Our People
Bernie Pauly | Co-Lead
Dr. Bernie Pauly, RN, PhD, is a professor in the UVic School of Nursing, a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, a member of the Renewal of Public Health Services Research Team, and a priority lead for the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. The primary focus of her research is reducing health inequities associated with substance use, poverty, and homelessness.
Karen Urbanoski |
Co-Lead
Dr. Karen Urbanoski, PhD, is the Canada Research Chair in Substance Use, Addictions and Health Services Research, and is an assistant professor in Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on the development and course of substance use problems and addiction, and the roles played by health and social service systems in recovery.
Brittany Graham | CoP Coordinator
Brittany Graham, MPH, is the community of practice (CoP) coordinator for Co/Lab. With over 15 years experience working on drug use research, policy and advocacy, Brittany is deeply committed to ensuring the voices of people with lived experiences are heard at all levels of research, policy and program creation. Brittany is also the CoP coordinator for the Canadian Managed Alcohol Study.
Jenny Cartwright | Research Manager
Jenny Cartwright is a Research Manager at CISUR, organizing projects related to managed alcohol programs, safer supply, and health equity. Jenny was formerly with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, where she worked to advance patient engagement in research as part of CIHR’s SPOR program. Prior to moving back to BC she spent eight years at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, coordinating research projects in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. Jenny has degrees in Psychology, Criminology, and Public Health (with a focus on Indigenous and Northern Health).
Corey Ranger | Research Manager
Based in unceded Quw'utsun Territory, Corey Ranger (he/him) is a registered nurse and clinical nurse specialist with AVI Health & Community Services. Corey is also President of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association.
Sydele Merrigan | Research Associate
Sydele has a long-standing interest in the role that public policy and social services play in the health of people who belong to systematically oppressed groups, such as people who use drugs. Over the past 8 years, she has worked with various groups in the health and social services across Alberta and British Columbia. After completing a Master’s of Public Health at UVic, she came to CISUR to work with Dr. Urbanoski. Outside of CISUR, she works with other researchers in Victoria and Toronto on projects that address gender-based and family violence primarily in racialized communities.
Thea van Roode | Research Associate
Dr. Thea van Roode is a Research Associate at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. She has a background in public heath, epidemiology, qualitative and quantitative methods, implementation science and knowledge translation and exchange. She strives to work to improve health systems and services, support healthier public policies and create effective action for population health and health equity.
Susan Martin | Research Assistant
Susan has worked as a Teaching Assistant, Lab Instructor and Sessional Instructor in the School of Health Information Science at UVic since May 2020. She has a BA in Anthropology (UVic, 2011), a Master's in International Health (public health with a focus on low and middle income countries, Uppsala University, 2014) and a BSc in Health Information Science (UVic, 2019). Since the fall of 2020 Susan has been involved with a group of other concerned neighbours from across Victoria who try to make the lives of those who are unhoused a bit more comfortable as well as advocating on their behalf with organizations like BC Housing and the City of Victoria. Susan is excited to have the opportunity to learn more about substance use as she expects it will lead her to a deeper and more compassionate understanding of the challenges facing both her housed and unhoused neighbours.
Amanda Farrell-Low | Communications Officer
Amanda’s communications career has involved stints with CBC Radio, Monday Magazine, the Times Colonist, the Office of the Auditor General of BC, the Royal BC Museum and many other interesting gigs. Like thousands of other British Columbians, her family has been directly impacted by the War on Drugs and ineffective drug policy. A graduate of Camosun College’s Applied Communications Program, she hopes to use her communications skills to help translate and disseminate Co/Lab’s findings.
Tim Stockwell | Co-Lead
Dr. Tim Stockwell, PhD is a scientist and former director with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and a Professor of Psychology at UVic. Tim is committed to the advancement of public policy on substance use issues, and has established CISUR as a research institute which aims to shed light on the social, cultural and psychological determinants of harmful substance use, which applies rigorous measures of patterns of use and related harms, and which advances knowledge of effective policy and practice. Tim was named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2018.
Bruce Wallace | Co-Investigator
Dr. Bruce Wallace, PhD, an associate professor with UVic's School of Social Work and a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. His research focuses on harm reduction, poverty, homelessness, and access to health care. He has many years of community-based research in Victoria employing health equity and social justice approaches to his projects.
Jinhui Zhao | Research Scientist
Dr. Jinhui Zhao, PhD, is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) at the University of Victoria. He has worked in the area of substance use epidemiology and statistics. His current research focuses on impacts of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related policies and programs on diseases and health.
Adam Sherk | Post-Doctoral Fellow
Adam Sherk, PhD, is a post-doctoral fellow at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. His research focuses on modelling the economic costs associated with substance use and substance use policy, with an emphasis on alcohol policy.
Nathan Lachowsky | Co-Investigator
Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria. Championing interdisciplinary and community-based approaches, he has conducted community-based health equity research with 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, across Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sana Shahram | Co-Investigator
Dr. Sana Shahram, MPH, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in UBC-O’s School of Nursing and a Collaborating Scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at UVic. Her research advances health equity through action on the systemic roots of inequities, primarily in the context of promoting mental health, reducing harms of substance use, and promoting maternal & child health. Dr. Shahram also leads the recently SSHRC funded Mothering Co/Lab project.