Team

Dr. Charlie Waugh

Research Associate

Charlie is a Research Associate with the Tendinopathy Research Group. She completed a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College (London, UK), a PhD in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics at Brunel University. Charlie has extensive postdoctoral training, including appointments at Queen Mary University of London and Brunel University, and was awarded a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellowship. Her research focuses on understanding tendon adaptation, from biochemical and cellular responses to whole-tendon biomechanics. She has also led research examining the effects of tendinopathy rehabilitation therapies, such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy, on inflammatory mediators and collagen turnover in healthy and pathological tendons. In addition to her role at UBC, Charlie is an Instructor at Langara College, where she teaches research methods and research ethics. Charlie’s happy place is gardening and growing her own veggies.

charlie.waugh@ubc.ca

Dr. Kip Squier

Postdoctoral Fellow

Kip is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia. He completed a Bachelor of Kinesiology at Acadia University, followed by an MSc and PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at UBC. His research examines local and systemic influences on tendon mechanics and structure, with emphasis on how metabolic, hormonal, and mechanical factors affect muscle and tendon function, adaptation, and injury risk. He has experience using in vivo tendon assessment methodologies, including ultrasound, MRI, motion capture, force platforms, and dynamometry.

kip.squier@ubc.ca

Daniel Huynh

Master of Physical Therapy Student

Daniel completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia with a focus on neurological and physiological sciences and is currently a student in the Master of Physical Therapy program. His current research project involves MRI analysis of cholesterol accumulation in lower limb MSK structures, with a focus on tissues essential to gait biomechanics. This work aligns closely with his academic and professional interests as an aspiring orthopaedic-focused physiotherapist. Outside of research and studies, he enjoys running, playing badminton, and spending time on the slopes.

Derich Luong

Kinesiology Student, Registered Massage Therapist

Derich is a Kinesiology student at the University of British Columbia and a member of the Tendinopathy Research Group funded through the WorkLearn program. He is currently involved in a feasibility study evaluating the PhysViz system, a home-based platform that combines a take-home device and mobile application to guide and monitor targeted Achilles tendon loading for tendinopathy rehabilitation. His research interests focus on musculoskeletal systems and their rehabilitation. Alongside his academic and research training, he works clinically as a Registered Massage Therapist. Outside of academia, he enjoys spending time in the gym, cooking, traveling, and has recently taken up pottery.

Jessie McDougall

PhD Candidate, Physical Therapist

Jessie is a PhD candidate in the Master of Physical Therapy–PhD program at the University of British Columbia. She is interested in understanding pain modulation, and the ways in which the body changes pain experience, with the goal of using these strategies to improve pain treatment. Her current research in Dr. Kip Kramer’s laboratory at ICORD examines biopsychosocial factors that influence pain, including the effects of exercise, stress, interpersonal gender dynamics, and pain reporting methods. She currently works clinically as a physiotherapist specializing in the treatment of pelvic floor disorders. She enjoys the wilderness surrounding Vancouver through backcountry skiing, mountaineering, camping, trail running, and mountain biking, and has recently taken up sewing her own clothes.

Jeffery Zhang

Doctor of Medicine Student

Jeffrey is a first-year medical student at the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology. He has been contributing to an MRI-based project exploring cholesterol accumulation in lower limb musculoskeletal tissues. His research interests align with his passion for supporting athletes and helping them return to sport, and he is particularly interested in sports medicine. Outside of academia, he enjoys participating in a wide range of sports, including volleyball, badminton, and hockey.

Yunxu Zhu

Researcher

Yunxu completed a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Hons. Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences) at Western University. Her research experience spans neuroscience, public health, endocrinology, and clinical trials. She is currently working on a scoping review mapping evidence on the relationship between skeletal muscle fat infiltration and movement-related outcomes. Her research interests focus on musculoskeletal and rehabilitation science, with an emphasis on designing and evaluating movement-based interventions to improve physical performance and functional outcomes, particularly in underrepresented populations. Alongside her research training, she is actively involved in community-based movement and health initiatives and works as a certified Pilates instructor. In her free time she enjoys dancing, swimming, playing tennis, equestrian activities, and travelling. 

Paul Blazey

PhD student, Physical Therapist

Paul currently a PhD student in the Department of Kinesiology at UBC. He has a background in healthcare education and rehabilitation science, completing his MSc with the Tendinopathy Research Group in 2023 while working clinically as a physical therapist and as a research manager at UBC. His MSc project was focused on a metascience project, looking at improving the rigour of consensus exercises (that often lead to the development of clinical guidelines). His doctoral research focuses on bone stress injuries, and he has contributed to clinical guideline development through his work on consensus methodology, including co-authoring textbook chapters in Clinical Sports Medicine and supporting international consensus initiatives. He currently serves as an Editor for the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy and an Associate Editor for the British Journal of Sports Medicine. His main hobbies include supporting Norwich City FC (UK football club) and distance running – Paul completed the World Marathon Majors in 2025 and has qualified for the World Age Group Championships!

Erin Bussin

Director of the Centre for Cancer Prevention and Support, MBA

Erin holds a Master’s in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. During her time with the Tendinopathy Research Group, she conducted randomized controlled trials evaluating the short-term analgesic effects of topical diclofenac for chronic Achilles tendinopathy. She currently serves as Director of the Centre for Cancer Prevention and Support at the Canadian Cancer Society, where she leads national initiatives that bridge research and practice to improve cancer prevention and support outcomes across communities. Her work is grounded in a commitment to health equity and social innovation, with a focus on designing and scaling practical, people-centered solutions that address gaps in prevention, care, and access across the cancer system.

Joanne Callow

Registered Nurse, BSN

Joanne completed a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University, a MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences and a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of British Columbia. Her research experience includes examining Achilles tendon structure and mechanics, contributing evidence on the effects of tendon length on tendinopathy risk and the influence of lipid/water content on tendon mechanical properties, as well as work in surgical and oncology rehabilitation. She currently works as a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at BC Children’s Hospital and volunteers with Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Outside of her clinical and research roles, she enjoys snowboarding, camping, hiking, rock climbing, soccer, beach volleyball, and rugby.

Dr. Faraz Damji

Physician, MD

Faraz completed a Bachelor of Kinesiology, MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences, and most recently, a Doctor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. His research experience includes completing an MSc focused on monitoring training and competition loads in varsity volleyball players using wearable technology, including validation of a wearable device and examination of the relationship between jump loads and knee pain. His academic and clinical interests lie in sport medicine and musculoskeletal injury, with a particular focus on injury monitoring and prevention in athletic populations. Outside of research and clinical work, he spends much of his free time playing, coaching, refereeing, and generally obsessing over basketball. 

Dr. Jenny Lee

Optometrist, OD

Jenny completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of British Columbia and a Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo. Her research experience includes work in the Haas Lab at UBC investigating genetic variants associated with autism spectrum disorder and cancer using Xenopus laevis models, as well as studies of dendritic growth and neuronal circuitry involved in visual processing. Within the Tendinopathy Research Group, her work has examined the influence of familial hypercholesterolemia on tendon health using both a rat knockout model and ultrasound-based tissue characterization of the Achilles tendon in human participants. She currently works clinically as an optometrist at Lynn Valley Optometry in North Vancouver and Warby Parker in Kitsilano. Outside of work, she enjoys running (currently training for her first half marathon), knitting and crocheting, watercolour painting, and rediscovering Vancouver’s outdoor spaces after returning from Ontario.

Dr. Lyndal Solomons

Physical Therapist, PhD

Lyndal completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney, a Master of Manual Therapy at the University of Western Australia, and a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Her research experience includes work on Achilles tendon pathophysiology and rehabilitation, the neurophysiology of subacromial pain syndrome, and clinical outcomes of intramuscular simulation (IMS) interventions for persistent pain. She currently serves as UBC Clinical Faculty and Director of the UBC Gunn IMS Program and practices clinically at the UBC Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic. She also serves as Chair of the Acupuncture and Dry Needling Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Outside of her professional roles, she enjoys travel, photography, skiing, and gardening.