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…
Researchers seek to help LGBTQ2+ population navigate cancer journey Nursing professor Kathryn Pfaff is leading 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. If you are a member of the LGBTQ2+ community and have a cancer diagnosis, UWindsor nursing professor Kathryn Pfaff invites you to join the Compassion Cancer Pride intervention project. Dr. Pfaff is leading 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. Armed with a $30,000 research grant from the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation’s Seeds4Hope program, Pfaff says she hopes to enrol 40 participants to learn how to better support these people whose health and social care needs are often invisible. “There is good data to suggest that people who identify as LGBTQ2+ have a disproportionate cancer…
One-year Master of Science program to bridge gap between lab and clinic Martin Crozier is the co-ordinator of the new Master of Science in Translational Health Science program. In the emerging field of health science there exists a gap between advances in laboratory medical research and health care in clinical practice – the Faculty of Science wants to bridge that gap. UWindsor is bringing together a network of health professionals to create its new Master of Science in Translational Health Science (MSTHS) program in the Department of Biomedical Science. “Building this local network will put a spotlight on Windsor as a centre for developing health scientists in Windsor, for Windsor,” says Martin Crozier, MSTHS program co-ordinator. The program will foster partnerships between the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Nursing, Windsor Regional Hospital, Windsor Cancer Research Group, WE Spark Health Institute, Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital, and St. Clair College. “There can emerge silos of specialized knowledge in health science and you can see that when you…
Vaccination coverage low in Windsor's COVID hot spots and among young adults Windsor-Essex has lower vaccine rates for younger populations compared to province
Health institute seeking presenters for think tank sessions WE-Spark Health Institute invites health-care researchers and professionals to present at its upcoming 2022 Think Tanks. WE-Spark Health Institute is inviting researchers and health-care professionals to present at its upcoming 2022 Think Tanks. Think tanks provide the perfect forum for people to share their health research problems and ideas and get help moving them forward. An excellent opportunity for those who want to connect with other experts in the field, get a community perspective, find collaborators, or explore funding opportunities. Presenters are provided with everything they need. The institute’s staff will help to layout their pitch, invite specific people to inform the discussion, and provide a facilitator and note taker for the breakout rooms. Presenters are offered support to follow up on action items and get their research projects off the ground. Think tanks are held every other month on Friday afternoons. View the results of past Think Tanks, and the 2022 schedule,…
Grant program offers undergrads research experience Alma Tamim will now be paid for her work in Prof. Ofelia Jianu’s I-FuELs laboratory, thanks to the Undergraduate Research Experience grant program funded through UWindsor’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation. Alma Tamim began her engineering education with a specific interest in next-generation energy. She said she felt lucky to be welcomed into professor Ofelia Jianu’s Intelligent Fuels and Energy Laboratory (I-FuELs) as a volunteer. Now that she’s getting paid, she is ecstatic. Tamim will be compensated through one of 11 Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) grants awarded by the University this year. Each professor awarded a URE grant receives $2,000 in support of a project that will train undergraduate researchers. “I’m thankful for this grant because everyone in the lab is always saying they feel badly asking me for stuff — they don’t want to take advantage of a volunteer,” she said. “Now they don’t have to feel uncomfortable, and maybe…
Local Cancer Program Aims to have Stem Cell Transplants Closer to Home The Windsor Regional Hospital Cancer Program is hoping to expand one of its programs to assist and treat patients with blood cancer diagnoses. The Complex Malignant Hematology (CMH) Program has evolved over many years but the increase in the number of diagnosed patients is reinforcing the need to have an ‘all-inclusive’ program in Windsor that includes the patient’s preparation, treatment, and recovery. Treatment may include stem cell transplants using the patient’s own stem cells (Autologous Stem Cell Transplant) or a donor’s stem cells (Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant) which currently takes place in London or Hamilton. The preparation and part of the recovery currently take place in Windsor. “We’ve come a long way and a key pillar for this program is care close to home,” says Director of the Windsor Regional Hospital Cancer Program Nicole Sbrocca. Initially, patients had to travel to other centres in Michigan to receive the life-saving stem cell transplants forcing them…
Researchers at UWindsor discover a COVID-19 outbreak with wastewater testing Researchers at the University of Windsor discovered a COVID outbreak at one of their on-campus residences. They did it by testing the building's waste water. Listen to CBC Radio's Tony Doucette's interview with Dr. Mike McKay:
