April 2025

NICOLE SANFORD

Research Manager
Institute of Mental Health

Meet Dr. Nicole Sanford, IMH Research Manager and a former Marshall Fellow! With a background in neuroscience and in project management, she supports mental health research while staying engaged with scientific discovery and personal passions.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I grew up in Vancouver, completed my undergraduate studies in Montreal, and then returned for grad school in UBC’s Graduate Program in Neuroscience. Working with Dr. Todd Woodward, my PhD research focused on identifying patterns of brain activity underlying cognitive difficulties associated with schizophrenia. Then, during my postdoctoral research fellowship with Dr. Sophia Frangou, my Marshall Fellowship work focused on links between accelerated brain aging and mental health, using machine learning approaches. During this time, I also completed a Project Management program from the UBC Sauder School of Business Studies to broaden my skills. Now I support IMH initiatives like the Marshall Fellows Program while continuing to engage in research directly.

What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most, or find most exciting?

I enjoy the variety in my role, and I’m especially lucky that I still get to work as part of a research team. The tools and technologies available today, like big data-sharing projects and advances in computational power and AI, have opened up exciting opportunities in mental health research.

Can you tell us about an interesting project you are working on?

One project I’m excited to share uses UK Biobank data to examine brain aging in individuals with a history of depression, to identify the influence of lifestyle traits like diet and physical activity (preprint now available! https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.27.25324698v1.full-text). This work links lifestyle patterns to distinct patterns of brain aging and mood symptoms, providing insights into potential avenues for promoting brain health in individuals affected by depression. Another project focuses on brain development in childhood bipolar disorder, exploring key indicators of risk in youth with and without a family history of mental health challenges. Both projects highlight how data science can uncover new perspectives in mental health research.

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work?

Music has always been an important part of my life. I started playing violin when I was three years old and initially began my undergrad as a music major at McGill. Now I’m enjoying performing in an amateur orchestra, Vanier Park Symphony, and taking regular lessons again. Outside of music, my husband and I love traveling and exploring Vancouver’s beautiful outdoors with our dog Nathan, a rescue from Kuwait.

If you are an IMH member and would like to share more about yourself and your research with the community, please contact Megan Rollerson, Manager, Communications and Partnerships at megan.rollerson@ubc.ca.