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WE-SPARK launches app to support collaborate health research projects across Windsor/Essex WE-SPARK Health Institute has developed a customized mobile and web app to support collaborative research projects across Windsor/Essex. The app seamlessly connects clinicians and researchers from across our four partner institutions, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital to share ideas, spark collaboration and provide quick access to tools, resources and events. “At WE-SPARK, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Windsor/Essex has all the expertise we need to drive discovery and solutions, and this new tool in our toolbox will make it faster and easier for our research community to find each other to make it happen” said Lisa Porter, Executive Director. Future iterations will include expanding the tool to include students, and to the Windsor/Essex community to learn about and participate in local medical research studies. For more information visit: https://www.wesparkhealth.com/we-spark-app. WE-SPARK Health…
University of Windsor scientists lead team battling prostate cancer The University of Windsor sign is shown in this file photo in Windsor, Ont., on Nov.16. 2012. (Melanie Borrelli / CTV Windsor) Scientists at the University of Windsor are leading a team of researchers in the battle against prostate cancer. Dr. Lisa Porter and Dr. John Trant of the university are working with an international group to find methods of pinpointing aggressive drug-resistant forms of the disease. The aim of the research is to identify alternative protein-markers present in the cancer, thereby increasing the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis. So far, the team has developed a fluorescent probe that can identify proteins that are unique to the aggressive neuroendocrine form of prostate cancer. It is the type of malignancy that is not detectable by the standard PSMA test that doctors use. For Dr. Porter, the findings are promising. "The multidisciplinary approach that we used here also used some new models - so, we used this cool little fish model where we can actually…
UWindsor researchers lead international team in new diagnostics for prostate cancer Lisa Porter and John Trant, shown in this 2019 photo, are working with an international team to find improved methods of diagnosing prostate cancer. Because the first step in successful cancer treatment is diagnosis, UWindsor researchers John Trant and Lisa Porter are working with an international team to find improved methods of diagnosing aggressive drug-resistant forms of prostate cancer. The team, comprised of researchers from the University of Windsor, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Vancouver Prostate Centre at the University of British Columbia, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, has worked to identify alternative proteins present in prostate cancer to increase chances for successful diagnosis in patients. A current method for detecting and targeting prostate cancer tumours is to search for production of a protein called Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen,…
New WE-SPARK App Launch & Demo WE-SPARK Health Institute has developed a customized app to support collaborative research projects across Windsor-Essex, helping physicians and researchers seamlessly connect across its four partner institutions: Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital, to share ideas and spark collaboration. The app also provides quick access to tools, resources and events. The official launch takes place on Friday, Jan. 28, from noon-1p.m. with live demonstrations, one-on-one walk-throughs and giveaways. Open to WE-SPARK members. Register here.
February think tank session to spark health research collaboration A Feb. 4 think tank event will feature an overview of three research projects looking for creative input. Do you like to discuss new ideas? Solve problems? Make new connections? Then WE-Spark Think Tanks may be for you. The Feb. 4 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: A Retrospective Review of Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Insertion at Windsor Regional Hospital Andrea Cervi, Windsor Regional Hospital Seeking clinicians and researchers of all backgrounds, and people with expertise in thrombosis management would be a great addition. Statisticians always welcome. Expanding the Health Innovation and Commercialization Pipeline in Windsor-Essex Christopher Ng-Fletcher, WE-Spark Health Institute This discussion would benefit from anyone interested in health innovation. We want to hear from industry and health researchers to help…
Local researcher offers best options to scarce N95 masks Ken Drouillard, professor at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, and who participated in a mask study to see what approach is comparable to an N95 mask, is pictured at his home on Monday, January 17, 2022. Here he holds a cloth mask that when tied tight over a surgical mask can be comparable to an N95 mask. PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star A local researcher at the University of Windsor has offered alternatives to those unable to obtain an N95 mask as protection from COVID-19 and its variants. Following a recent study, it was determined a two-ply cotton mask fastened tightly with ties over a basic medical mask offers similar protection as an N95 mask, according to Ken Drouillard, an environmental professor at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research who participated in the effort. “This is timely information for the public,” he said. “Given the high community risk factors posed by the Omicron variant and the scarcity of N95 masks, we want to be…
Omicron may soon be on the downswing: experts looking at wastewater surveillance CBC Windsor Morning host Tony Doucette. Courtesy CBC. There is hope that the Omicron wave has hit a plateau, and will soon be on the downswing. Experts are increasingly looking to waste water surveillance to help them make such projections. Tony Doucette speaks with Mike McKay, the executive director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor. Listen here. Courtesy: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-106-windsor-morning
Researcher’s “mask hacks” suggest alternatives to scarce N95s Ken Drouillard tests a two-ply cotton mask made of T-shirt material using a TSI Portacount Fit Tester and TSI Particle Generator in this photo by Rebecca Rudman. Wearing a two-ply cotton mask fastened tightly with ties over a basic medical mask offers similar protection to wearing an N95 filtering respirator, research by a UWindsor scientist has found. In his ongoing research related to COVID-19 and its variants, School of the Environment professor Ken Drouillard is participating in a “mask hacks” study by a team at McMaster University led by researcher Catherine Clase. The study involved testing various masks, combinations of masks, and mask-wearing devices, to find those with the best ability to filter out aerosol-sized particles. “This is timely information for the public,” said Dr. Drouillard. “Given the high community risk factors posed by the Omicron variant and the scarcity of N95 masks in some provinces, we want to be able to help people use the best mask they have…
Windsor U: Local grant to fund study on cancer support for members of LGBTQ2+ community A $30,000 research grant from the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation’s Seeds4Hope program will fund research into providing better support for members of the LGBTQ2+ community who have received a cancer diagnosis. UWindsor nursing professor Kathryn Pfaff is leading the Compassion Cancer Pride intervention project, a study aimed at improving the quality of life of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, questioning, two-spirit, or other non-binary identities along their cancer journeys. She hopes to enrol 40 participants to learn how to provide better support for individuals whose health and social care needs are often invisible in the community. “There is good data to suggest that people who identify as LGBTQ2+ have a disproportionate cancer burden,” Dr. Pfaff said. “Many are hesitant to seek cancer screening and have low social support, and this can result in poorer cancer outcomes.” It is unknown how many LGBTQ2+ people in Windsor-Essex have cancer…
