The Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility comprises nearly 40 individuals in both academic and clinical roles. We are firmly committed to excellence in patient care, education, and research. Our members provide services from our central location at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, as well as through numerous private clinics across the province.
In addition to in-person care, we support patients across British Columbia and the Yukon Territory through telephone and telehealth consultations. Our clinicians and researchers have a longstanding history of innovation, with contributions that have had a global impact. Guided by our patient-centred care directive, we place a strong emphasis on collaboration across all Obstetrics and Gynaecology divisions and actively engage with a diverse network of specialists and partners.
For a complete list of the Department’s programs, visit the Education section.
Undergraduate & Postgraduate
The Division provides educational activities for residents, undergraduates and visiting trainees. Residents in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology spend three-month rotations within the Division, making regular presentations at the weekly Division Rounds, attending clinics and participating where possible in research activities.
Division members are actively involved in the curriculum of UBC MD undergraduate program, especially in Phase 2 (preclinical) problem-based learning and in Phase 4 (clerkship) activities in ambulatory and hospital-based care. In addition, UBC undergraduates regularly undertake elective rotations and summer studentships with Division members.
The Division accepts students in the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Student Research Program. Information about the program and how to apply are available via BCCHR website.
The Division also accepts students in the Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program. For more information, please visit the Program website.
The Division is also involved in the UBC Vancouver Summer Program for international undergraduate students from cooperating universities. Division Members are primarily involved in the From Conception to Life Saving Surgery Across the Lifespan package.
UBC students are eligible to apply for Work Learn Program positions with the Division. Job postings and applications are available on the CareersOnline portal.
Subspecialty Residency
The Division offers a Subspecialty Residency in Gynaecologic Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (GREI). This two-year subspecialty residency training training program is accredited by the Royal College, and provides comprehensive clinical and research training in GREI.
Please note, the GREI Subspecialty Residency applicants must meet the RCPSC certification standards to be considered for this Program.
Division Faculty Directory
Our division faculty members can be found from the Faculty & Staff Directory.
Clinical Programs & Services
UBC In Vitro Fertilization Program
Historically, the UBC In Vitro Fertilization program was established in 1983 when the first Canadian IVF baby was born. For the time being, all clinical and educational assisted reproduction services including intracytoplasmic sperm injection, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and Comprehensive Chromosome Screening are provided by various IVF programs in Vancouver, offering the widest possible range of services to patients while ensuring the highest possible level of safety. These services are provided by various Division faculty members.
Reproductive Medicine
This program offers a number of reproductive health services to women and their partners in the areas of pregnancy loss, infertility, premature ovarian failure, endometriosis and menstrual irregularities. In addition, this program provides comprehensive evaluations of women with complex medical problems such as arthritis vascular and clotting disorders who are contemplating pregnancy. Diagnostic services include gynaecologic/early obstetrical ultrasound and office hysteroscopy. This program provides three services:
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic
Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic
Special Needs Gynaecology
For clinical matters contact RPL@cw.bc.ca.
The BC Women’s Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis
This centre is one of a wide range of clinics at BC Women’s Health Centre that provides specialised health services to women living in BC. It provides a tertiary level service approach to the management of chronic pelvic pain. The program has become a multidisciplinary activity and in 2010 began to offer an advanced training program in Endometriosis, Pelvic Pain and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery to expand the tertiary level services within the province and beyond.
List of Research Areas:
- Assisted Reproduction and Population Health Outcomes
- Environmental Exposures and Reproduction
- Genetic Determination of Granulosa Cell Function
- ICSI
- IVF
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Premature Ovarian Failure
- Endocrine Regulation of Reproduction and Fertility
- Tubal Surgery
- Genetic and epigenetic aspects of male infertility and ART outcomes
The Division’s research activity encompasses basic and clinical research, in addition to collaborative multidisciplinary activities.
Five members of the Division currently hold funding for research projects and Division members have consistently generated publications in peer-reviewed and other journals. Individual members have presented original work at meetings of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Furthermore, members have participated significantly in the development and publication of Clinical Practice Guidelines under the auspices of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
Dr. Peter Leung’s Laboratory
Dr. Leung’s lab is recognised for the discovery and characterisation of the gene encoding the human gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor, which is a key regulator in reproductive endocrinology and fertility. His studies on the autocrine and paracrine roles of the GnRH, as well as other growth factors, in different cellular models have shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of reproductive function.
BC Women’s Research Laboratory
Through the collaborative work between Drs. Mohamed Bedaiwy and Paul Yong, ongoing research activities in this lab are focused on investigating the molecular alterations associated with endometriosis. In addition, this research is focused on the key regulators of invasiveness and transition of endometriosis into cancer.
Women’s Health Centre for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Research Program
The recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) clinic is a highly specialised clinic, unique of its kind in BC. The RPL clinic will be the site of randomised controlled trials to assess therapeutic interventions for RPL. In addition, we focus our attention to characterise unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. We also strive to develop national and international collaborations to study the genetic basis for miscarriage.
Female Infertility
Several clinical trials are ongoing at different sites to optimise controlled ovarian stimulation. In addition, we are studying different alternatives for poor responders and fertility preservation in cancer patients.
Male Infertility
Through our work on the genetics of human development, we hope to better understand the pathophysiology of male infertility and to design techniques to select the healthiest spermatozoa for subsequent use in assisted reproduction.
