Faculty profile

Catherine Poh

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ProfessorOral Biological & Medical SciencesUniversity of British Columbia

Catherine Poh

Professor

Oral Biological & Medical Sciences

Faculty of Dentistry

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Supervision signals

Professors usually supervise graduate students in their department's programs.
5 publications in the last five years, latest in 2025.
Senior (last) author on 1 recent paper, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 4 research grants (4 CIHR), most recently in 2024.
Supervisor on 2 trainee awards (2 CIHR), most recently in 2022.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

Publications

Citations

Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the publications linked to this profile. Citations and the h-index appear when the source records them.

Profiles and links

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Signals and details

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of British Columbia profile.

Oral Cancer Autofluorescence Imaging Biophotonics Clinical Diagnosis Non-Invasive Diagnosis Optical Diagnosis Oral Cancer Detection Rapid Raman Spectroscopy

Latest papers

A multi-centre, participant-blinded, randomized, 3-year study to compare the efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) to Freehand Surgery (FHS) on bony union and quality of life outcomes for mandibular reconstruction with fibular and scapular free flaps: study protocol for a randomized phase II/III trial
BMC Cancer · 2025
Three-Dimension Epithelial Segmentation in Optical Coherence Tomography of the Oral Cavity Using Deep Learning.
Cancers · 2024
Prognostic value and cost benefit of HPV testing for oropharyngeal cancer patients.
Oral diseases · 2023 · senior author

All 13 publications

Latest funding

Canada Research Chair - Tier 1
CIHR · 2024 · Nominated PI
$1,400,000
Machine-learning assisted detection for neck lymph node metastasis in early-stage oral cancer
CIHR · 2022 · Supervisor
$135,000
Autofluorescence Imaging Guided Laser Raman Spectroscopy for Non-invasive Oral Cancer Detection
CIHR · 2021 · Principal investigator
$742,051

All 11 grants and awards

13 publications.

A multi-centre, participant-blinded, randomized, 3-year study to compare the efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) to Freehand Surgery (FHS) on bony union and quality of life outcomes for mandibular reconstruction with fibular and scapular free flaps: study protocol for a randomized phase II/III trial

Tran KL, Turkdogan S, Dinur AB, Milner TD, Wang E, Nichols A, MacNeil D, Mendez A, Jervis-Bardy J, De Almeida J

BMC Cancer2025

DOI: 10.1186/s12885-025-13505-5

Three-Dimension Epithelial Segmentation in Optical Coherence Tomography of the Oral Cavity Using Deep Learning.

Hill C, Malone J, Liu K, Ng SP, MacAulay C, Poh C, Lane P

Cancers2024

DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112144 PMID: 38893263

Prognostic value and cost benefit of HPV testing for oropharyngeal cancer patients.

Lu XJD, Liu KYP, Prisman E, Wu J, Zhu YS, Poh C

Oral diseases2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/odi.13938 PMID: 34129700

Immune-based classification of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer with implications for biomarker-driven treatment de-intensification.

Zeng PYF, Cecchini MJ, Barrett JW, Shammas-Toma M, De Cecco L, Serafini MS, Cavalieri S, Licitra L, Hoebers F, Brakenhoff RH, Leemans CR, Scheckenbach K, Poli T, Wang X, Liu X, Laxague F, Prisman E, Poh C, Bose P, Dort JC, Shaikh MH, Ryan SEB, Dawson A, Khan MI, Howlett CJ, Stecho W, Plantinga P, Daniela da Silva S, Hier M, Khan H, MacNeil D, Mendez A, Yoo J, Fung K, Lang P, Winquist E, Palma DA, Ziai H, Amelio AL, Li SS, Boutros PC, Mymryk JS, Nichols AC

EBioMedicine2022

DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104373 PMID: 36442320

On the Cutting Edge of Oral Cancer Prevention: Finding Risk-Predictive Markers in Precancerous Lesions by Longitudinal Studies.

Crawford M, Johnson EH, Liu KYP, Poh C, Tsai RYL

Cells2022

DOI: 10.3390/cells11061033 PMID: 35326482

Detection of precancerous lesions in the oral cavity using oblique polarized reflectance spectroscopy: a clinical feasibility study.

Bailey MJ, Verma N, Fradkin L, Lam S, MacAulay C, Poh C, Markey MK, Sokolov K

Journal of biomedical optics2017

DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.22.6.065002 PMID: 28609512

Wide-field in vivo oral OCT imaging.

Lee AM, Cahill L, Liu K, MacAulay C, Poh C, Lane P

Biomedical optics express2015

DOI: 10.1364/boe.6.002664 PMID: 26203389

Decision making on detection and triage of oral mucosa lesions in community dental practices: screening decisions and referral.

Laronde DM, Williams PM, Hislop TG, Poh C, Ng S, Zhang L, Rosin MP

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology2014

DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12093 PMID: 24460662

Automated classification of oral premalignant lesions using image cytometry and Random Forests-based algorithms.

Baik J, Ye Q, Zhang L, Poh C, Rosin M, MacAulay C, Guillaud M

Cellular oncology (Dordrecht, Netherlands)2014

DOI: 10.1007/s13402-014-0172-x PMID: 24817187

In reply to letter to the editor regarding "can clinical and radiological features predict recurrence in solitary keratocystic odontogenic tumors?".

Macdonald D, Poh C

Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology2014Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.08.014 PMID: 24268800

Canada Research Chair - Tier 1

Nominated PICIHR2024Canada Research Chairs - CIHR Funded - Tier 1

Principal investigators: Poh, Catherine

Keywords: Cr

$1,400,000

Machine-learning assisted detection for neck lymph node metastasis in early-stage oral cancer

SupervisorCIHR2022CIHR Fellowship

Principal investigators: Liu, Kelly Y

Keywords: Case-Controlled; Deep Learning; Formalin-Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissues; Image Analysis; Microrna; Neck Lymph Node Metastasis; Oral Cancer; Tumour Immune Microenvironment

$135,000

Autofluorescence Imaging Guided Laser Raman Spectroscopy for Non-invasive Oral Cancer Detection

Principal investigatorCIHR2021Project Grant

Principal investigators: Zeng, Haishan; Poh, Catherine

Keywords: Autofluorescence Imaging; Biophotonics; Clinical Diagnosis; Non-Invasive Diagnosis; Optical Diagnosis; Oral Cancer; Oral Cancer Detection; Rapid Raman Spectroscopy

$742,051

Genomic, Epigenomic, and Phenotypic Characterization of Oral Premalignant Fields for the Development of Actionable Prevention Strategies

Nominated PICIHR2019Project Grant - PA: MSK/Skin/Oral Health: Clinical Research - Oral Health

Principal investigators: Poh, Catherine

Keywords: Genome-Wide Dna Methylation; Nanostring Technologies; Oral Cancer; Oral Premalignant Lesion; Pyrosequencing; Quantitative Tissue Pathology; Risk Models; Target Exome Sequencing; Transcriptomes Sequencing; Whole Genome Exome Sequencing

$100,000

Handheld Multiphoton Imaging Device for Detecting Oral Cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2016Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Principal investigators: Tang, Shuo; Macaulay, Calum E

Keywords: 1102biomedical Engineering; 1211medical And Health Sciences; 1900 Biomedical Engineering; 2505photonic Devices And Networks; Biopsy Guidance; Endomicroscopy; Femtosecond Fiber Laser; Multiphoton Microscopy; Oral Cancer; Point-Of-Care Device

$294,250

Real-Time In Vivo Oral Pathology for Clinical Decision Making

Co-investigatorNSERC2014Collaborative Health Research Projects

Principal investigators: MacAulay, Calum

$174,652

Evaluation of circulating small RNA markers as simple blood test biomarkers for detecting and predicting outcomes in oral cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2013Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Garnis, Cathie

Keywords: Biomarker; Microrna; Oral Cancer; Progression; Recurrence; Serum

$491,649

Real-Time In Vivo Oral Pathology for Clinical Decision Making

Principal investigatorCIHR2013Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Principal investigators: Macaulay, Calum E; Poh, Catherine

Keywords: 3110; 6401

$289,499

Polymers for Proteomic Enrichment of Early Cancer Biomarkers

Co-investigatorCIHR2012Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Principal investigators: Overall, Christopher M; Kizhakkedathu, Jayachandran N

Keywords: Biomarkers; Cancer; Multifunctional Polymers; Patient Diagnosis; Peptide Enrichment; Peptides; Polymers

$452,322

Facilitators and Barriers to Tobacco Cessation in Patients with High-Risk Oral Lesions

SupervisorCIHR2009Master's Award: Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Principal investigators: Tam, Darlene M

Keywords: Barriers; Facilitators; High-Risk Oral Lesion; Oral Cancer Prevention; Qualitative; Quantitative; Recurrence; Tobacco Cessation

$17,500

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Oral Cancer Dear Professor Poh, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "A multi-centre, participant-blinded, randomized, 3-year study to compare the efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) to Freehand Surgery (FHS) on bony union and quality of life outcomes for mandibular reconstruction with fibular and scapular free flaps: study protocol for a randomized phase II/III trial" (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Canada Research Chair - Tier 1" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Profile data last refreshed on July 30, 2025 from the university directory, publication records and CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding.

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Catherine Poh

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Three-Dimension Epithelial Segmentation in Optical Coherence Tomography of the Oral Cavity Using Deep Learning.

Prognostic value and cost benefit of HPV testing for oropharyngeal cancer patients.

Immune-based classification of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer with implications for biomarker-driven treatment de-intensification.

On the Cutting Edge of Oral Cancer Prevention: Finding Risk-Predictive Markers in Precancerous Lesions by Longitudinal Studies.

Detection of precancerous lesions in the oral cavity using oblique polarized reflectance spectroscopy: a clinical feasibility study.

Wide-field in vivo oral OCT imaging.

Decision making on detection and triage of oral mucosa lesions in community dental practices: screening decisions and referral.

Automated classification of oral premalignant lesions using image cytometry and Random Forests-based algorithms.

In reply to letter to the editor regarding "can clinical and radiological features predict recurrence in solitary keratocystic odontogenic tumors?".

Real-Time In Vivo Oral Pathology for Clinical Decision Making

Frequent collaborators

Calum Macaulay

Lewei Zhang

Eitan Prisman

Pierre Lane

Sidney Fels

Penelope Brasher

Antony Hodgson

Eric Winquist

John de Almeida

Christopher Yao

Danny Enepekides

David MacDonald

Antoine Eskander

Anthony Nichols

Michael Au

Han Zhang

Michael Gupta

Craig Mitton

Cathie Garnis