Leadership
Dr. Sean Barbour
Chief Scientific Officer,
MD, M.Sc., FRCPC
Dr. Barbour trained in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of British Columbia. He also completed a glomerulonephritis fellowship and M.Sc. in clinical epidemiology at the University of Toronto. He is an associate professor with the UBC Division of Nephrology and the medical lead and chair of the BC Renal Glomerulonephritis Committee and GN Registry.
Through these positions, he is responsible for health policy and health services related to glomerular diseases in BC. His research focus is on clinical trials, health outcomes and health services delivery in glomerulonephritis, and using prediction modeling techniques to improve risk stratification in glomerular diseases. He is the chair of the International IgA Nephropathy Network Research Group and holds multiple peer-reviewed grants, including from Health Research BC, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Dr. Adeera Levin
Executive Director,
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Levin is the head of the Division of Nephrology at the University of British Columbia, and a consultant nephrologist at Providence Health Care.
She is the executive director of BC Renal, which oversees the care, planning and budgets for kidney services in BC. In this capacity, Dr. Levin has leveraged her epidemiological training, clinical knowledge, and health outcomes research to develop an evidence-based system that enhances patient care across the continuum of care.
Her research interests include cardiovascular disease in CKD patients, variability in the progression of CKD and optimal models of care. She is the principal investigator with Can-SOLVE CKD, a pan-Canadian, patient-oriented research network that unites scientists, health-care professionals and policy makers to transform care for Canadians living with chronic kidney disease.
She has won numerous teaching and research awards and she is a recipient of the Order of Canada.
Operations
Esther Khor
Director, Research Operations
Read More Read LessAs director of research operations for the Collaboratory, Esther brings a systems-level perspective to advancing science in support of quality care. Trained as a respiratory therapist with a background in education and community outreach, Esther understands the challenges of navigating resources and mentorship across the research lifecycle. She is committed to strengthening the user experience for both researchers and participants.
Esther holds a Master of Management in Health Leadership from McGill University. She views research programs as complex organizations—not just projects—requiring robust operational support to enable science to progress efficiently and sustainably, so researchers can focus on high-impact intellectual work.
Alexandra Romann
Manager, Methodology and Analytics
Read More Read LessAlexandra brings nearly 20 years of experience in health‑system analytics and statistical methodology to her role at the Collaboratory. She also leads the skilled statisticians who make up BC Renal’s Analytics and Methodology team. She oversees rigorous analytic processes, key indicator reporting, and methodological support that guide research, resource planning, and clinical guidelines across the province. Alexandra collaborates with clinicians, researchers, and system partners to translate complex data into actionable insights. She strives to ensure that data is not only accessible but also trusted, which empowers clinical and research teams to deliver impactful outcomes and advance kidney care with confidence. She holds a Master of Science in Statistics from the University of British Columbia.
Zainab Sheriff
Research Program Manager
Read More Read LessZainab brings more than a decade of experience in clinical research leadership and operations to her role at the Collaboratory. She oversees complex research studies across the full lifecycle—from regulatory strategy and study start-up to execution, close-out, and publication. Zainab’s expertise spans Phase II–IV trials, safety and observational studies, and complex data initiatives. Zainab is highly recognized for her expertise in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health Canada Division 5, and regulatory compliance, and for driving high-quality, institutional collaboration across partners including BC Renal, Providence Research, VCH Research Institute, and UBC. A pragmatic and attentive leader, Zainab brings research into real-world impact.
Karin Jackson
Director, PROMIS
Read More Read LessKarin leads the PROMIS (Patient Records and Outcome Management Information System) team, a group that is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and support of British Columbia’s province-wide clinical information and registry system for kidney disease, transplantation, and other specialized care programs.
With extensive experience in health informatics, data systems, and research infrastructure, Karin is committed to enabling high-quality patient care through effective use of clinical data and technology. She is passionate about transforming data into meaningful information and actionable insights, enabling better decision-making and improving patient care and health system performance. Under her leadership, PROMIS supports healthcare providers across the province by delivering access to key patient information, facilitating care coordination, quality improvement, health system planning, and research.
Karin enables collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and health system partners to strengthen specialized care and kidney research across British Columbia.
Steering Committee
The steering committee brings a province-wide kidney research perspective to the Collaboratory, helping to guide our work.
- Dr. Mike Bevilacqua
- Dr. Joslyn Conley
- Dr. Judith Marin
- Dr. Kelly Picard
- Dr. Anurag Singh
- Dr. Caroline Stigant
- Person with lived experience (TBC)