The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) is a multidisciplinary organization that supports an international network of researchers, clinicians, and patients working to advance the field of women’s sexuality and sexual health.
The ISSWSH Scholars in Women’s Sexual Health Research Grant Program offers young investigators interested in research in women’s sexual health the opportunity to obtain funding from ISSWSH to support their research.
The grant was awarded to Jaclyn’s project “Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus Patient Education Video Series,” where they will create short, educational videos on VLS and evaluate their ability to enhance understanding and overall patient well-being in two studies. Also, the project will test the video series implementation at the BC Centre for Vulvar Health.
Congratulations to Jacyln and all recipients of the 2024 ISSWSH Scholars in Women’s Sexual Health Research Grant!
Kiarah O’Kane (she/they), a clinical psychology graduate student at UBC, received the 2024 Sandra R. Leiblum Student Research Award from the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR). The award will be presented to Kiarah at the 2024 annual meeting of SSTAR in Toronto, ON.
The Sandra R. Leiblum Student Research Award recognizes the work of students who are developing their career in the field of sexual disorders and sexual health. Kiarah received this award for a paper entitled: Associations between Genital Self-Image and Individuals’ Own and Perceived Partner Sexual Satisfaction.
Kiarah is co-supervised by Dr. Katrina Bouchard, Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Dr. Samantha Dawson, Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Psychology.
We are thrilled to share that Dr. Bouchard was awarded a 4.5-year CIHR Project Grant with Co-PIs Dr. Natalie Rosen (Dalhousie University) and Dr. Sophie Bergeron (Université de Montréal). This grant will fund a randomized clinical trial of cognitive-behavioural couple therapy for couples coping with distressing low sexual desire. This three-site treatment study will be launching in Vancouver, Halifax, and Montréal in Summer 2024.
You can learn more about the study and grant here.
Kiarah O’Kane (she/they), a clinical psychology graduate student at UBC, was the recipient of the Best Power Award at the annual Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) meeting in May 2023.
The Best Poster Award was granted to Kiarah based on their presentation of “Myth-busting misconSEXions,” a project focusing on using sexuality science in conjunction with social media to promote change in how myths around sexuality are endorsed.
Kiarah is co-supervised by Dr. Katrina Bouchard, Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Dr. Samantha Dawson, Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Psychology.
The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) is a multidisciplinary organization that supports an international network of researchers, clinicians, and patients working to advance the field of women’s sexuality and sexual health.
The ISSWSH Scholars in Women’s Sexual Health Research Grant Program offers young investigators interested in research in women’s sexual health the opportunity to obtain funding from ISSWSH to support their research.
Meghan’s research project focuses on sexual health among women with vulvar lichen sclerosus and their partners. The ISSWSH funds will support longitudinal data collection from women coping with vulvar lichen sclerosus.
Congratulations to Meghan and all recipients of the 2023 ISSWSH Scholars in Women’s Sexual Health Research Grant!
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) facilitates clinician-scientists in their efforts to make new discoveries to improve the health and well-being of patients across their lifespan. The Investigator Awards provide salary support to leading health research investigators in order to help expand their capacity for innovation-driven research that can lead to new health care knowledge.
The 2023 VCHRI Investigator Awards recipients are:
- Dr. Katrina Bouchard, Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UBC
- Dr. Raphaële Charest-Morin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UBC
- Dr. Amy Jamieson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UBC
- Dr. Nathaniel Moulson, Clinical Assistant Professor with the Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery at UBC
- Dr. Lily Zhou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at UBC
Kiarah O’Kane (she/they), a clinical psychology graduate student at UBC, earned THE top spot in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.
Hosted by UBC’s graduate and postdoctoral studies, graduate students present complex research ideas on one slide in three minutes at UBC’s 3MT competition.
Kiarah presented their thesis Do you mythunderstand me? Sexuality myths and sexual outcomes. This research explores the role of sexuality misinformation and its impact on beliefs and sexual well-being.
Kiarah is co-supervised by Dr. Samantha Dawson, assistant professor in UBC’s department of psychology and Dr. Katrina Bouchard, assistant professor in UBC’s department of obstetrics and gynecology.
More information can be found here.
Congratulations to Drs. Bouchard, Atlas, and Dehaeck on receiving a WHRI Catalyst Grant!
The Women’s Health Research Institute, in partnership with the BC Women’s Health Foundation, awarded six Catalyst Grants for the advancement of knowledge in women’s and newborn’s health.
Department members Dr. Katrina Bouchard (PI), Dr. Melanie Altas, and Dr. Ulrike Dehaeck received a Catalyst Grant to study the sexual health implications of vulvar lichen sclerosus, a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects the external genitals. Their team will adopt a couple-based approach to examine the sexual health of patients and their partners over time. The results of this dyadic longitudinal study will inform educational materials and psychological supports for sexual distress offered at the BC Centre for Vulvar Health.
Congratulations to Dr. Bouchard and Co-Investigators Dr. Altas, Dr. Dehaeck, Dr. Dawson (UBC Psychology), and Ms. Rossi on this award!
More information can be found here.
The New Faculty Research Award provides research funds to support newly appointed Assistant Professors in the Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Bouchard’s research project focuses on characterize a network of pain, sexual distress, and negative affective symptoms among patients with chronic vulvar pain at the BC Centre for Vulvar Health. This work is part of a larger research program on the sexual health implications of vulvar pain and unwanted genital sensations among women and individuals with vulvas.
Congratulations to Dr. Bouchard and all recipients of the New Faculty Research Award!
We are thrilled to share that our team was awarded a 4-year SSHRC Insight Grant to examine emotion co-regulation and sexual wellbeing in couples day-to-day and over time. Looking forward to collaborating with Dr. Samantha Dawson (UBC Sexuality and Wellbeing Lab) and Drs. Lougheed and Vaillancourt-Morel on this project!
A total of forty project led by UBC researchers were awarded a combined $6.6 million.
More information can be found here.
We are excited to share that incoming Phase Lab graduate student, Kiarah O’Kane, was awarded a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship for their master’s research. Congratulations, Kiarah!