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…
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
