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…
Virtual celebration recognizes faculty and student accomplishments in research, scholarship, and creative activity Electrical and computer engineering major Eman El-Masri received the 2021 Outstanding Student Research Award for excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activity at the undergraduate level. In 2021, members of the UWindsor community published nearly 1,200 peer-reviewed research articles — a record one-year total for the institution. UWindsor president Robert Gordon expressed admiration for that accomplishment in a video of congratulatory remarks from him and K.W. Michael Siu, outgoing vice-president of research and innovation, as a virtual Celebration of Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. “In many ways, the pandemic challenged how we conduct research, scholarship, and even creative activity,” Dr. Gordon said. “The perseverance and flexibility that researchers and research teams across campus and beyond have shown is truly inspiring.” The virtual celebration saw the conferral of Outstanding Faculty Research Awards to scholars at the established…
Post secondary students creating art installation to booster COVID 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 have organized an art installation to boost vaccine confidence. “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 will be created by students, for students.” WHAT: Art installation using sidewalk chalk WHEN: Sunday October 2. Artists will be creating the installments starting at 10am. Art will be ready for viewing that afternoon. WHERE: St. Clair College,…
Life Science of Ontario Roadtrip to Windsor Life Sciences Ontario kicked off National Biotech week in Windsor with their 3rd annual road trip across the province to profile the diversity of life sciences across Ontario. Dr. Lisa Porter, executive director of WE-SPARK was the guest presenter. Windsor's life science and health care sector is an emerging cluster of strength in research and innovation, specialising in fields such as cancer research, neuroscience/mental health, disparities of health/healthy living, device and drug development. With a highly-skilled manufacturing workforce, Windsor is home to over 50 companies in the sector. This includes a number of major pharmaceutical and gelcap manufacturing companies such as Jamieson Laboratories, CapsCanada, and Catalent - to name a few. The Windsor region houses the University of Windsor and St Clair College, as well as a number of hospitals with growing health research interests. The collective research and innovation efforts of these institutions is anchored by WE-SPARK…
Networking event to bring together health research community WE-SPARK Health Institute hosts monthly networking events for members of the Windsor-Essex health research community to get to know one another through fun and casual conversations. There is no formal agenda, and all are welcome. This is an opportunity for anyone interested in health research to make connections in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. The next event will be held Thursday October 6, 5-8pm at Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St, Windsor. No RSVP is required. WE-SPARK Health Institute is a partnership of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital designed to take healthcare to the next level through research.
Data Analytics for Business Graduate Earns Integral Role at Erie Shores HealthCare A recent graduate of the Data Analytics for Business program at St. Clair College will soon show off her skillset as a Decision Support Analyst for Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington. Deepa Taneja Chawla, 46, grew up in the small town of Amritsar in Punjab, India and admittedly fell in love with computers in Grade 4. Chawla eventually earned a master’s degree in computer applications and started her career in information technology as a tutor before relocating to the United Kingdom in 2004 to establish herself as an IT lecturer. After living in London, England, for several years, Deepa decided she wanted to pursue a career change as a data analyst and quickly chose to study at St. Clair College to chase that dream. "I wanted to be associated with a place where excellence meets kindness and where I could develop a sense of belonging. The Data Analytics for Business program offered by the College met all the requirements of a great course - the length, the structure and the institution…
Post-secondary student volunteers available to support health research WE-Spark Health Institute has developed a team of post-secondary students to support and advance health research across Windsor-Essex. WE-Spark Health Institute has developed a team of post-secondary students from St. Clair College, the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry - Windsor Campus, and the University of Windsor at the undergraduate and graduate levels to support and advance health research across Windsor-Essex. Students select projects that align with their interests, skills, and goals. Past requests have included such areas as data entry, collection and analytics, outreach and public education, digital communications such as infographics and social media, literature reviews, and environmental scans. “We have a total of 51 students who have banked over 2,000 hours in the last year,” says WE-Spark student network co-ordinator Ryan Palazzolo. “Our students bring energy and enthusiasm to research teams. They’re dedicated and eager to learn and contribute to local…
Experiential learning placements await translational health students A new graduate program will help bridge the gap between medical research and clinical care. The 23 students enrolled in the new Master of Science in Translational Health Science (MSTHS) program in the Department of Biomedical Science are getting ready to start their hands-on clinical placements. The program, in its first year, is helping the Faculty of Science bridge the gap between advances in laboratory medical research and health care in clinical practice. The first cohort started in May 2022. “We are celebrating the launch of the new program,” says Martin Crozier, MSTHS program co-ordinator. “This cohort is already a tightknit cohesive group — they are forming relationships they’ll have for the rest of their professional lives.” In the year-long course-based program, each student is offered three terms of experiential learning placements. In this first year, 22 real-world clinical research projects were submitted by local clinicians and UWindsor researchers. “All of the…
