CURRENT MEMBERS
Kelly Mackenzie
Research Manager
Kelly is the research manager for the CEPL, overseeing many of our trials. Kelly has been with the team since 2020. She is a clinical exercise physiologist with a MSc from the University of Alberta (2000) and has taught many academic courses in exercise physiology, health and wellness, aging and exercise prescription. Kelly also has extensive experience working with clients through their cancer rehabilitation as well as those with complex medical considerations. She enjoys tapping into her creative side to find suitable movement options that work for the clients. When not working, you will most likely find Kelly cycling or hiking on her local trails or reading a good book!
Kelcey Bland
Postdoctoral Fellow
Kelcey is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab at UBC and the BC Cancer Research Institute under the supervision of Dr. Kristin Campbell and Helen McTaggart-Cowan. Kelcey completed her PhD at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Australia. Kelcey’s research has focused on clinical exercise prescription for people living with cancer from diagnosis to survivorship and end-of-life. Her PhD specifically explored the role of exercise for the management of cachexia in people with advanced cancer. Currently, Kelcey is leading a project that is focused on the knowledge translation and mobilization of the recently published exercise guidelines for people living with bone metastases.
Ignacio Catala
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ignacio is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab at UBC. He holds a PhD in Physical Activity and Sports Science, a Masters in Physiology, and a Bachelors in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences from the University of Valencia. Currently, Ignacio is leading a project focused on the effect of physical activity on body composition for colon cancer patients. His passion is raising awareness on the importance of physical exercise and living an active lifestyle for patients living with and beyond cancer. In his free time, Ignacio can be found in the mountains, either snowboarding, hiking, or climbing.
Sam Myers
PhD Candidate
Sam is a doctoral student in the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab. She was the primary instructor for the BE-FIT virtual exercise program for women with breast cancer receiving hormone therapy. Her thesis explores different strategies to integrate exercise therapy into standard oncological care, including a program evaluation of the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Exercise Clinic and examining participant barriers and facilitators of engaging in the BE-FIT exercise trial. As a Seattleite, she hopes to bring the learnings from her time in the lab to her community. She enjoys being active and relaxing with her husband, Blaine, and chihuahuas Rocky and Dexter during her free time.
Kendra Zadravec
PhD Candidate
Kendra is a PhD candidate and physiotherapist in the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab. Kendra completed her Master of Science (Rehabilitation Sciences) in 2020 and Master of Physical Therapy in 2023, both at UBC. Kendra’s current research focuses on upper extremity impairments related to breast cancer treatment. In the future, Kendra looks forward to continuing to support people with and beyond cancer in their rehabilitation goals, both in a research and clinical setting. In her free time, Kendra enjoys trail/road running, crossword puzzles, and keeping up with her two border collies (one of which is pictured here)!
Sabrina Cao
Master’s Student
Sabrina is a second-year MSc student in the Rehabilitation Sciences program. She completed her BSc in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she first started working in exercise oncology. Her thesis looks at planning for the implementation of an advanced lung cancer exercise program in the community and is generously funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Sabrina hopes to make cancer exercise more accessible for Canadians, in the hopes of improving long-term effects of cancer and treatment, and ultimately, quality of life. When she isn’t working, you can find Sabrina playing sports with her friends or maintaining her Yelp Elite status.
Sean Sawer
Research Coordinator
Sean is a Research Assistant in the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab, where he works on projects focusing on bone metastases and post cancer treatment exercise prescription. Sean holds a doctorate degree in physiotherapy from Glasgow Caledonian University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria. Alongside his professional pursuits, Sean enjoys unraveling challenging sudoku puzzles, hitting the pavement for invigorating runs, and delving into the intricate art of knitting
Rafael Fujita
Research Assistant
Rafael is completing his PhD with a focus on biomechanics and exercise interventions for individuals living with and beyond cancer. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 2016 and a Master’s from the University of São Paulo in 2019. At CEPL, Rafael contributes to research projects related to exercise and cancer survivorship. He is passionate about snowboarding and hiking around BC.
Owen Chen
Research Assistant
Owen is an undergraduate kinesiology student at UBC with a passion for exercise and its role in rehabilitation. He enjoys working with individuals affected by cancer and is eager to support the CEPL team in advancing research and implementation in exercise oncology. In his free time, Owen can be found running, cycling, hiking, and skiing around BC.
Carol Yin
Research Assistant
Carol is a Research Assistant at the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab. She holds a Master of Science in Physiotherapy from Brunel University London and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Simon Fraser University. Carol has experience working with patients diagnosed with head and neck, bowel, and cervical cancers, applying her expertise in rehabilitation science to enhance patient outcomes. Passionate about promoting healthy lifestyle changes, she is dedicated to advancing research in cancer rehabilitation. In her spare time, Carol enjoys rock climbing, running, hiking, knitting, and experimenting with fermentation projects in her kitchen.