Principal Investigator
MD (Queen’s University), FRCSC [Orthopaedic Surgery] (University of British Columbia), PhD [Neuroscience] (University of British Columbia), Spine Fellowship (Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University)
Director, ICORD
Canada Research Chair in Spinal Cord Injury
Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Spine Surgeon, Vancouver Spine Program, Vancouver General Hospital
Dvorak Chair in Spine Trauma
Director, Vancouver Spine Research Program
Research Interests
Biomarkers; Clinical trials; Neuroprotection; Spine surgery; Translational researchDr. Kwon is a surgeon-scientist with advanced training in spine surgery and also a PhD in neuroscience. He is a Professor in the UBC Department of Orthopaedics. As an attending orthopaedic spine surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital his practice is focused on the management of adult spine trauma, spinal cord injuries, and non-traumatic conditions such as spine infection, deformity, and degeneration. As a neuroscientist and Principal Investigator at ICORD, Dr. Kwon runs an active basic/translational research laboratory. Dr. Kwon is currently also serving as the Associate Director, Clinical Research, for ICORD and is the Director of Research for the Vancouver Spine Research Program.
Dr. Kwon’s primary research interest is in spinal cord injury. During his residency, he met many young patients on the spinal cord unit whose lives had been devastated by SCI; this motivated him to pursue a career in spine surgery and a PhD in neuroscience. Now, as a surgeon-scientist, his research interests in SCI span the translational continuum from basic bench research all the way to clinical trials. His research program is best characterized by “bedside back to bench” and “bench to bedside” bi-directional translation.
Currently, Dr. Kwon is leading a North American clinical trial in acute SCI to improve guidelines for the management of patients in the early stages of their injury and also to establish biomarkers of injury by providing a more complete picture of the pathophysiology of acute human SCI. His interest in the human pathophysiology of SCI has led him to establish the International Spinal Cord Injury Biobank (ISCIB). In the laboratory, he has developed new models to facilitate the preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies and to also better understand clinical observations from acute SCI patients.
Dr. Kwon loves working with ICORD because of the multidisciplinary interface between science and medicine. He enjoys the ease with which his research can translate from “bench-to-bedside” and “bedside back to bench” with ICORD situated right on the campus of Vancouver General Hospital, the provincial referral centre for all acute spinal cord injuries in British Columbia.
Learn more about Dr. Kwon’s research and the Kwon Lab on their website at kwonlab.ca.
Recent Collaborations:
The interdisciplinary nature of Dr. Kwon’s research program has facilitated the establishment of strong collaborations both within and beyond UBC. Within UBC, he collaborates directly on studies of spinal cord injury with a core group of researchers, which include Dr. Peter Cripton and Dr. Tom Oxland who study injury biomechanics and prevention, Dr. Wolfram Tetzlaff who studies neuroregeneration, Dr. Babak Shadgan who studies optical hemodynamic monitoring, Dr. Chris West who studies cardiac function, Dr.John Kramer who studies neuropathic pain, Drs. Cornelia Laule and Piotr Kozlowski who study advanced MRI, Drs. Wayne Moore and Veronica Hirsh-Reinshagen who are neuro-pathology experts, and Drs. Alex Kavanagh and Lynn Stothers who are neuro-urologists.
In addition to this core group, Dr. Kwon collaborates with researchers from numerous disciplines across UBC including Dr. Judy Illes (Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics) to study the ethics of stem cell treatments for SCI. He has also generated research collaborations with Dr. Bruce McManus, the Director of the iCAPTURE Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital and with Dr. Leonard Foster (Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) at the Centre for High Through-put Biology (ChiBi) to conduct proteomic assessments after acute SCI in human patients and in experimental models.
Beyond UBC, Dr. Kwon has established strategic, project-based collaborations with the clinical community and scholars at other Canadian and international institutions. As the Principal Investigator of the Canadian Multicenter CSF Pressure and Biomarker (CAMPER) study, Dr. Kwon has established direct collaborations with spine surgical colleagues in London (Dr. Chris Bailey), Montreal (Dr. Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong), Toronto (Dr. Jeff Wilson), Halifax (Dr. Sean Christie) and San Francisco (Dr. Sanjay Dhall).
Outside of UBC, Dr. Kwon is working closely with a number of collaborators to study bladder function (Dr. Margot Damaser, Cleveland Clinic) and to study neural regeneration (Dr. Yu-Shang Lee, Cleveland Clinic). He has also been studying an acute neuroprotective strategy utilizing nanoparticles with Dr. Vinod Labhasetwar, also of the Cleveland Clinic.
Major Findings:
Biomarkers are important for clinically validating new therapies. Dr. Kwon has found biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which indicate the pathophysiology of SCI.
CSF pressure is an important factor in secondary damage after traumatic SCI. Lowering pressure by draining CSF is a common technique for treating certain aortic aneurysms, but has not been evaluated for treatment of SCI. Dr. Kwon found that CSF drainage was not associated with negative effects when used to treat acute traumatic SCI.
For more of Dr. Kwon’s major findings, please see the selected publications below, as well as his recent publications listed at the bottom of the page:
- Survival and regeneration of rubrospinal neurons 1 year after spinal cord injury
- A prospective randomized controlled trial of anterior compared with posterior stabilization for unilateral facet injuries of the cervical spine
- Intrathecal pressure monitoring and cerebrospinal fluid drainage in acute spinal cord injury: a prospective randomized trial
- Cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of injury severity in acute human spinal cord injury
- Translational research in spinal cord injury: a survey of opinion from the SCI community
Techniques employed in the lab:
- Behavioural assessments
- Biochemistry proteomics
- Clinical trails
- Histology
- Microdialysis
- Surgery
Affiliations with organizations and societies:
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia
- North American Spine Society
- Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
- Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI)
- Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)
Awards
Some of Dr. Kwon’s recent major awards and accomplishments include:
- King Charles III Coronation Medal, Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall, Government of Canada, 2025
- The Jacob Biely Faculty Research Prize, UBC, 2025
- Craig H. Neilsen Visionary Prize, 2020
- Tator-Turnbull Award for SCI and TBI Research, 2019 (Barbara Turnbull Foundation and Brain Canada Foundation)
- Apple Award, 2018 (American Spinal Injury Association)
- Best Paper Award (Canadian Spine Society Annual Meeting, 2016)Best Paper Award (Canadian Spine Society Annual Meeting, 2016)
- Top Basic Science Poster Award (Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting, 2015)
- Cure Advisory Committee Chair (Rick Hansen Institute, 2014)
- J. Eduoard Samson Award (Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation, 2014)
- Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Spinal Cord Injury (2012)
- Bringing Clinical Renown to Vancouver General Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health Awards of Excellence, 2011)
- 2nd Place, Best Paper Presentation for “Development of a Novel Porcine Model of Spinal Cord Injury” (International Conference on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation [Combined ASIA-ISCOS Meeting], 2011)
- American-British-Canadian Travelling Fellow (Canadian Orthopaedic Association, 2011)
- Kappa Delta Young Investigator Award (AAOS/Orthopaedic Research Society, 2010)
- Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 under 40 (2009)
- Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar Award (MSFHR, 2007)
- Hibbs Award in Top Basic Science Research Paper (Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting, 2006)
- Whitecloud Award in Clinical Research (IMAST, 2005)
Current lab members
| Undergraduate Students | Medical Residents | Master Students | PhD Students | Postdoctoral Fellows | Research Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benedictus (Harley) Kartawidjaja | Michael Rizzuto | Tolu Malomo | Sigrun Jarlsdottir | Dr. Cameron Gee | Femke Streijger |
| Mehara Seneviratne | Ryan Chan | Adam Doelman | Dr. Alexandra Williams | Kitty So | |
| Alex Pei | Aysha Allard Brown | Dr. Ryan Hoiland | Neda Tearle | ||
| Husain Kankroliwala | Shahbaz Askari | Carly Levinsky | |||
| Amir Borjali | Kevin Dong | ||||
| Amardeep Sekhon | Avril Billingsley | ||||
| Katharina Raschdorf | Jay Ethridge | ||||
| Garrett Frank | Juliana Mitchell | ||||
| Jing Wang | |||||
| Eslam Abdelaziz | |||||
| Farah Samedi Bahrami | |||||
| Ali Zaidi | |||||
| Adam Velenosi | |||||
| Allan Aludino | |||||
| Leilani Reichl | |||||
| Angela Tsang | |||||
| Miko McKenzie | |||||
| Joey Chan | |||||
| Xianhong Shan | |||||
| Svitlana Haia | |||||
| Lu Pan | |||||
| Husain Kankroliwala |
*graduated in the past year
Trainee Awards
| Year | Trainee | Award |
| 2025 | Cameron Gee | 2nd prize poster award – PDF level, ICORD Trainee Symposium |
| Aysha Allard Brown |
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| 2024-2025 | Katharina Raschdorf |
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| Sigrún Jarlsdóttir |
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| 2024 | Ryan Chan | 1st prize Poster Award – Master level (WL McLeod Award), Ryan Chan |
| Garrett Frank |
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| Amardeep Sekhon |
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| Katharina Raschdorf |
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| Cameron Gee | 2nd prize Poster award – Postdoc level, ICORD Annual Research Meeting (March 06-07) | |
| Tolu Malomo | 1st Place Winner of Best Paper award (Debbie Scarlet Award), Canadian Spine Society Meeting. Feb 28-Mar 2 2024 | |
| Adam Doelman | Faculty of Medicine Graduate Award, UBC | |
| Aysha Allard Brown |
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| 2023-2024 | Sigrún Jarlsdóttir | International Tuition Award, UBC |
| 2023 | Kitty So | 2024 VCHRI Research Excellence Staff Award, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute |
| Tolu Malomo | ICORD Trainee Travel Award | |
| Garrett Frank |
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| Katharina Raschdorf |
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| Ryan Chan | 2nd Place Winner of Best Oral Presentation, University of British Columbia (UBC) Pathology Day (June 1) | |
| Femke Streijger | 2023 VCHRI Research Excellence Staff Award, VCHRI | |
| Aysha Allard Brown |
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| Adam Doelman |
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| Sigrún Jarlsdóttir |
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| 2022-2023 | Katharina Raschdorf |
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| 2022 | Katharina Raschdorf |
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| Sigrún Jarlsdóttir |
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| Farnaz Sahragard |
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| Adam Doelman |
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| Aysha Allard Brown |
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| Katharina Raschdorf | 1st Place Poster Presentation PhD Category, 2022 ICORD Virtual Annual Research Meeting | |
| Amanda Cheung |
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| 2021-2024 | Katharina Raschdorf | Faculty of Medicine Graduate Award, UBC |
| 2021-2022 | Tolu Malomo | UBC President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award |
| Sigrún Jarlsdóttir |
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| 2021 | Farnaz Sahragard |
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| Adam Doelman |
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| Aysha Allard Brown | Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s Award (CGS M) | |
| Katharina Raschdorf |
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| Aysha Allard Brown | ICORD Trainee Travel Award | |
| Amanda Cheung |
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| 2020-2024 | Amanda Cheung | UBC 4 Year Fellowship (in title) |
| 2020-2023 | Amanda Cheung | Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (CIHR) |
| 2020-2022 | Amanda Cheung | UBC Killam Travel Allowance |
| 2020-2022 | Amanda Cheung | UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarship (in title) |
| 2020-2021 | Sigrún Jarlsdóttir | Faculty of Medicine Graduate Award (UBC) |
| 2020 | Amanda Cheung |
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| Aysha Allard Brown |
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| Adam Doelman |
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| Farnaz Sahragard | Faculty of Medicine Graduate Award (UBC) | |
| Martin Keung | People’s Choice Winner (UBC, Future of Health Research Day) | |
| Tolu Malomo |
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| Sigrún Jarlsdóttir |
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| 2018 | Seth Tigchelaar |
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| Amanda Cheung | Top Trainee Poster Presentation (UBC, Faculty of Medicine) | |
| Kevin Dong | 2nd place poster presentation in the Staff category (ICORD, Annual Research Meeting) | |
| Rishab Gupta | Poster presentation (Undergraduate Neuroscience conference) | |
| 2017 | Seth Tigchelaar |
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| 2016 | Ana Gheorghe | 2nd place poster in the Masters category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) |
| Neda Manouchehri | 1st place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) | |
| Femke Streijger | Staff Award of Excellence in Research (ICORD) | |
| Seth Tigchelaar | Honorable Mention in the PhD Category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) | |
| 2015 | Elena Okon | 1st place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) |
| Kitty So | 2nd place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) | |
| 2014 | Neda Manouchehri | 1st place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) |
| Elena Okon | Staff Excellence Award (ICORD) | |
| Kitty So | 3rd place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) | |
| Femke Streijger | 2nd place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) | |
| 2013 | Femke Streijger | 1st place poster in the Staff category at the Annual Research Meeting (ICORD) |
| 2012 | Jae Lee | President’s Staff Award for Emerging Leadership (UBC) |
| 2011 | Claire F. Jones | Medtronic Spinal Research Award for Best Paper (Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting) |
| 2010 | Emily R. Dodwell |
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| Claire F. Jones | Margaret H. Hines Award for Top Podium Presentation (Ohio Injury Biomechanics Symposium) |
Current Opportunities in the Lab
Dr. Kwon is currently seeking a PhD student to join his research team. This position will be jointly supervised by Dr. Kwon and Dr. Femke Streijger, Research Associate, ICORD. Starting salary is $21,000 per year. You will be expected to apply for competitive external funding. Other funding opportunities (Teaching Assistant or Work Learn positions) may also be possible. To be eligible for this position, you should have an M.Sc. from a recognized university and be accepted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of British Columbia. Your verbal and written English communication skills must be excellent. Competitive candidates will have extensive experience with in-vivo micro-dialysis, ELISA and multiplex analysis, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, FACS and animal behavioral testing. Preference will be given to applicants with published scientific manuscripts and at least one first-author publication in the field.
To apply, please send a cover letter outlining your research interests, a CV, and the names and contact information of 3 references to Dr. Femke Streijger by email or post (click for mailing address).
Recent publications
- Rotem-Kohavi, N et al.. 2025. Building a library of acute traumatic spinal cord injury images across Canada: a retrospective cohort study protocol.. BMJ Open. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106818.
- Bond, M et al.. 2025. Longitudinal healthcare utilization among traumatic spinal cord injury patients: a 20 year retrospective study using population-based data.. BMC Health Serv Res. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-13895-z.
- Chan, V et al.. 2025. Canadian Spine Society: 25th Annual Scientific Conference, February 25 to 28, 2025, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Que., Canada.. Can J Surg. doi: 10.1503/cjs.020125.
- Burn, LA et al.. 2026. Healthcare Provider Perspectives of Various Signs and Symptoms for Diagnosing Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Results of an International, Multidisciplinary Survey.. Muscle Nerve. doi: 10.1002/mus.70068.
- Fallah, N et al.. 2025. Correction: Effect of body mass index on survival after spinal cord injury.. Front Neurol. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1667648.
