We are
Understanding exposure effects — linking research to public health
About Us
The Air Pollution Exposure Lab (APEL) has evolved over the 18 years since its 2007 CFI-funded inception to a 3500 sq foot, 4-site, facility widely considered world-leading in science and impact, particularly focused on challenges driven by climate change.
APEL in partnership with collaborators has expanded from its roots in traffic-related pollution (diesel exhaust) to now include capabilities for human and cellular exposure also to fire smoke, secondary organics (climate-driven aerosol aging), ozone, aeroallergens, microplastics, plicatic acid, heat, cold, hypoxia, and altitude.
We have faculty and teams that are internationally recognized across all pillars of CIHR, from basic science to epidemiology as well as implementation and communication. We are buttressed by an advanced knowledge translation machine, recently enhanced by our 2024 CIHR team grant "Lungs on Fire".
APEL is part of a rich ecosystem of those across UBC Vancouver and beyond that share expertise and resources based on common interest in controlled human environmental exposures and interventions to mitigate harm therein.
Learn more about the different collaborators and facilities we work with around the world.
Dr. Chris Carlsten is the Director of the Air Pollution Exposure Lab, a state of the art, controlled-human exposure facility used to learn about the effects of air pollution on respiratory health.Our Mission
The mission of APEL is to be the world-leading controlled human exposure lab, leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork excellence to provide a robust mechanistic understanding of exposure-induced lung pathophysiology that informs plausible policy, preventive and therapeutic interventions and develops the next generation of research leaders.
Interested in joining our team?