Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to page-level navigation Go to the Disability Resource Centre Website Go to the DRC Booking Accommodation Portal Go to the Inclusive Technology Lab Website
The University of British Columbia
UBC - A Place of Mind
The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Research and Innovation
  • About Us
    • Meet the VPRI
    • Strategic Plans
    • Research Advisory Council
    • Contact
    • Careers
  • Research Excellence
    • Research Strengths
    • Research Institutes
    • Research Clusters
    • Awards & Honours
    • Chairs & Scholars
  • Innovation & Impact
    • Research Partnerships
    • Knowledge Exchange
    • Commercialization
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Innovation UBC Hub
  • Funding & Support
    • Infrastructure Funding
    • Internal Funding
    • Research Support
      • Research Facilitation
      • Research Computing
    • Shared Platforms
    • Strategic Initiatives
  • News & Events
    • Announcements
    • Newsletters
  • Engage with Us
    • Partnership Office
    • Innovation UBC Hub
  • UBC Faculty & Staff
Home / 2021 / May / 31 / UBCO receives funding for high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research

UBCO receives funding for high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research

By Jenny Matechuk on May 31, 2021

UBCO receives $250K grant through New Frontiers in Research Fund (2020 Exploration Stream)

 

Assistant Professors Sepideh Pakpour (School of Engineering) and Kirk Bergstrom (Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science) are leading one of seven UBC research projects funded by the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 2020 Exploration competition. The initiative is designed to mobilize cutting-edge interdisciplinary, international, and transformative research that strengthens Canadian innovation and benefits Canadians.

The Government of Canada recently announced funding support for 117 research projects across Canada that bring diverse disciplines together in pursuit of breakthrough ideas and high-reward outcomes. The Exploration stream specifically targets research that defies current models, bridges disciplines in novel ways, or tackles fundamental problems from new perspectives.

Understanding the seasonal impacts of microplastic inhalation on health

Principal Investigator: Sepideh Pakpour, UBCO School of Engineering
Co-Principal Investigator: Kirk Bergstrom, UBCO Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (Biology)
Co-applicant: Edward Grant, UBCV Faculty of Science (Chemistry)
​Award: $250,000

 

Research Summary:

Microplastics pollution has grown to become a world-wide crisis. The inevitable consequence of dramatically increased plastic use, microscopic plastic particles and fibres contaminate natural marine, terrestrial and atmospheric ecosystems. To date, limited studies conducted in Europe, Asia and the Middle East have detected atmospheric microplastics, but no Canadian data yet exists. No systematic scientific study has characterized the health effects of microplastics in the inhalable and respirable ranges (PM 10 and PM 2.5 microns, respectively). To address this research challenge, we will assemble a unique interdisciplinary team forging a close collaborative interaction of leading groups in the fields of Aerobiology, Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry, System Biology and Immunology to (1) detect and characterize inhalable and respirable microplastics in indoor and outdoor air seasonally, and (2) explore their potential adverse effects on health. The information and insight we gather will inform internationally integrated strategies for the control and mitigation of microplastics pollution with respect to their impact on health and well-being.

Other UBC-led projects   full project list

 

Posted in Announcements, Biology, Funding, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, School of Engineering | Tagged Awards, funding



News

Archives

Categories

  • All In Story
  • Announcements
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Campus Feature
  • Chemistry
  • College of Graduate Studies
  • Community, Culture and Global Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics
  • COVID-19
  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal (Office of the)
  • Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences
  • Economics, Philosophy and Political Science
  • Facilities Management
  • Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
  • Faculty of Health and Social Development
  • Faculty of Management
  • Funding
  • Global Message
  • Health
  • History and Sociology
  • In the Field
  • Indigenous Programs and Services
  • Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention
  • Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (IHLCDP)
  • Irving K Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
  • Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences
  • Library
  • Mathematics
  • Media Advisory
  • Media Q&A
  • Media Release
  • Media Releases
  • Medical Physics
  • News
  • Okanagan School of Education
  • Okanagan Story
  • People
  • Physics
  • Profile
  • Psychology
  • Research
    • Infrastructure
  • Research and Innovation (Office of the Vice-Principal)
    • Interior University Research Coalition (IURC)
  • Researchers of the Year
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Health and Exercise Sciences
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Social Work
  • Southern Medical Program
  • Spotlight
  • Students (Office of the Associate Vice-President)
  • Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation

See more UBC Okanagan Events


Research and Innovation
Okanagan Campus
ADM006 – 1138 Alumni Avenue
Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 1V7
Email vpresearch.ok@ubc.ca
Find us on
 
Back to top
The University of British Columbia
  • Emergency Procedures |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Copyright |
  • Accessibility