Study to examine experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ players in recreational sports UWindsor researchers want to learn about the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ participants in recreational sports leagues. Sometimes an idea for a research project comes from your lab, and sometimes it comes from an alumna. Enter “Bolt” (she/they), who runs the Windsor Rainbow Sports Club and is a UWindsor psychology grad. When one of her players mentioned psychology professor Dana Ménard’s research, she was enthusiastic about the possibility of collaborating on a project. Dr. Ménard says it was a natural fit. “My research group right now is 100 per cent composed of sexual and gender minority group members, so some of the research directions have sort of naturally evolved to reflect their frustrations with the existing research,” she says. “Every time we have a question about ‘what do we know about the experience of trans people’ or ‘how such-and-such a thing effects gay people’ the data just isn’t there. The research hasn’t been done, and that's been sort of endlessly…
Researchers using AI to address social isolation Computer science professor Pooya Moradian Zadeh believes artificial intelligence can benefit human health by bridging social isolation. Artificial intelligence often gets a bad rap. But professor Pooya Moradian Zadeh of the School of Computer Science argues AI has a critical role to play in supporting societal challenges and contributing to domains like the health-care sector. His research team is exploring how technology tools and AI can be leveraged to address social isolation, a key factor in determining health outcomes, in combination with other hands-on, wrap-around supports. “We know that there is a problem. Social isolation is a significant challenge, which may limit many individuals’ ability to access the necessary resources they require,” explains Dr. Zadeh. “The limited social connections and reduced community engagement associated with social isolation can create barriers, making it more challenging for people to reach and benefit from the support and resources essential…
Join WE-SPARK Health Institute's December Networking Event Connect with the vibrant Windsor-Essex health research community at WE-SPARK Health Institute’s monthly networking event. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet others passionate about health research through casual conversations and formal networking opportunities. WE-SPARK After Dark is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St. Whether you’re already part of the health research community or just curious to learn more, this event offers an informal and enjoyable way to make meaningful connections. The first hour will focus on getting to know like-minded individuals interested in health research. Registration is encouraged but not required — bring a friend or colleague you’ve been wanting to connect with. Click here to register.
Research team investigating frequency of head injuries in hockey Steven Yalda, Emily Roberts, Megan Briese, Lucas Chartrand, and Emily Stanley are part of the Head Impact Research Team. A group of students supervised by professor Dave Andrews in the Faculty of Human Kinetics aims to understand just how frequently head impacts occur during youth hockey games. Besides the potential to prevent or mitigate brain injury, the project is giving the students experience in research: from conceptualizing a study to reviewing literature to working with data. It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Dr. Andrews. “All the research in my lab requires human participants, so we needed to find ways that we could still study athletes while respecting social distancing. A group of undergraduate students, working as part of the Head Impact Research Team in the biomechanics lab, came up with some innovative ways of building on previous head impact research,” he says, mostly in football. The team begin observing and videorecording hockey games at the Atlas Tube…
Team to track instances of avian flu in Windsor-Essex birds Professors Mike McKay, Kenneth Ng, and Dan Mennill are leading an investigation into avian flu infections in local wild birds. So far there have been relatively few instances of humans contracting avian influenza, but that is no reason for complacency, says chemistry professor Kenneth Ng. “The concern is that each time there is a spillover infection from a bird to a human or from a cow to a human, we are rolling the dice and giving the virus another chance to pick up additional mutations that could then allow it to start spreading efficiently among humans,” Dr. Ng says. “When that happens, there will be an outbreak that could be the start of a major public health problem.” He is the project lead on a team of scientists exploring the diversity of influenza virus subtypes infecting wild bird populations in Windsor-Essex. Using environmental samples taken from areas of Essex County where both migratory and resident birds congregate, they will monitor the levels and types of influenza…
Research partnership aims to enhance outcomes for breast cancer patients Lisa Porter, Laurice Arayan, Caroline Hamm, Bre-Anne Fifield, and Rasna Gupta celebrate the support of the WE-Spark Health Institute for a project exploring a new treatment regime for breast cancer. A team of researchers is collaborating with Windsor Regional Hospital oncologists on a pilot project to improve treatment outcomes for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients, a group that represents a significant portion of breast cancer diagnoses. The WE-Spark project will examine the effects of starting treatment with ribociclib, a medication that blocks proteins driving cell growth. While this drug is typically used when breast cancer has advanced or spread, this project, described by research associate and adjunct professor Bre-Anne Fifield as a “window of opportunity study,” will explore whether using it at the beginning — before surgery — can make patients more responsive to later treatments. “This project focuses on a type of hormone receptor-positive breast…
Securing the road ahead: SHIELD research centre leads in automotive cybersecurity Doctoral students Shiva Nejati and Kunj Dhonde are part of a UWindsor research team working to make the vehicles of tomorrow safe from cyber attack. At the University of Windsor, two teams — red and blue — are locked in a strategic battle, working toward the same goal: safeguarding the future of automotive cybersecurity. These teams, operating from the Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, better known as SHIELD, are focused on opposing areas of security solutions for the auto sector. With an eye on the future, SHIELD, the only centre of its kind in North America, has the goal of ensuring vehicles of tomorrow are safe and secure. “I always go back to the difference between computers and cars,” said co-founder Mitra Mirhassani. “We typically keep our computers close and secure, while cars connect to networks outside our control when parked or at a repair shop. This lack of control raises safety concerns, especially since cars can physically harm us if their security systems…
New devices aimed at accelerating pharmaceutical innovation Researchers Ethan Douglas, Nick Vukotic, Anton Dmitrienko, and Joy-Lynn Kobti Utilizing robotics and ingenuity, UWindsor researchers have developed a one-of-a-kind instrument and a series of cutting-edge patent pending devices that could aid the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the formulation and production of more efficient drugs. The Vukotic Research Group, led by professor Nick Vukotic from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in collaboration with industry partner PROTO Manufacturing Ltd., spearheaded the development of both the innovative instrument and the newly patented devices. This partnership also led to the creation of a new company called Solid4m. The company’s name is a play on the term “solid form,” reflecting its focus on devices which aid in discovering and forming new solid materials, while its logo draws inspiration from UWindsor’s blue and gold. “I’ve been sketching designs for these devices for almost three years, trying to figure out how to…
WE-SPARK Health Institute’s Cheers to Hope Event showcases health innovation in Windsor / Essex Theresa Chao, Samantha Dade, Dania Mousa, and Seeret Banwait, student members of Science Meets Art, discuss health research projects at Cheers to Hope, Thursday at the Ambassador Golf Club. WE-SPARK Health Institute’s annual “Cheers to Hope” event, held Nov. 7 at the Ambassador Golf Club, brought together academic and health-care professionals, students, and community supporters from across Windsor-Essex to raise awareness and launch fundraising efforts for its 2025 grants program, which powers health innovation throughout the region. Celebrating collaboration, the event spotlighted WE-SPARK’s five key partners—Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital. A research showcase demonstrated the impact of previously funded projects, reinforcing the event's focus on advancing local health research. WE-SPARK’s grants program includes two strategic funding streams: • Igniting Discovery…
