Associate Professor
Canada Research Chair in Breath Science and Technology (Tier 1)
Office: CHBE 423
Email: jane.hill@ubc.ca
Website: hilllab.chbe.ubc.ca
Research Summary
Biotechnology, breath analysis and transcriptomics, respiratory infections – viral, bacterial, and fungal
Education
Yale University, 2006, Ph.D.
Yale University, 2002, M.S.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1996, M.S.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1995, B.S.
Research interests + projects
We apply some of the most sophisticated analytical tools available to determine the applications and limits of ‘omics, particularly breath analysis and transcriptomics, working with collaborators from around the world. In our basic science work, we are keen to understand the origins and consequences of the volatile molecules we find in breath and the transcripts in blood. A particular focus is on respiratory infections – viral, bacterial, and fungal – however, we are also interested other human and animal diseases. Our work over the past several years shows great promise, particularly for bacterial infections.
Awards and honours
Lead, Human Breath Atlas, 2021 –
Chair, International Association of Breath Research (IABR) 2023 – 2025
The Power List: The Top 100, The Analytical Scientist, 2019
Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), 2019
Anton Ammon Prize, International Association of Breath Research (IABR), 2018
Scholarly and professional activities + affiliations
Chair (2023-2025) the International Association for Breath Research (IABR)
Lead Human Breath Atlas
American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
Society for Applied Microbiology (sFAM)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS)
Selected publications
Bobak CA, Kang L, Workman L, Bateman L, Khan, MS, Prins, M, May L, Franchina FA, Baard C, Nicol MP, Zar HJ, Hill JE 2021 Breath can discriminate tuberculosis from other lower respiratory illnesses in children Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-80970-w
Sun N, Krishnan P, Rees CA, Zhang M, Stevenson KAJM, Hill JE 2023. Profiling volatile organic compounds from human plasma using GC× GC-ToFMS Journal of Breath Research 17 (3): 037104 https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/acd806
Kang L, Kaur J, Winkeler K, Kubiak D, Hill JE 2023 How volatile organic compounds emitted by corpse plant change through flowering Scientific Reports, 13:372; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27108-8
Gao A, Nouri N, Stevenson K, Zemanick ET, Nick JA, Hill JE 2024 Headspace Solid Phase Micro-Extraction Method Optimization and Evaluation for the Volatile Compounds Extraction of Bronchoalveolar Lung Lavage Fluid Samples Separations 11(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11010027
Atto B, Anteneh Y, Bialasiewicz S, Binks MJ, Hashemi M, Hill JE, Thornton RB, Westaway J, Marsh R 2024 The Respiratory Microbiome in Paediatric Chronic Wet Cough: What Is Known and Future Directions J. Clin. Med. 13(1):171; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13010171