cold injury or biotic stress? North American Cranberry Researchers & Extension Workers Conference, U. Mass

McArthur DAJ, Isman M (2003) Reduced-risk pesticides based on plant essential oils (fruit crops). NSERC & FVSGA, RC, BCCGA, BCBC-Industry Report

McArthur DAJ, Scaman, CH Zhang R, Ellis BE, Pharis RP (2001) Carbohydrate metabolism, mineral nutrition and endogenous hormones of cranberry before, during and after floral induction. Cranberry Institute Reports

McArthur DAJ, Gelok E, Wan A, Boss A, Isman M (2000) Reduced-risk pesticides based on plant essential oils for integrated fruit crop management. 2000 Int. Chem Congress, ACS, Honolulu

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Carol McAusland

April 27, 2018

Carol McAusland

Professor, Food and Resource Economics

604–822–3350

carol.mcausland@ubc.ca

MacMillan 337, 2357 Main Mall

University of Michigan, 1999, PhD, Economics

University of Michigan, 1996, MA, Economics

University of British Columbia, 1994, MA, Economics

University of British Columbia, 1993, BA, Hon. Economics

Dr. McAusland’s research focuses on interactions between globalization and public good provision. This includes the climate policy, invasive species, skilled-labour migration, trade liberalization, the World Trade Organisation, intellectual property rights, political economy, transport emissions, regulatory takings, and consumer-related environmental policy such as carbon footprint taxes and vehicle subsidies.

Graduate Students

Applying to work with Prof. McAusland

Prof. McAusland advises Masters and PhD students through the Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems MSc and PhD programs. She also co-supervises graduate students in the Vancouver School of Economics.

Students interested in applying to work with Prof. McAusland via the ISLFS program are advised to contact her via email, sending her the following: transcripts (unofficial copies are fine) and a 2-page proposal outlining the research they would like to conduct.

Dr. McAusland teaches at the undergraduate level and at the graduate level in the Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) program.

Courses

FRE 420 Economics of International Trade and the Environment
FRE 460 Economics of Food Consumption
FRE 502 Food Market Analysis

See Google Scholar for a full list of publications.

McAusland, Carol. "Carbon taxes and footprint leakage: Spoilsport effects." Journal of Public Economics 204 (2021): 104531.

Epanchin-Niell, Rebecca, et al. "Biological invasions and international trade: Managing a moving target." Review of Environmental Economics and Policy 15.1 (2021): 180-190.

Gulati, Sumeet, Carol McAusland, and James M Sallee. 2017. “Tax incidence with endogenous quality and costly bargaining: Theory and evidence from hybrid vehicle subsidies,” Journal of Public Economics 155: 93-107.

McAusland, Carol and Nouri Najjar. 2015. “Carbon footprint taxes,” Environmental and resource Economics 61:37-70.

McAusland, Carol and Nouri Najjar. 2014. “The WTO Constitency of Carbon Footprint Taxes,” Geo. J. Int'l L. 46:765.

McAusland, Carol and Daniel L Millimet. 2013. “Do national borders matter? Intranational trade, international trade, and the environment,” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 65:411-437.

Aisbett, Emma and Carol McAusland. 2013, "Firm Characteristics and Influence on Government Rule-Making: Theory and Evidence,” European Journal of Political Economy 29: 214-235.

Additional Information

Dr. McAusland is Professor of Food and Resource Economics in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

She served as Chair (incoming/current/outgoing) of the Canadian Resource and Environmental Economics Association from 2018-2021 and as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (2007-2009). She was a co-editor of the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (2009-2012) and has served on the editorial board/council of Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (2006-2009, 2012-2015) and the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (2014-2020)

She is a Fellow of the CESifo Research Network and the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy. Dr. McAusland has published research on a wide range of subjects in the fields of environmental and international economics, including environmental politics, migration, investment treaties, carbon policy design, brain drain, invasive species, and WTO rules regarding environmentally motivated trade restrictions.

Tagged with: Faculty, Food and Resource Economics, Integrated Studies

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Frederik Noack

April 24, 2018

Frederik Noack

Associate Professor, Food and Resource Economics
Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Environmental Economics

604–822–2619

frederik.noack@ubc.ca

MacMillan 331, 2357 Main Mall

www.frederiknoack.landfood.ubc.ca

The University of Kiel, 2014, PhD Economics

University of Greifswald, 2008, Diplom Landscape Ecology

My research focuses on the interaction of economic development and the environment. Specifically, I am interested how improved market access and property rights affect rural welfare and natural resources such as forests, fish stocks and biodiversity.

I teach environmental and resource economics at the undergraduate and graduate level:

ECON/FRE 374 Land and Resource Economics

FRE 603 Advanced Food and Resource Economics

See Google Scholar for a complete list of publications.

Noack, F., & Costello, C. (accepted). Credit markets, property rights, and the commons. Journal of Political Economy.

Larsen, A. E., Noack, F., & Powers, L. C. (2024). Spillover effects of organic agriculture on pesticide use on nearby fields. Science, 383(6689)

Noack, F., Larsen, A., Kamp, J., & Levers, C. (2022). A bird's eye view of farm size and biodiversity: The ecological legacy of the iron curtain. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 104(4), 1460-1484.

Tagged with: Faculty, Food and Resource Economics, Integrated Studies

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Candice Rideout

April 24, 2018

Candice Rideout

Professor of Teaching, Food, Nutrition and Health

604–822–0147

candice.rideout@ubc.ca

FNH 249, 2205 East Mall

@carideout

University of British Columbia, PhD, Human Nutrition

Queen’s University, BSc, Life Science

Queen’s University, BA, Honours Psychology

Community nutrition: Using participatory approaches to develop effective community nutrition programs; exploring issues related to food security locally, nationally, and internationally.
Nutrition education: Developing targeted nutrition education programs and evaluating their effect on health behaviours and outcomes.
Nutrition ecology: Exploring strategies to promote nutritious diets within the context of sustainable food systems.
Psychosocial aspects of human nutrition: Exploring dietary attitudes, food choice, nutrition-related stress, and their associations with body weight, body composition, and other indicators of health.
Scholarship of teaching and learning: Critical examination of active learning strategies to identify, test, and refine methods to increase student engagement and enhance learning in the context of undergraduate education.

I am committed to creating engaging learning opportunities using a variety of active learning approaches, including problem-based learning (PBL) and community service learning (CSL).

Courses

FNH 355: International Nutrition
FNH 371: Human Nutrition over the Lifespan

Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm

Rideout CA. 2018. Students’ choices and achievement in large undergraduate classes using a novel flexible assessment approach. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 43(1):68-78.

Rideout CA, Barr SI. 2009. “Restrained eating” versus “trying to lose weight”: how are they associated with body weight and tendency to overeat among postmenopausal women? Journal of the American Dietetic Association 109(5): 890-893.

Rideout CA. 2009. Potential micronutrient inadequacies in vegetarian diets. The Whitehall-Robbins Report 18(3).

Rideout CA, Peitsch LS. Could recommendations presented in Canada’s new food guide affect the cost of eating? Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research 2008; 69(3):162.

Rideout CA, Linden W, Barr SI. 2006. High cognitive dietary restraint is associated with increased cortisol excretion in postmenopausal women. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 61A: 628-33.

Rideout CA, McKay HA, Barr SI. 2006. Self-reported lifetime physical activity and areal bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal women: the importance of teenage activity. Calcified Tissue International 79: 214-22.

Rideout CA, McLean JA, Barr SI. 2004. Women with high scores for cognitive dietary restraint choose foods lower in fat and energy. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 104: 1154-7.

Barr SI, Rideout CA. 2004. Nutritional considerations for vegetarian athletes. Nutrition 20: 696-703.

Rideout CA, Barr SI, Prior JC. 2003. Clinical eating disorders and subclinical disordered eating: implications for bone health. In S. New and J-P. Bonjour, eds. Nutritional Aspects of Bone Health. Cambridge UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, p 611-44.

Tagged with: Faculty, Food Nutrition and Health

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Andrew Riseman

April 24, 2018

Andrew Riseman

Associate Professor, Applied Biology and Plant Breeding

604–822–9607

andrew.riseman@ubc.ca

MacMillan 323, 2357 Main Mall

Pennsylvania State University, 1997, PhD

Pennsylvania State University, 1990, MSc

Pennsylvania State University, 1984, BSc

My research interests include understanding the role of plant genetics in the design of sustainable production systems, identifying relevant traits useful in these systems, combining them within superior germplasm, and integrating this germplasm into an optimized system. General areas of interest include plant breeding, intercrop interactions, nutrient use efficiency, root physiology, biotic and abiotic stressor resistance, and edaphic selection. Currently, I am focusing on understanding and designing intensive multi-trophic production systems and the re-integration of plant and animal production.

Beyond biological research, I have strong interests in Community Based Action Research (CBAR) and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Specific interests include teaching critical thinking, using technology to enhance the learning environment, and promoting storytelling and digital communication skills for student outreach.

In addition to my research interests, I am passionate about the UBC Farm and its continued evolution into a world-class academic resource.

The long term objectives of my research are:

to develop germplasm that is enhanced for traits valuable in sustainable production systems
to develop germplasm specifically for integrated animal crop production systems
to elucidate the underlining genetic basis for traits related to sustainable production including biotic and abiotic stressor resistance
to develop appropriate technology : germplasm combinations optimized for urban agriculture

Research Projects

Development of bioactive formulations for enhanced agricultural production
Evaluation of plant genetics on small grain : legume intercropping systems
Evaluation of various nitrogen sources in organic production systems

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Objectives

to develop techniques and strategies to seamlessly layer critical thinking skill development into all aspects of coursework
to develop effective student : community engagement environments that provide meaningful experiences for both the community and the student
to better understand the opportunities, impacts and consequences associated with using technology within student-centre active learning environments
to develop learning objects, i.e., simulations, augmented realities, that promote student learning and connections to the world around them

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Projects

Scaffolding and Scaling up Integrated Experiential Learning Experiences in the Core Series, Land and Food Systems (TLEF 2016-2018)
Development of computer simulation for enhanced learning of plant breeding and genetics

Courses

APBI 318 Applied Plant Breeding
APBI 360 Agroecology II
APBI 460 Agroecology III

UBC Food Process Engineering Laboratory

Nicholas C Coops, Jean Marcus, Ileana Construt, Erica Frank, Ron Kellett, Eric Mazzi, Alison Munro, Susan Nesbit, Andrew Riseman, John Robinson, Anneliese Schultz, Yona Sipos. 2015, How an entry- level, interdisciplinary sustainability course revealed the benefits and challenges of a university-wide initiative for sustainability education, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 16 Iss 5 pp. 729 – 747.

Ramakrishnan, A., C. Ritland, R. Blas, and A. Riseman. 2015. Review of Potato Molecular Markers to Enhance Trait Selection. American Journal of Potato Research. April:1-18.

Chapagain, T. and A. Riseman. 2015. Nitrogen and carbon transformations, water use efficiency and ecosystem productivity in monocultures and wheat-bean intercropping systems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 101(1):107-121.

Chapagain, T. and A. Riseman. 2014. Intercropping wheat and beans: Effects on Agronomic performance and land productivity. Crop Science 54(5):1-9.

Chapagain, T. and A. Riseman. 2014. Barley-pea intercropping: Effects on land productivity, carbon and nitrogen transformations. Field Crops Research. 166(September):18-25.

Chapagain, T., L. Super and A. Riseman. 2014. Root Architecture Variation in Wheat and Barley Cultivars. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 4(7): 849-856.

Schutzbank, M. and A. Riseman. 2013. Entrepreneurial Urban Farms: An Urban Farming Census of Vancouver. The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability. 8(4):131-163.

Chapagain, T. and A. Riseman. 2012. Evaluation of Heirloom and Commercial Cultivars of Small Grains under Low Input Organic Systems, American Journal of Plant Sciences, 3, 655-669.

Chapagain, T., A. Riseman and E. Yamaji. 2011. Assessment of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Conventional Practices under Organic and Inorganic Management in Japan. Rice Science 18 (4): 311-320.

Chapagain, T., A. Riseman and E. Yamaji. 2011. Achieving More with Less Water: Alternate Wet and Dry Irrigation (AWDI) as an Alternative to the Conventional Water Management Practices in Rice Farming. Journal of Agricultural Science 3 (3): 3-13.

Tagged with: Applied Biology, Faculty, Integrated Studies, Plant Science, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

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Anubhav Pratap-Singh

April 19, 2018

Anubhav Pratap-Singh

Associate Professor, Food, Nutrition and Health (Food Processing)

Food and Beverage Innovation Professorship

604–822–5944

anubhav.singh@ubc.ca

FNH 213, 2205 East Mall

University of Toronto, 2017, Banting Postoctoral Fellow, Food Fortification

McGill University, 2015, PhD, Food Science

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, 2011, BTech/MTech, Chemical Engineering

Wherein everyone has an opinion about food and ill-effects of food processing in general, our research addresses questions like:

What is the impact of food processing on food?
How can technology adapt to maximize the desirable effects, and minimize the deleterious ones to help us feed 10 billion people in 2050?
How can we ensure that the food consumed, by even the poorest person, is safe healthy and nutritious?
How could we, as scientists, alter the negative public perception around processed food?

Our research group explores various emerging technologies for improving the nutrition, quality, processability and shelf life of processed food products. With particular focus & experience in processing of liquid particulate matter, we use a variety of innovative processing technologies to deliver a solution that is quantitatively and qualitatively better. The main areas of study are highlighted below:

1. Developing novel processing technologies for preservation of food

We are developing various novel technologies, with the focus on maximizing desirable effects and minimizing undesirable ones. Some of the new technologies being explored are developed with industrial partners. Sonic Mixing Technology for thermal processing: Contrary to conventional mixing methods such as impeller agitation or rotary agitation technologies, the sonic mixing technology applies low-frequency, high-intensity acoustic energy to create a uniform shear field throughout the entire mixing vessel, thus enabling a better quality of the final mixtures in a reduced amount of time. Pulsed UV light processing: Pulsed UV is an excellent surface decontamination technology, that has the capability to decontaminate food surfaces within 10s. Unfortunately, being a surface-only technology, pulsed UV processing can’t be used to process liquid food products easily. We explore the application of using Pulsed UV as part of a hurdle approach for liquid treatment.

2. Development technologies for food fortification

This aspect of our research focusses on technology development for fortification of food including table salt, green tea, coffee and others with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 etc. to counter problems of nutrient deficiencies in women of reproductive age, children and vegetarians & to suppress obesity. Development of Quadruple fortified Salt (QFS): Technology development for quadruple fortification of table salt with iodine, iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. Garcinia cambogia fortified green tea & coffee: Enhancing antioxidant and fat-burning capabilities of green tea and coffee through fortification with garcinia cambogia extract

3. Modeling of human GI tract: Interaction of food processing & human health

Mere presence of nutrients, probiotics and other healthy supplements in food, does not guarantee their proper digestion and intended functionality in human GI tract. This concentration has the following two major directions: Modeling of digestion of various nutrients: Study of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, allergens etc. in human GI tract through mathematical models and experimental methodologies. This entails study of probiotics and other bacteria in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids through kinetic and microbial validation studies. Alterations in food in GI tract & impact on human health: Here we focus on morphological, rheological and chemical changes produced in food while it passes through mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

Graduate Students

We are looking for graduate students with experience in novel food processing technologies related to preservation and encapsulation in food. Candidates with prior experience in novel food processing equipment operation, encapsulation and drug delivery technologies and numerical modelling/simulation of food processes will be preferred. Interested applicants are advised to email anubhav.singh@ubc.ca with “Interest in Group: ” in the subject line. Emails with other subject lines or with incomplete information will not be considered. In the body of the email, please provide the following information depending on the program:

Name
All previous degree programs and University
Graduation month and year
Cumulative GPA in percentage
Class rank (within department) and class size
Standardized test score and date of test (TOEFL, GRE, or similar)
Desired start date
Desired degree program

See Google Scholar for a complete list of publications.

Review papers

Pratap Singh A., Singh A. & Ramaswamy H.S. (2017). Heat transfer phenomena during thermal processing of liquid particulate mixtures–A Review. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 57 (7), 1350-1364.

Singh A., Pratap Singh A. & Ramaswamy H.S. (2015). Computational techniques used in heat transfer studies on canned liquid-particulate mixtures. Trends in Food Science & Technology 43 (1), 83-103.

Other recent publications

Pollock A.M., Pratap Singh A.*, Ramaswamy H.S., & Ngadi M.O. (2017). Pulsed light destruction kinetics of L. monocytogenes. LWT-Food Science and Technology 84, 114-121.

Pratap Singh A.*, Singh A. & Ramaswamy H.S. (2017). Using Liquid-Only Cans (Equipped with a Single Particle) to Quantify Heat Transfer Phenomenon During Thermal Processing. International Journal of Food Engineering 13 (4), Article number 20160234.

Pratap Singh A.*, Singh A. & Ramaswamy H.S. (2017). A novel approach for Quantification of Particle Motion and Particle Mixing during Agitation Thermal Processing. Journal of Food Engineering 180, 39–47.

You J., Pratap Singh A. & Ramaswamy H.S.* (2016). Quality Retention Enhancement in Canned Potato and Radish Using Reciprocating Agitation Thermal Processing. International Journal of Food Engineering 12 (5), 491-500.

Singh A., Pratap Singh A. & Ramaswamy H.S.* (2016). A Controlled Agitation Process for Improving Quality of Canned Green Beans during Agitation Thermal Processing. Journal of Food Science 81 (6), E1399-E1411.

Awards & Honours

Young Entreprenuer Award , 2009
IFTPS Graduate Scholar , 2014
Gold Medal, Charles Stumbo Paper Competition, Institute for Thermal
Processing Specialists (IFTPS) , 2014
Pilarczyk Fellow , 2014
Graduate Research (GREAT) Award, McGill University , 2015
Feeding Tomorrow Scholar , 2015
Banting Fellow , 2016
Green College Leading Scholar , 2017

Tagged with: Faculty, Food Nutrition and Health, Food Science, Master of Food Science

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Sean Smukler

April 19, 2018

Sean Smukler

Associate Professor, Applied Biology & Soil Science and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm

Chair, Agriculture and the Environment

Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm

604–822–2795

sean.smukler@ubc.ca

MacMillan 123, 2357 Main Mall

Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Profile

Columbia University (The Earth Institute), 2011, Post Doctoral Fellowship

University of California, Davis, 2008, PhD, Ecology

University of Washington, 2003, MSc, Forest Soils

University of California, Davis, 1996, BSc, Environmental Biology and Management

My research program is focused on working with farmers, and other managers of agricultural landscapes to find ways to better monitor, protect and enhance biodiversity and the availability of ecosystem services including food, fiber, fuel and timber production, greenhouse gas mitigation, and water quality and quantity regulation. My research has been concentrated on assessing the impact of farm management practices on plant biomass and biodiversity, soil physical and chemical properties, nutrients in water (leaching, and storm and irrigation runoff), and carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. I am interested in developing methods to translate these measures of ecosystem function into estimates of the availability of ecosystem services; then to figure out how to accurately bridge results from plot and farm level to those at larger scales, at the watershed, landscape and region using geospatial statistics, remote sensing and geographical information system tools. By providing landscape level assessments I see the possibility for farmers to not only better understand wider implications of their management practices but also to provide decision makers tools to address the increasing need for agricultural landscape to meet multiple societal objectives beyond just food production.

Research Project

My research program investigates the relationship between agriculture and ecosystem services both in developing, and developed world, agricultural landscapes. I am currently involved in projects quantifying trade-offs primarily among climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity and food production. My lab has a number of projects developing methods for implementing, monitoring, reporting and verifying agricultural emissions and carbon sequestration. We also have projects investigating ways to improve nutrient cycling on farm and throughout the food system.

For more information about my research please visit theSustainable Agricultural Landscapes (SAL) laboratory website.

https://epigenetics.wixsite.com/stefanskalab

See Google Scholar for a full list of publications.

Hawthorne, I. M.S. Johnson, R.S. Jassal, T.A. Black, N.J. Grant, and S.M. Smukler. 2016. Application of biochar and nitrogen influences fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O in a forest soil. J. Environ. Manag. 192, 203–214.

Thiel, B., M. Krzic, S. Gergel, C. Terpsma, Black, A., Jassal, P., and S. M. Smukler. 2016. Soil CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from production fields with planted and remnant hedgerows in the Fraser River Delta of British Columbia. Agroforest Syst. DOI 10.1007/s10457-016-9990-3.

Tagged with: Applied Biology, Faculty, Integrated Studies, Soil Science, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

Tagged with Applied Biology, Faculty, Integrated Studies, Soil Science, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
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Barbara Stefanska

April 19, 2018

Barbara Stefanska

Associate Professor, Food, Nutrition and Health

604–822–2524

barbara.stefanska@ubc.ca

FNH 248, 2205 East Mall

McGill University, 2008-2013, Post-Doc, Cancer Epigenetics

Medical University of Lodz, Poland, 2003-2007, PhD, Biomedical Sciences (Nutritional Epigenomics)

Medical University of Lodz, Poland, 1998-2003, MPH, Public Health (Master and Bachelor combined)

Biosketch

Barbara Stefanska is an Associate Professor of Nutriepigenomics at The University of British Columbia, Canada. Her area of expertise is epigenetic pharmacology with a particular focus on nutritional epigenomics. Dr. Stefanska completed a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD at Medical University of Lodz, Poland. During her postdoctoral training in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University, Canada, she was the first who established differential DNA methylation patterns in liver tumors, and determined novel therapeutic targets and potential diagnostic epigenetic biomarkers for liver cancer. Dr. Stefanska’s current research interest is to study dietary bioactive compounds, specifically polyphenols from the phytoestrogen group, as epigenetics-targeted agents. She investigates mechanisms and downstream effects of phytoestrogens in targeting the writers, readers and erasers of epigenetic marks. Her goal is to understand how phytoestrogens exert their effects on cell biology and to develop new ways to target aberrant epigenetic processes. Dr. Stefanska has also served as Editor and Senior Editor of the British Journal of Pharmacology since 2011.

Nutritional Epigenomics

Epigenetics refers to the molecular events controlling gene expression that are independent of changes in the underlying DNA sequence. These events include DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, chromatin-remodeling complexes, and non-coding RNA mechanisms. Epigenetic modifications of DNA, namely DNA methylation, have been shown to contribute to the etiology of chronic diseases with cancer at the forefront. DNA methylation is dynamic and serves as an adaptive mechanism to a wide variety of environmental factors including diet.

The Stefanska Lab is focused on addressing the following scientific questions:

1) What are the functional roles of epigenetic enzymes and chromatin-modifying proteins in the effects on cell biology exerted by two distinct dietary polyphenols with known estrogenic activity (phytoestrogens) and uniquely different chemical structures?

Our goal is to understand how the environment (e.g., diet) impacts cell biology through epigenetic mechanisms. We are addressing the following objectives: a) Determine the functional roles of DNMTs in differential DNA methylation in response to dietary phytoestrogens; b) Establish the interaction between DNA and chromatin-modifying proteins in response to dietary phytoestrogens; c) Determine the mechanistic roles of chromatin-modifying proteins in the epigenetic regulation of transcription in response to dietary phytoestrogens. This will further our understanding of the connection between epigenetic regulation of gene transcription and the phenotype in response to environmental cues (e.g., diet). As nearly all biological processes have an epigenetically regulated component, our findings will broadly impact numerous disciplines in natural sciences, including chemistry and biology.

2) Do dietary bioactive compounds reverse epigenetic aberrations underlying inflammation?

Existing evidence suggests that at sites of inflammation the release of reactive oxygen species causes DNA damage that induces re-localization of epigenetic proteins and results in DNA methylation changes of associated genes during tumorigenesis. We hypothesize that bioactive compounds target those changes in the DNA methylation patterns, preventing further progression to disease (e.g., cancer).

3) Do dietary bioactive compounds act through epigenetic mechanisms to prevent/attenuate cancer and exert beneficial effects in adjuvant therapy?

Our hypothesis is that dietary polyphenols (e.g., pterostilbene) impact DNA methylation patterns and thereby gene transcription via modulating expression and activity of epigenetic enzymes such as TETs and DNMTs. Changes in these enzymes, alter the occupancy of specific protein complexes in gene regulatory regions which determines chromatin structure and as a result gene transcription. Through this mode of action, polyphenols reverse cancer-specific patterns of DNA methylation; they lead to the activation of methylation-silenced tumour suppressor genes and concomitant suppression of demethylation-activated oncogenes and prometastatic genes. We are also exploring if epigenetic mechanisms regulated by polyphenols can sensitize cancer cells to traditional anti-cancer therapeutics.

Please find more information at Stefanska Lab at UBC.

FNH 350: Fundamentals of Nutrition
FNH 477: Nutrition and Disease Prevention
HUNU 531/631 Graduate Seminar Course

Graduate Students

Current:

Cayla Boycott, PhD, Human Nutrition

Jiaxi (Alice) Zhang, MSc, Human Nutrition

Huiying (Amelie) Zhang, PhD, Human Nutrition

Arian Abolhassani, MSc, Human Nutrition

Graduated:

Yuexi Ma, MSc, Human Nutrition

Tony Yang, MSc, Human Nutrition

Sadaf Harandi-Zadeh, MSc, Human Nutrition

Megan Beetch, PhD, Human Nutrition

Lucy Kurzava, MSc, Nutritional Sciences

See Google Scholar for a full list of publications.

Boycott C, Yang T, Ma Y, Zhang J, Stefanska B. Histone-modifying proteins in the epigenetic effects of dietary polyphenols in cancer. Chapter 21, in “Nutritional Epigenomics” book, 2nd edition, Volume 14, ed. Bradley S. Ferguson, Elsevier 2025.

Tello-Palencia MA#, Yang T#, Sularz O, Demers LE, Ma Y, Boycott C, Zhang HA, Lubecka-Gajewska K, Kumar S, Ramsey BS, Torregrosa-Allen S, Elzey BD, Atallah Lanman N, Korthauer K, Stefanska B. Pterostilbene targets hallmarks of aging in the gene expression landscape in blood of healthy rats. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2024; e2400662. (published online Nov 19, 2024). (PMID: 39562169) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39562169/

Kurzava Kendall L, Ma Y, Yang T, Lubecka K, Stefanska B^. Epigenetic effects of resveratrol on oncogenic signaling in breast cancer. Nutrients 2024; 16(5):699, Pages 1-21 (Published online Feb 29, 2024). (PMID: 38474826) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38474826/

Sularz O, Koronowicz A^, Smolen S, Boycott C, Stefanska B^. Iodine-biofortified lettuce can promote mitochondrial dependent pathway of apoptosis in human gastrointestinal cancer cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24(12):9869, Pages 1-24 (published online Jun 7, 2023). (PMID: 37373017) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37373017/

Sularz O, Koronowicz A^, Boycott C, Smolen S, Stefanska B^. Molecular effects of iodine-biofortified lettuce in human gastrointestinal cancer cells. Nutrients 2022; 14:4287, Pages 1-19 (published online Oct 14, 2022). (PMID: 36296971) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36296971/

Ziarniak K#, Yang T#, Boycott C, Beetch M, Sassek M, Grzeda E, Ma Y, Sliwowska JH*, Stefanska B*. DNA hypermethylation of Kiss1r promoter and reduction of hepatic Kiss1r in female rats with type 2 diabetes. Epigenetics 2022, Sep 12, 1-15, doi: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2119120. #first co-authors, *co-senior authorship (PMID: 36094166)

Boycott C#, Beetch M#, Yang T, Lubecka K, Ma Y, Zhang J, Kurzava Kendall L, Ullmer M, Ramsey BS, Torregrosa-Allen S, Elzey BD, Cox A, Atallah Lanman N, Hui A, Villanueva N, de Conti A, Huan T, Pogribny I, Stefanska B. Epigenetic aberrations of gene expression in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Epigenetics 2022, May 3, 1-22, doi: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2069386. #first co-authors (PMID: 35502615)

Stefanska B, Tucker SJ, MacEwan DJ. New avenues in cancer prevention and therapy. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179(12): 2789-2794 (published online Feb 11, 2022). doi: 10.1111/bph.15715. (PMID: 35146753)

Harandi-Zadeh S, Boycott C, Beetch M, Yang T, Martin BJE, Ren K, Kwasniak A, Dupuis JH, Lubecka K, Yada RY, Howe LJ, Stefanska B. Pterostilbene changes epigenetic marks at enhancer regions of oncogenes in breast cancer cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10(8): 1232 (pages 1-17) (published online on July 30, 2021). (PMID: 34439480)

Beetch M#, Boycott C#, Harandi-Zadeh S, Yang T, Martin BJE, Dixon-McDougall T, Ren K, Gacad A, Dupuis JH, Ullmer M, Lubecka K, Yada RY, Brown CJ, Howe LJ, Stefanska B. Pterostilbene leads to DNMT3B-mediated DNA methylation and silencing of OCT1-targeted oncogenes in breast cancer cells. J Nutr Biochem 2021; 98: 108815 (pages 1-11) (published online on July 7, 2021). #first co-authors (PMID: 34242723)

Beetch M, Harandi-Zadeh S, Yang T, Boycott C, Chen Y, Stefanska B*, Mohammed SI*. DNA methylation landscape of triple-negative ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) progressing to the invasive stage in canine breast cancer. Sci Rep 2020; 10(1): 2415 (pages 1-15). *co-senior authorship (PMID:32051475)

Beetch M, Harandi-Zadeh S, Shen K, Lubecka K, Kitts D, O’Hagan HM, Stefanska B. Dietary antioxidants remodel DNA methylation patterns in chronic disease. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177(6): 1382-1408 (PMID:31626338)

Beetch M, Lubecka K, Flower K, Harandi-Zadeh S, Shen K, Suderman M, Flanagan JM, Stefanska B. Stilbenoid-mediated epigenetic activation of Semaphorin 3A in breast cancer cells involves changes in dynamic interactions of DNA with DNMT3A and NF1C transcription factor. Mol Nutr Food Res 2019; 63(19): e1801386. (PMID:31327173)

Beetch M#, Lubecka K#, Kristofzski H, Suderman M, Stefanska B. Subtle alterations in DNA methylation patterns in normal cells in response to dietary stilbenoids. Mol Nutr Food Res 2018; 24: e1800193 (featured on the cover, # equal contribution) (PMID:29797699)

Lubecka K, Flower K, Beetch M, Qiu J, Kurzava L, Buvala H, Ruhayel A, Gawrieh S, Liangpunsakul S, Gonzalez T, McCabe G, Chalasani N, Flanagan JM, Stefanska B. Loci-specific differences in blood DNA methylation in HBV-negative populations at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma development. Epigenetics 2018; 13: 605-626. (PMID:29927686)

Devarshi PP, Jones AD, Taylor EM, Stefanska B, Henagan TM. Quercetin and quercetin-rich red onion extract alter Pgc1α promoter methylation and splice 6 variant expression. PPAR Res 2017; 2017:3235693. (PMID: 28191013)

Stefanska B, MacEwan DJ. Epigenetics and gene expression in cancer, inflammatory and immune diseases. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology book series, Springer, January 2017 (Editor).

Choudhury SR, Cui Y, Lubecka K, Stefanska B*, Irudayaraj J*. CRISPR-dCas9 mediated TET1 targeting for selective DNA demethylation at BRCA1 promoter. Oncotarget 2016; 7: 46545-46556 (*co-senior authorship). (PMID: 27356740)

Lubecka K, Kurzava L, Flower K, Buvala H, Zhang H, Teegarden D, Camarillo I, Suderman M, Kuang S, Andrisani O, Flanagan JM, Stefanska B. Stilbenoids remodel the DNA methylation patterns in breast cancer cells and inhibit oncogenic NOTCH signaling through epigenetic regulation of MAML2 transcriptional activity. Carcinogenesis 2016; 37: 656-668 (senior author).

Awards & Honours

Invited Talks

Research Seminar, International Conference on Advances in the Health Benefits of Agri-Foods (CCARM), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, October 2-4, 2024. “Dietary influences on the crosstalk between the epigenome and metabolism in health and disease”
Research Seminar, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland, July 31, 2023. “Environmental influences on the cell epigenome in health and disease”.
Research Seminar, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland, June 21, 2022. “Dietary influences on the crosstalk between epigenetics and metabolism”.
Seminar Series, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Canada, March 26, 2021. “Diet and the epigenome: investigating epigenetic mechanisms of berry polyphenols”.
Graduate Seminar Series, Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, USA, November 12, 2020. “Epigenetic mechanisms of anti-cancer effects of berry polyphenols”.
The 12th Congress of the International Society of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Conference, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, September 30-October 3, 2018. “Epigenetic effects of berry polyphenols on oncogenic signaling in cancer”.
Conference of the International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Richmond, BC, Canada, October 15-17, 2018. “Epigenetic effects of berry polyphenols on oncogenic signaling in cancer”.
Warsaw University of Life Sciences WULS-SGGW, Veterinary School, Warsaw, Poland, June 15, 2018. “Epigenetic effects of berry polyphenols on oncogenic signaling in cancer”.
Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology (IRDB)/Oncology Seminar Series, Imperial College London, London, UK, October 29, 2015. “Epigenetic effects of berry polyphenols on oncogenic signalling in breast cancer”
The 4th International Breast Cancer Prevention Symposium (IBCN), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, October 16-18, 2014.” Epigenetic mechanisms of dietary polyphenols in cancer prevention”.
Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute Scientific Lecture Series, Evansville, IN, USA. March 12, 2014. “Epigenomics: a new bridge between environmental exposures in prenatal/early life and disease onset later in life”.
IUNS 20th International Congress of Nutrition, Granada, Spain, September 15-20, 2013. Parallel Symposium (PS4-41): “Public health genomics in individualized nutrition”.

Awards

Fellowship of the British Pharmacological Society, FBPhS, November 2024, London, UK. In recognition of outstanding contributions to the disciplines of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, through publication and presentation of research, and leadership.
Erasmus Plus Scholar, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. July 25-31, 2023
Erasmus Plus Scholar, Poznan University of Life Sciences, June 20-24, 2022, Poznan Poland
Editor’s Performance Award for Excellence in Peer Review and Outstanding contributions to the journal and scientific community, The British Journal of Pharmacology, December, 2018, London, UK
Erasmus Plus Scholar, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, May 14-18, 2018, Warsaw, Poland
Best Presentation Award, 18th International Conference on Human Genetics and Genomics, 2016
Principal’s Award for Research Excellence, Medical University of Lodz, 2013 and 2010
McGill MedStar Award for Research Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 2012
Principal’s Award for outstanding PhD thesis, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland, 2008

Tagged with: Faculty, Food Nutrition and Health, Human Nutrition

Tagged with Faculty, Food Nutrition and Health, Human Nutrition
Categories: Profile Faculty, Profiles

James R. Thompson

April 19, 2018

James R. Thompson

Professor Emeritus, Applied Animal Biology

604–827–5527

jim.thompson@ubc.ca

MacMillan 223, 2357 Main Mall

University of California, Davis, 1971, PhD, Physiology

University of British Columbia, 1966, MSc, Agriculture

University of British Columbia, 1964, BSc, Agriculture

Animal Biochemistry

Dr. Thompson’s recent work includes characterization of branched chain amino acid, methionine and glutamine metabolism in skeletal muscles from mammalian and avian species and determination of the regulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover by glutamine, ketone bodies and environmental temperature. Currently he is exploring the response of large animals to stressors.

Research Projects

The metabolic responses of animals to stressors. Currently emphasis is being placed on dairy cattle as an experimental model animal.

New senior undergraduate/graduate student course under development; Biochemical and physiological mechanisms of animal responses to stressors.

Hui Zhang, Victor K. Lo, J.R. Thompson, Frederic A. Koch, Ping H. Liao, Sergey Lobanov, Donald S. Mavinic & James W. Atwater (2015). Recovery of phosphorus from dairy manure: a pilot-scale study, Environmental Technology, 36:11, 1398-1404.

I. Chan, A. Srinivasan, P. Liao, K. Lo, D. Mavinic, J. Atwater and J.R. Thompson, "The Effects of Microwave Pretreatment of Dairy Manure on Methane Production," Natural Resources, Vol. 4 No. 3, 2013, pp. 246-256.

McAllister, T. A., J.R. Thompson and S.E. Samuels, 2000. Skeletal and cardiac muscle protein turnover during cold acclimation in young rats. Am. J. Physiol. 278: R705-R711.

Zhou, X. and J.R. Thompson 1997. Regulation of protein turnover by glutamine in heat shocked skeletal myotubes. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1357: 234-242.

Okine, E.K., D.R. Glimm, J.R. Thompson and J.J. Kennelly, 1995. Influence of stage of lactation on glucose and glutamine metabolism in isolated enterocytes from dairy cattle. Metabolism 44: 325-331.

Tagged with: Animal Welfare Program, Faculty

Tagged with Animal Welfare Program, Faculty
Categories: Profile Faculty Emertius, Profiles

Karol Traviss

April 19, 2018

Karol Traviss

Senior Instructor Emerita, Food, Nutrition and Health

604–827–5046

karol.traviss@ubc.ca

FNH 240, 2205 East Mall

University of British Columbia, 1998, MSc, Human Nutrition

Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, 1980, Dietetic Internship

University of British Columbia, 1979, BHE, Dietetics

I joined UBC in November 2003 after working for many years as a clinical dietitian and clinical nutrition manager at UBC Hospital and other hospital sites within Vancouver Coastal Health. While I was at the hospital, I led and/or supervised research projects primarily related to the nutrition-related and dietitian service needs of various patient/client groups served by the hospital. Now that I am at UBC and coordinating the dietetics program, I am hoping to focus my research efforts in the area of dietetic education.

Research Projects

Assessing the impact of a Food Sense program in a dietetic internship program (proposed).

My teaching pertains to preparing students for practice as dietitian nutritionists.