Nanoparticles studied as a treatment for brain cancer Research associate Dorota Lubanska is part of a team studying the use of nanoparticles to target and treat the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma. UWindsor researchers have come together to explore a novel potential treatment for an aggressive type of brain cancer. The scientists are studying the use of nanoparticles to target and treat glioblastoma (GBM). The collaborative UWindsor team published their findings in the article “Impairing proliferation of glioblastoma multiforme with CD44+ selective conjugated polymer nanoparticles” in the journal Scientific Reports. Dorota Lubanska (PhD 2013), research associate in the biomedical sciences lab of Lisa Porter, led the biological side of the study. “You can treat GBM with chemotherapy and radiation, but the tumour contains small populations of tumour-initiating cells, or cancer stem cells, which are highly resistant to these therapies,” says Dr. Lubanska. “These cells stay behind, leading to the tumour recurrence, patient relapse,…
Research team seeking to prepare fuel products from carbon waste Chemistry professor Marcus Drover leads a team working towards creating sustainable fuel products from greenhouse gas-containing waste streams. Marcus Drover and team are working towards creating sustainable fuel products from greenhouse gas-containing waste streams. Typically, when a fuel is burned, it produces carbon dioxide (CO2) as a by-product. Dr. Drover, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and his team intend to turn this waste product into a fuel source. The three-year $150,000 project is a part of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alliance Grant that will partner Drover and his lab with Imperial Oil Limited. “Alliance grants link academic research expertise to the interests of an industry partner,” says Drover. “Imperial oil is interested in methods of decarbonization. Together, we will develop new means to ‘close’ a carbon cycle: it’s about sustainability with a lens to the future.” Drover says his lab is…
Science grad earns Convocation honour Biochemistry alumnus Michael Ocheje received the Governor General’s Gold Medal for academic excellence during Fall Conovocation ceremonies. Science alumnus Michael Ocheje (BSc 2016, PhD 2022) is one of this year’s Governor General’s Gold Medallists for academic excellence at the graduate level and was recognized during Fall Convocation ceremonies on Friday, Oct. 14. “When I found out I won, that was a big surprise,” says Dr. Ocheje. “There are a lot of talented people in my cohort and amongst all those people, they chose my thesis.” During his doctoral studies, the chemistry and biochemistry graduate developed organic bioelectronic materials that can stretch and imitate properties of human skin. “Usually when you strain electronic devices, the inorganic brittle materials will break, but my research deals with using organic materials that can stretch and still be conductive,” says Ocheje. “Essentially things like polyethylene, or plastic bags, are stretchable but not…
University to honour physician and scholar The University of Windsor will award an honorary degree to physician Caroline Hamm (pictured) and engineering professor emeritus Philip H. Alexander. The University of Windsor will award honorary degrees to physician Caroline Hamm and engineering professor emeritus Philip H. Alexander during its 118th Convocation celebration this weekend. Dr. Hamm is chair of oncology at the Schulich School of Medicine’s Windsor Campus. More than 2,300 students will gather at the newly-opened Toldo Lancer Centre (TLC) this Friday and Saturday for five sessions of University Convocation. She is the clinical research director of the Windsor Cancer Research Group, working to enhance both local and cross border research initiatives, chairs the Windsor Regional Hospital Research and Academic Committee, and leads the Complex Hematology Program development in Windsor. Among other honours, Hamm has received the Human Touch Award from Cancer Care Ontario for service and innovation in cancer care; the Summit Award…
UWindsor to confer title of Distinguished University Professor to WE-SPARK founding executive director The University of Windsor will confer the title of Distinguished University Professor this weekend on Daniel Heath, Siyaram Pandey, Lisa Porter, and Christopher W. Tindale. Weekend ceremonies to recognize four distinguished faculty members The University of Windsor will confer the title of Distinguished University Professor on four members of its faculty during Fall Convocation celebrations, Oct. 14 and 15. The rank is awarded to senior scholars at the height of their careers who have distinguished achievements in teaching, and whose scholarly activities reflect a body of work recognized at a national or international level. Integrative biology professor Daniel Heath is the lead investigator of the Genomic Network for Fish Identification, Stress, and Health (GEN-FISH). A former executive director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, he conducts collaborative evolutionary, ecological, and conservation-based aquatic research involving state-of-the-art genetics methods.…
Friday night fitness program aims to foster leadership in girls UWindsor researchers aim to inspire the next generation of female leaders through sport. Photo by Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels. A research project out of the University of Windsor aims to inspire the next generation of female leaders one volleyball serve, dance step, and yoga stretch at a time. Kinesiology professor Sarah Woodruff is studying how a locally developed program, Girls Organizing and Learning Sport — shortened to GOALS, can help build confidence and leadership skills. She and education instructor Barb Pollard have received a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and a donation from Courtright, Ont.-based company Trillium Distributing to train students to deliver the program and conduct research on how to improve it. “GOALS can provide the opportunity for girls to build confidence, self-efficacy, resilience, and leadership skills, as well as improve their mental and physical health,” said Dr. Woodruff. “These positive traits and skills can…
Art installation by post-secondary students aims to boost COVID vaccine confidence Windsor post-secondary students are hoping an art installation will help boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. The Students Igniting Vaccine Confidence team, supported by WE-SPARK Health Institute in collaboration with St. Clair College and the University of Windsor organized the project. “Vaccine confidence is the trust people have in vaccines, the healthcare providers who administer them, and the health system from which they come” said Loretta Sbrocca, University of Windsor research associate and Students Igniting Vaccine Confidence campaign lead. “Art is a unique communication tool; it provides a chance for people to meet, experience, discuss and think—in person. Also, effective communication needs to be tailored to resonate with specific audiences - that is why the art was created by students, for students.” The five artists gathered at two locations at the St. Clair College main campus on Oct. 2. “I joined the Sparking Vaccine Confidence project in hopes of employing my…
October think tank session to spark health research collaboration Do you like to discuss new ideas? Solve problems? Make new connections? Then WE-SPARK Think Tanks may be for you. The October 14th event will begin with an update on local health research activities and new funding opportunities, followed by an overview of three projects that are looking for creative input, and breakout sessions: Building the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team Community Outreach Mobile Clinic Strategy Neelu Sehgal, Director Community Outreach, Erie Shores Healthcare This mobile outreach clinic is in the initial launch phase and this group is looking to build an informed collaborative, regional strategy. Some of the experts they would like at the table: Health Science Researcher, Epidemiologist, Hospital partners (manage the Emergency Department), Ambulance/EMS partners, Health Unit partners, someone with a program valuation background, Decision support/Data experts, Primary Care Practitioners, Nursing researchers, Mental Health & Addictions, Partners working in community…
Researchers opening front in battle against Parkinson’s disease Doctoral student Cody Caba and biochemistry professor Yufeng Tong are pursuing a possible line of inquiry to prevent and treat Parkinson’s disease. UWindsor researchers are studying two enzymes to determine their role in Parkinson’s disease and whether they hold the key to neuronal health. “As occurrences of Parkinson’s are predicted to double in the next 20 years, there is a critical need for the development of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions,” says Yufeng Tong, chemistry and biochemistry professor. Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and a breakdown of communication between the brain and body. It affects one in every 500 people in Canada and poses a major socioeconomic burden to society, families, and caregivers. It is the world’s fastest-growing neurological disease, and the incidence rate increases significantly with age; individuals over 85 years old are almost 200 times more likely to be impacted by Parkinson’s…
