Dr. Kyla Hildebrand, Division Head
The Division of Immunology provides subspecialty clinical immunology care for children with immune system disorders from across British Columbia and the Yukon. Our team is committed to achieving the best outcomes for patients through a collaborative clinical approach and through excellence in teaching, advocacy and research. Research conducted in our program is world leading. We have identified many new immune system disorders and through our research program we have discovered novel, patient-specific treatments. Our immunology physicians have been recognized for excellence in clinical care, education and research through many national and international awards. We continuously strive to improve our clinical programs by implementing and updating guidelines and care pathways based on feedback and new knowledge in our field.
UPDATED Sept 23 2024
We are an internationally recognized center of excellence for Immunology Research, leading and participating in national and international studies on immune and allergic conditions.
Dr. Catherine Biggs is an Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and lead of the Rare Diseases Group under the institute’s Childhood Diseases theme. She is a Michael Smith Health Research BC Health Professional-Investigator who studies inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). These are a group of genetic conditions affecting immune system development and/or function. Dr. Biggs leads a translational research program on IEIs affecting children and adults. Her goal is to improve outcomes for patients with IEIs by helping providers recognize patients who may be suffering from an IEI, by identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disease severity, and by employing multiple laboratory-based diagnostic tools to provide precise diagnoses for patients. Her current areas of focus are: IEIs affecting adolescents and adults, IEIs manifesting with allergic inflammation, and social determinants of health in IEIs.
Dr. Kyla Hildebrand is a Pediatric Clinical Immunology and Allergy specialist and clinician educator in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Hildebrand’s scholarly work focuses on the areas of immunization including adverse events following immunization, inborn errors of immunity and implementation of intrinsic CanMEDS roles in post graduate medical education. She is a voting member on the National Advisory Committee for Immunization since 2018 and the Chair of the NACI Pneumococcal Vaccine Working Groups. Dr. Hildebrand’s recent scholarly work has contributed to a national health policy change for individuals who have previously experienced anaphylaxis following vaccines. Dr. Hildebrand has been recognized for excellence in teaching and medical education with several national awards including the Canadian Association for Medical Education Award of Merit, UBC Continuing Professional Development Award for Innovation in CPD/CME, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada AMS Donald Richards Wilson Award for CanMEDS Integration.
Dr. Elliot James is the newest member in the immunology division. She splits her clinical time between working as a Pediatric Immunologist at BC Children’s Hospital and working in the community as a Pediatric Allergist. She is a Clinical Instructor with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests include inborn errors of immunity (IEIs).
Dr. Stuart Turvey is a Professor of Pediatrics at The University of British Columbia where he holds both the Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Precision Health and the Aubrey J. Tingle Professorship in Pediatric Immunology. He is a clinician-scientist and Pediatric Immunologist based at BC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Turvey’s research program is focused on determining the early-life origins of asthma and allergic disease, as well as harnessing the power of genomics to diagnose, treat and prevent pediatric immune disorders. Dr. Turvey and his team generate new knowledge to define the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and, ultimately, to identify new strategies to treat and even prevent these burdensome and often life-threatening conditions. For more details about Dr. Turvey’s research program visit: www.bcchr.ca/turveylab
The Pediatric Clinical Immunology and Allergy Residency training program is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is the only residency program west of Manitoba. Graduates of this residency program have pursued careers in both academic and community settings.
The division of Immunology supports learners from all levels of training including undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of basic sciences and from the Faculty of Medicine and fosters a collaborative learning environment. Longitudinal clinical training in Pediatric Immunology and inborn errors of immunity is a key strength of the residency program. Further details regarding the residency program can be found on the CaRMS web site: www.carms.ca
The Immunology Service at BC Children's Hospital diagnoses and treats children with immune system disorders from throughout British Columbia and the Yukon. We provide inpatient and outpatient services with a focus on inborn errors of immunity and secondary immunodeficiencies. Inborn errors of immunity represent a group of more than 500 unique conditions that affect how the immune system develops or works. These conditions can lead to difficulties with infections, cancer, inflammation or autoimmunity (when the immune system attacks its own organs). Referrals originate from primary care and specialist/subspecialist clinicians. Our clinical program also treats secondary immunodeficiencies, most often caused by long-term immunosuppressant use for autoimmune conditions or chemotherapy used for childhood cancers. Because immune system disorders affect many systems in the body, we work very closely with other pediatricians and subspecialists to ensure children receive the best possible care. We use advanced diagnostic tools including genetic testing to carefully study the immune system and understand the underlying cause of the immune disorder. Treatment is patient-specific, guided by the particular immune condition, and may include antimicrobial prophylaxis, immunoglobulin replacement, targeted biologic or small molecule therapies, gene therapy, enzyme replacement therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Our clinic: http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/immunology
Faculty:
Dr. Kyla Hildebrand MD, FRCPC, MScCH (HPTE), Clinical Associate Professor, Division Head ad Medical Lead Immunology
Dr. Stuart Turvey, MBBS, DPhil, FRCPC, Professor and Canada Research Chair
Dr. Catherine Biggs, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Elliot James, MD, FRCPC, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Sarah Lohrenz (locum tenens); MD, FRCPC, Clinical Instructor
Clinical Immunology and Allergy Subspecialty Residents:
Dr. Elise van Brummelen, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Angela Maccan, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Sujen Saravanaban, MD, FRCPC
Clerical and administrative staff:
Louise Aromin, administrative secretary
Pamela Ramos, Booking Clerk
Smriti Garg, Floating Support Clerk
Contact:
Division of Immunology
Department of Paediatrics
Room 1C31B, BC Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6H 3V4
Phone: 604-875-2118 x 2
Fax: 604 875 3653