UBC Medicine assistant professor Dr. Nika Shakiba has been selected as one of the 2025 Canada Gairdner Early Career Investigators for her work advancing stem cell-derived therapies and biomanufacturing.
Dr. Shakiba’s research focused on the “social lives” of stem cells: how these cells interact to influence one another’s survival. Her lab uses systems and synthetic biology to understand the genetic rules that encode cooperative and competitive interactions between stem cells. Through genetic engineering, Dr. Shakiba and her team seek to program these interactions to enable robust processes for biomanufacturing stem cell-derived therapies.
The award recognizes outstanding early-career researchers in Canada, providing them a national platform to showcase their work during Gairdner Science Week alongside Gairdner laureates.
“I am honoured to have been selected by [committee members] Dr. Artavanis-Tsakonas, Dr. Greenwald and Dr. Struh for this award,” said Dr. Shakiba, an assistant professor in the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering. “Their transformative work on the Notch signalling pathway has seeded our fundamental understanding of how cells communicate as our bodies are built. I look forward to engaging with these Gairdner Laureates and members of the community to discuss science and reflect on scientific journeys. The opportunity to network with such a vibrant group of high-calibre scientists is inspiring, providing a unique chance to learn the human stories behind the scientific discoveries.”
Aligned with her mission to make stem cells an engineerable raw material for therapeutics, Dr. Shakiba co-founded the international Virtual Human Development Consortium, which brings together experimentalists and theoreticians around the central goal of creating a computer-based simulator of human embryonic development. This simulator provides a window into the formation of the human body while serving as a tool for rational cellular design.
Beyond research and teaching, Dr, Shakiba is passionate about providing equity in mentorship and advice for the next-generation of researchers. Her latest project, Advice to a Scientist, is a hub where the scientific community can share perspectives on topics that are central to the professional growth of scientists at all stages of their career — ranging from curious high school students at the beginning of their scientific journey to more seasoned science explorers.
Dr. Shakiba, who is among five Canada Gairdner Early Career Investigators recipients for 2025, will present her research “The Molecular Rules of Embryonic Stem Cell Competition” during the Laureate Lectures at Gairdner Science Week 2025 on October 23.
The Gairdner Foundation is an organization dedicated to recognizing international excellence in fundamental research that advances human health.
A version of this story originally appeared on the School of Biomedical Engineering website.