Governance

Dr. Darryl Knight, President, Providence Research

Dr. Knight joined Providence Health Care (PHC) as Vice-President, Research and Academic Affairs in 2019. His role includes responsibilities as President, Providence Research, and Associate Dean, Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia.

Dr. Knight obtained his PhD from the University of Western Australia in 1993. In 2004, he joined UBC as Canada Research Chair in Airway Disease. In 2013, he returned to Australia as Head of School, Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle and in 2019, returned to Canada to fulfill his current role as Vice President Research and Academic Affairs, Providence Health Care, President, Providence Research and Associate Dean, Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia.

Dr. Knight is a cell biologist with an international reputation in lung and airway remodeling. His research has focused on understanding abnormal epithelial cell-fibroblast interactions influence the severity and chronicity of respiratory diseases and affect on treatment. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters (h-factor 73; 15,750 citations) and is a co-inventor on thirteen patents.

He has a strong record of accomplishment of obtaining research grant funding (>$20 million), including leading a successful application for $7 million from the CFI in 2012. His expertise in this area of study has lead to invitations to present his work and chair sessions at major national and international health conferences.

Dr. Knight has impressive research leadership credentials. From 2009-2012 he was the Associate Director, UBC James Hogg Research Centre (now the Heart Lung Institute) and sat on the executive of the Institute for Heart and Lung Health. He sits on several national and international scientific research boards and committees, and is on the editorial board of five international journals. Dr. Knight has been primary supervisor for 7 Post-doctoral fellows, 17 PhD and 2 MSc students and over 18 Graduate students.

Providence Research is the research arm of Providence Health Care, an academic health science centre affiliated with the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. PHC practices exceptional care, driven by evidence and true innovation and delivered by caring and committed professionals, staff, and volunteers.

Established in 2005, Providence Research promotes research activities throughout its centres: BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, BC Centre on Substance Use, Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation,  and Centre for Heart Lung Innovation. 

The Research Facilitation Office provides administrative support for research at Providence Research in the areas of research ethics, finance, human resources, contracts and grants administration, education, and communication.