Dr. Peter Zandstra has been appointed as the University of British Columbia’s new Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI), for a five-year term effective June 1, 2026.

In this role, Dr. Zandstra will lead UBC’s research and innovation portfolio across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. UBC is one of the world’s leading research universities, where researchers attract approximately $900 million in funding annually to support about 10,000 projects and have created more than 280 spin-off companies. Dr. Zandstra will work to deepen partnerships with government, industry, Indigenous and community partners, and support the translation of research from discovery through to real-world application, with impact locally and globally.

Dr. Zandstra has been serving as Director of the School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) since its establishment in 2017, and is a professor in both SBME and Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL). In these roles, Dr. Zandstra has led the development of programs that bridge engineering, biology, and data-driven approaches, preparing the next generation of leaders to address challenges across biology, medicine, and technology. SBME has thrived under Dr. Zandstra’s leadership, one notable highlight being the recent opening of the first custom-built biomedical engineering facility in Canada, the Gordon B. Shrum Building.

Dr. Zandstra received his PhD in chemical engineering and biotechnology from UBC and has built a distinguished career at the interface of engineering and regenerative medicine, previously holding senior academic and research leadership roles at the University of Toronto. Widely published and cited, his scholarship has advanced both fundamental understanding and translational applications in regenerative medicine. In recognition of his remarkable scientific accomplishments and leadership, Dr. Zandstra has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Engineering) and of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, as well as a Member of the Order of Canada.