Crowd funding - Boosting Depression Recovery with Exercise and Brain Stimulation

Crowd funding – Boosting Depression Recovery with Exercise and Brain Stimulation

November 14th, 2025

Depression is one of the most common and disabling illnesses worldwide. While existing treatments can help, many people continue to struggle, and recovery can take weeks or even months. At the University of British Columbia (UBC), we’re exploring a new way to make treatment faster, more effective, and more accessible.

Our teams at the Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies (NINET) Lab, led by Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez and Dr. Guy Faulkner’s Population Physical Activity (Pop-PA) Lab, are launching a pilot study testing the combination of short bouts of exercise with brain stimulation. The approach pairs 15-minute “exercise snacks” with a single day of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a non-invasive form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) that can enhance brain plasticity and improve mood.

We believe that exercise may prime the brain to respond more effectively to stimulation, creating a stronger and faster antidepressant effect. If successful, this project could lay the foundation for a new generation of treatments that are not only science-driven but also accessible and scalable.

Why This Matters

Depression affects over 300 million people worldwide, however many experience barriers to treatment, or treatment resistance.

Brain stimulation and exercise are both thought to promote neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to learn, grow, and create new connections.

By combining them, we aim to unlock a faster and more efficient pathway to recovery.

This pilot study will be the first of its kind to test this approach in people living with depression. With community support, we’ll be able to complete this critical first step by enrolling 10 participants and collecting the data needed to expand into a larger clinical trial.

How You Can Help

We’re raising funds to support:

Participant recruitment and compensation

Equipment and materials for exercise and stimulation sessions

Training for the clinical research team

Every donation — big or small — helps move us closer to a future where depression treatments are faster, more effective, and more accessible for everyone.

Join us in driving innovation in mental health care.
Together, we can make recovery possible.

🔗 Boosting Depression Recovery with Exercise + Brain Stimulation – Crowdfundraising UBC

POP-pa, Research, UBC

UBC KIN is moving into the new Gateway Building!

The UBC School of Kinesiology is set to move into the newly constructed Gateway Building, an innovative and interdisciplinary space that will serve as a central hub for academic learning, research and community outreach on campus.

Situated at the west corner of University Boulevard and Wesbrook Mall, a principal entry point to campus, the Gateway Building will embody UBC’s vision for collaboration, sustainability, and reconciliation.

The New Gateway Building, located at the west corner of University Boulevard and Wesbrook Mall.

Musqueam Influence and Integration

The planning and design of the building were developed through meaningful consultation and dialogue with representatives of the Musqueam First Nation, on whose traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory the Gateway Building stands. This includes the integration of an expanded landscape around the building that invites the spirit of the Indigenous forest and inspires a feeling of well-being and belonging for all those who arrive on campus.

A Shared Home for Inter-faculty Collaboration

The Gateway Building will bring together multiple academic faculties and programs under a single roof, including the School of Kinesiology (Faculty of Education), the School of Nursing (Faculty of Applied Science), Integrated Student Health Services (Office of the Vice-President, Students), components of UBC Health, and the Language Sciences program (Faculty of Arts). This co-location effectively strengthens ties between departments and opens new opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching, research, and collaboration.

Commitment to Sustainability and Accessibility

The Gateway Building seeks to achieve a net-zero carbon certification, further emphasizing UBC’s commitment to climate responsibility. It has also received the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification and was recognized with the 2021 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence for its collaborative co-design process with Musqueam representatives alongside its comprehensive sustainability strategy.

New and Innovative Spaces

Within the building, spaces will include state of the art wet and dry laboratories, clinical facilities, lecture theatres, classrooms, fitness and gym facilities, as well as offices and administrative areas. Together, these spaces will foster a dynamic environment that encourages collaboration and supports diverse modes of learning for students and staff alike.

This move marks a significant step for the School of Kinesiology and reinforces its commitment to expanding interdisciplinary learning, while also deepening engagement with the community through outreach initiatives. As the new year approaches, we can’t wait to finally move in and call the new Gateway Building our home.

Gateway Building progress photos-summer 2025.

For more information on the Gateway Building, please visit the following resources:

UBC Facilities-Gateway Building

UBC School of Kinesiology-Gateway Building

Perkins&Will-Gateway Building

student profile, Students

Remembrance Day 2025 at the War Memorial Gym

Since its opening in 1951, the War Memorial Gym has stood as both a physical and symbolic heart of the University of British Columbia — a living tribute to the students, alumni, and faculty who served and sacrificed in times of war, military conflict, and peace. Each year since, the UBC community has gathered in this space on November 11 to remember and reflect.

This year marks a special milestone: the 75th anniversary of UBC’s Remembrance Day ceremony at War Memorial Gym. For three quarters of a century, this ceremony has brought together generations of students, faculty, staff, and community members to honour those who came before us and to reaffirm our collective commitment to peace, memory, and community.

For the UBC School of Kinesiology, this year’s ceremony carries additional meaning. It will be our last Remembrance Day in War Memorial Gym before the School moves into its new home in the Gateway Building in the new year. Since it opened, the War Memorial Gym has been a home to the School and a space that has housed not only classrooms and research but also decades of athletic, academic, and community activity.

As we prepare to begin a new chapter in Gateway, we pause to recognize the deep connection between Kinesiology and War Memorial Gym: a building dedicated to movement, remembrance, and resilience. Its legacy will continue to inspire our work as we move forward — honouring the past while building toward the future.

Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8th recognizes the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who have participated in Canada’s military efforts. This day is a memorial day observed in Canada in recognition of Indigenous contributions to military service, particularly in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. The day was first commemorated in 1994. Indigenous veterans had to overcome many obstacles to serve Canada in these wars, including adjusting to new cultures, sometimes learning to speak new languages (usually English) and travelling long distances to enlist.

On November 11, flags on both campuses will be lowered in recognition of Remembrance Day. The national day honours those who have served and continue to serve in times of war, military conflict and peace. All are invited to attend the UBC Remembrance Day ceremony at War Memorial Gym on November 11, 2025.

For more details about the event, please visit this event webpage.

War Memorial Gym

Congratulations Dr. Janice Forsyth, recipient of the SSHRC Partnership Grant

Congratulations to Dr. Janice Forsyth for receiving $2.5M SSHRC Partnership Grant with the Indigenous Hockey Research Network (IHRN).

Ice hockey has long been entangled with settler colonialism—used in Residential Schools as a tool of assimilation and shaped by racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia—yet it also remains a powerful site of Indigenous resilience and community life.

The Indigenous Hockey Research Network (IHRN) is reshaping this contested space by advancing community-driven, Indigenous-led research. The IHRN brings together 18 co-investigators, including many of the leading Indigenous scholars of sport, alongside two collaborators and 21 partner organizations from across Canada.

The grant is co-directed by Dr. Janice Forsyth (UBC) and Dr. Sam McKegney (Queen’s, PI), whose collective leadership connects Indigenous communities with researchers across the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Projects span three areas: Decolonizing Systems (challenging structural racism in hockey), Decolonizing Experiences (tools to support athletes and advocates), and Decolonizing Approaches (indigenizing research methods and knowledge mobilization).

Together, this network is transforming hockey into a site of Indigenous values, ethics, and decolonial change.

Co-applicant: Dr. Moss Norman

Faculty

Congratulations Dr. Tania Lam, recipient of the Craig H Neilsen Foundation Award

Congratulations to Dr. Tania Lam, who has been awarded funding from the Craig Neilsen Foundation for her pilot study exploring innovative rehabilitation strategies for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Her project will examine whether combining tibial nerve stimulation with exoskeleton gait training can improve pelvic floor function and urinary health after SCI.

A spinal cord injury is a life-altering condition that impacts nearly every organ system, and recovery of lower urinary tract function is one of the highest priorities for people living with SCI. Current management strategies often rely on medications, injections, or catheterization, which can have significant side effects and limited long-term use. Dr. Lam’s study will test a new, rehabilitation-based approach that taps into the overlapping neural pathways between lower-limb sensorimotor control and pelvic floor function.

The research team will investigate two key areas: how sensory inputs from the leg muscles influence reflex activity in the pelvic floor, and whether combining tibial nerve stimulation at the ankle with exoskeleton-assisted walking is both feasible and beneficial for participants. Beyond measuring recruitment, adherence, and safety, the study will also explore changes in urinary symptoms, pelvic floor reflexes, and quality of life.

In addition to this project, Dr. Lam is also serving as Co-PI on The Good Sham Study, which addresses a major challenge in spinal cord injury research: the lack of a validated sham device for transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tcSCS) trials. By developing a sham that replicates the sensory feel of tcSCS without engaging the spinal circuitry, this work will strengthen the rigor of future clinical trials and ensure more reliable evaluation of tcSCS therapies.

Together, these projects highlight Dr. Lam’s leadership in advancing innovative, neuroplasticity-based approaches to SCI rehabilitation. Her work is paving the way for more accessible, effective strategies to improve both daily function and long-term quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.

Congratulations Adam Lukasiewicz, Recipient of the 2025 President’s Staff Award for Leadership

Congratulations to Adam Lukasiewicz (he/him), Manager of Undergraduate Programming & Advising at the School of Kinesiology, who has been recognized for building high-performing, collaborative teams and creating welcoming, inclusive environments for both students and staff. His leadership, clear communication, and ability to solve complex problems have been pivotal in guiding the School of Kinesiology through times of change.

Under Adam’s direction, the Kinesiology Undergraduate Advising Office has evolved into a model of student-centered support that emphasizes operational efficiency and collaboration. In addition to excellent service delivery, Adam ensures students feel welcomed, heard, and supported throughout their academic journeys while embedding accessibility and inclusivity into advising materials, resources, and policies.

Adam’s calm leadership was especially vital during the complex transition to Workday Student. He ensured his team adapted smoothly while maintaining high service standards and even expanding hours to better support students. He also proactively collaborated with his team to develop online videos to guide students through the new platform, many of which were adopted by other academic units.

A natural mentor, Adam champions professional growth and shared leadership. His collaborative approach empowers colleagues to take initiative, adapt to change, and drive meaningful improvements that strengthen both the team and the student experience.

Awards and Achievements

Lecturer (full-time) in Exercise Prescription and Injury Management

Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xwmə0kwəy’əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the School of Kinesiology in Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time Lecturer position in Exercise Prescription and Injury Management. This is a term position for three years, with the possibility of further renewal. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2026, or as mutually agreed upon between the University and the successful candidate.

View the full job posting here

Open date: September 18 2025

Submit applications by December 1, 2025

Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured) in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology

Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xwmə0kwəy’əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the School of Kinesiology in Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor (tenure track) or Associate Professor (tenured) position in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2026 or as mutually agreed upon between the University and the successful candidate.

View the full job posting here

Open date: September 18 2025

Submit applications by December 1, 2025

Congratulations Dr. Rosalin Miles; Recipient of the CIHR Implementation Science Chair in Human Development, Child and Youth Health (Indigenous Pool)

ShQUooz Circle: Nurturing the Next Generation through Physical Activity and Cultural Knowledge

Congratulations to Dr. Rosalin Miles, Indigenous Health Implementation Science Chair, who has been awarded a $1 million CIHR Implementation Science Chair in Human Development, Child and Youth Health (Indigenous Pool) to lead the ShQUooz Circle Program.

Rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, ShQUooz Circle aims to empower Indigenous children, youth, and their families by fostering connections with aunties (ShQUooz), grandmothers, Elders, and other female Knowledge Keepers. The program emphasizes wholistic health and wellness, weaving together cultural values with physical activity and community-based learning.

Over the next five years, ShQUooz Circle will host four annual land- and water-based events co-created with Indigenous Women Rise, the Indigenous Physical Activity and Cultural Circle (IPACC), and the Indigenous Health & Physical Activity Program. Through activities such as canoeing, hiking, harvesting, and gathering, participants will engage in cultural teachings that strengthen identity, belonging, and well-being.

This initiative is designed to:

Promote mentorship through intergenerational connections with Knowledge Keepers and Elders.
Foster cultural identity by sharing traditional practices and values tied to the land and water.
Support Indigenous youth and children in building resilience, wellness, and community ties.
Train Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students, who will contribute to research, data collection, and knowledge mobilization.

By integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into health promotion, ShQUooz Circle represents a powerful step toward advancing community wellness, cultural continuity, and Indigenous-led approaches to health research.

About the Chair

Dr. Rosalin Miles (MKH’98) serves as the Indigenous Health Implementation Science Chair at UBC’s School of Kinesiology. Her leadership in the ShQUooz Circle Program highlights the importance of community-driven, culturally grounded approaches to health, supporting the next generation through both physical activity and cultural knowledge

Co-Investigator: Dr. Darren Warburton

Co-Investigator: Dr. Shannon Bredin

Faculty

Congratulations CIHR Project Grant Recipient: Dr. Eli Puterman

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Eli Puterman has received a CIHR Project Grant for his project Remote Exercise iNtErvention for Wellbeing (RENEW) Trial: A 2-arm randomized at-home, app-based exercise trial to improve adherence, mental health, and wellbeing of British Columbian healthcare workers

Alongside Dr. Mark Beauchamp, Dr. Guy Faulkner, and Dr. Jasmin Ma, this proposed 6 month randomized trial will test whether providing 628 British Columbia healthcare workers with free exercise mobile apps, either with or without support from certified personal trainers using motivational interviewing, can improve app engagement and mental health outcomes.

The study addresses the critical need for scalable and sustainable interventions to support healthcare worker wellbeing, as our previous pilot work showed that while exercise apps reduced depression and burnout in healthcare workers, engagement rates remained low at only 23%.

The trial aims to determine if personal trainer support can increase app usage and subsequently improve mental health, burnout, and occupational functioning among both direct care and support healthcare staff across all BC health authorities.

Faculty