The Okanagan Stroke Research Lab is beyond excited to announce that Dr. Brodie Sakakibara has been awarded a Canada Research Chair (CRC) (Tier 2), in Stroke Recovery!
ABOUT THE CRC: The CRC program recognizes excellence in research and was established by the Government of Canada to promote research development and to attract and retain outstanding scholars. There are two tiers in the program: Tier 1 Chair and Tier 2 Chair. The Tier 2 Chair is awarded to exceptional emerging researchers at the ranks of assistant or associate professors, with funding to the university consisting of $600,000 over five years.
WHAT THE CHAIR MEANS: Among the Government of Canada’s most prestigious awards for research, Canada Research Chairs protect the majority of the recipients’ time for research. In practical terms, this involves relieving them of some of their teaching and administrative duties so that they can focus almost all of their energies on their programs of research. CRCs also support the operating costs of research and provide crucial support for the salaries of other members of the team. Dr. Sakakibara will use part of this award to fund master’s and PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, as well as research staff.
Dr. Sakakibara will use his CRC to continue furthering his research, improving the long-term health and wellness of people living with the effects of stroke.
On behalf of the whole OSRL team, a heartfelt congratulations to you, Brodie, for your continuously dedicated, impactful, and inspiring work!
The Canadian Stroke Congress is Canada’s go-to meeting in stroke research and innovation, bringing together national and international leaders in the field. This year’s conference agenda included workshops for Trainees, Early Career Researchers, Research Coordinators, People with Stroke Lived Experience, and more!
Pictured: Dr. Brodie Sakakibara and Dr. Nancy Salbach
WORKSHOP: Delivering Remote Therapies Speakers: Dr. Nancy Salbach, Dr. Brodie Sakakibara Delivering remote therapies: Considerations for assessment, client engagement, and self-management.
Pictured: Michelle Yang (PhD Candidate)
Presenting on: Sociodemographic, health, and behavioural predictors of diet quality in people with stroke
Pictured: Dr. Kenneth Noguchi
Presenting on: Adapting the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II to measure self-management skills in people with stroke: A psychometric study
Pictured: Dr. Elise Wiley
Presenting on: Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke (ENHANCE): A protocol for an analysis of clinical outcomes
Congratulations to Jacquelyn Puckey for recently winning the 2026 BPOC Award of Excellence. The award is intended to recognize excellence in research and scholarly performance by BPOC (Black and People of Colour) graduate students and to address systemic barriers they experience in their training.
Congratulations to Matthew Bird for getting into the University of Northern British Columbia’s MD program! We wish you all the best and know you will become a brilliant doctor in the future!
Congratulations to Isabelle Rash Nadel, who recently completed her PhD Dissertation Defense in Rehabilitation Sciences, focusing on novel technologies and enhancing the delivery of telerehabilitation programs post-stroke! We can’t wait to see what the future holds next for Dr. Isabelle Rash Nadel!
This month, Dr. Brodie Sakakibara, whose work powerfully argues for stroke to be seen as more than a one-off event; the importance of supporting self-management in rehabilitation after hospitalization; and the benefits of virtual care and telehealth in rehab.
Read this short interview with him and find out why he was recognized as the UBCO Researcher of the Year for Health in 2025 🏅
ENHANCE or ‘Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke’ is now recruiting participants!
For more information on this study please contact Dr. Elise Wiley at elise.wiley@ubc.ca or ok.strokeresearch@ubc.ca
The UBC Okanagan Stroke Research Lab recently held an open house during H20 Kelowna’s monthly Mix and Mingle event. Individuals were invited to ask questions, learn about advancements in research, gain information for participating in clinical trials, and obtain resources for after-stroke supports.
The POWER intervention is a 10-week progressive strength training. It was developed in recognition of the small body of research that has focused on strength training after stroke, and even smaller one focused on building muscle power. The results from our initial feasibility study of POWER (POWER-Feasibility) were very promising, showing that the exercise program was safe for community-dwelling people living with chronic stroke, and may improve stroke recovery. We are now conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial of POWER (POWER-Pilot) and currenting recruiting participants!
For more information or to enroll in POWER please contact kenny.noguchi@ubc.ca
