Healthy Aging Research Seminar Series

BCC3: Healthy Aging Research from Cell to Society

The British Columbia CARMA-CHIWOS Collaboration (BCC3) is a holistic study that aims to study healthy aging through a cell-to-society lens; exploring the interplay of cellular, clinical and social factors. Our team has found that by engaging women living with HIV (WLWH) in the research process, following principles like GIPA, MIWA, and OCAP, and focusing on a women-centered approach, researchers can better address health needs and improve care. This talk highlights the importance of community-based research, emphasizing that collaboration with the community at every stage—designing research, conducting studies, interpreting results, and translating knowledge—ensures that research is relevant and impactful. At the end of this talk, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the importance of a "cell to society" approach in research
• Discover how community partners can play a vital role in advancing basic and clinical science research
• Explore innovative strategies for effective knowledge mobilization and exchange.

Speaker Biography: Dr. Melanie Murray is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at UBC. She is also an infectious disease specialist in HIV care at BC Women’s Oak Tree Clinic, and a Staff ID Physician at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver. She is an Investigator at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, and member of the Women's Health Research Institute. She earned a BSc., as well as a medical degree and a PhD in Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba. She completed an Infectious Disease fellowship and an Internal Medicine residency at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include HIV and women, the role of hormones in HIV and aging, viral co-infection, and strategies for the engagement of marginalized populations. Dr. Murray is a Principal Investigator of the British Columbia CARMA:CHIWOS Collaboration (BCC3) study, co-chair on the Quad Leadership Team of the national Women Centered HIV Care Hub, and Provincial Lead for the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network. 

Participants may attend the seminar in-person at the Rudy North Lecture Theatre in the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at UBC, or virtually via Zoom. Zoom details for virtual attendance can be found below. A light lunch will be provided for all those attending in-person.