New position responsible for science student experience Dora Cavallo-Medved is the acting associate dean of science for student and faculty engagement. The student experience is a top priority for the Faculty of Science, which is why it has created a new associate dean position for student and faculty engagement. “We want to create an environment for students that is welcoming, supportive and inclusive, and the engagement of both faculty and students in this process is essential for this to be successful,” says biomedical science professor Dora Cavallo-Medved, acting associate dean of science for student and faculty engagement. “My goal is to provide active engagement opportunities and transformative experiences that will help build our students’ transferable skills in leadership, collaboration, communication, and management — while they build technical skills in the classroom, labs, and field.” The position will be responsible for developing, co-ordinating, and promoting student and faculty participation in high-impact learning…
Opiate research could lead to better pain management Biochemistry professor Kenneth Ng is studying a naturally occurring enzyme in poppy plants in the hope of developing new medical compounds. A UWindsor biochemistry professor is on a quest to discover new medicinal compounds by studying an enzyme occurring naturally in the poppy plant. Kenneth Ng is working with a research team from the University of Calgary, where he is an adjunct professor, to better understand how natural opiates are formed. The team, which includes PhD student Sam Carr and a research group led by professor Peter Facchini, has narrowed its focus to one enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for the last step in the production of the opiate codeine and what the team learns about it could be used to develop new painkillers and other drugs. “There is a really rich diversity of applications for these compounds,” Dr. Ng said. “This structure gives information, not just about opioid biosynthesis, but also for the production of natural products that include other classes…
Project aims at effective online tests for aging memories Coming up with effective online tools to test the cognitive health of aging adults is the goal of a new research project led by a UWindsor psychology professor. Neuropsychologist Kristoffer Romero is using online testing to reach populations often left out of scientific studies. He is hoping to recruit 200 adults aged 55 or older to take an online questionnaire that asks about your concerns and attitudes toward your cognitive abilities, and tests things like memory, attention, and your ability to multi-task. “Neuropsychological assessment is the gold standard for cognitive testing, but it’s not always available for people in Windsor and Essex County,” said Dr. Romero. “These assessments are not readily available for older adults living in rural regions and may have lower accuracy with racialized groups.” Romero said the COVID pandemic got him and fellow psychology professor Renée Biss thinking about new ways to provide such services. “Usually cognitive assessments like IQ…
Webinar intended to boost confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy An online event Thursday, Dec. 2, aims to answer questions from local young adults and overcome their hesitancy to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Sparking Vaccine Confidence among Students of Windsor-Essex will feature a panel that includes a science expert, a frontline worker, and students from the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. Biomedical sciences professor Dora Cavallo-Medved, lead researcher on the Students Igniting Vaccine Confidence Program, touts the approach of having students reach out to understand the motivators and barriers of those averse to vaccination. “Our team of students have taken the lead to identify reasons why students and young adults in our region are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine and are developing evidence-based strategies to educate and empower this target population,” she says. “Through student-led discussions, they hope to address some of these hesitancies and build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines by sharing their own experiences.”…
Study to focus on cancer patients in the workplace If you break a leg, there is a very good chance your workplace is going to do what it can to allow you to keep working, within reason of course. But what if you have cancer? Things can really differ from one workplace to another. A team of researchers at the University of Windsor is trying to get a handle on that. Listen to the November 29, 2021 CBC Radio interview with Debbie Kane, Acting Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Windsor: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-106/clip/15881331 Related: (Published November 29, 2019) Accommodating cancer patients and survivors in the workplace is the focus of a new study led by UWindsor nursing professor Debbie Kane. Dr. Kane has teamed up with psychology professor Kathryn Lafreniere, nursing professor emerita Dale Rajacich, and Windsor Regional Cancer Centre oncologist Caroline Hamm to survey 300 local workers who have undergone cancer treatment or are currently in treatment. They want to gauge the impact of employment on cancer patients’…
December think tank session to spark health research collaboration Do you like to discuss new ideas? Solve problems? Make new connections? WE-Spark Think Tanks may be for you. The Dec. 3 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: Pharmacogenomics using patient-derived glioblastoma models Ana C. DeCarvalho, Henry Ford Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery All areas of science and clinical backgrounds welcome, including students. Establishing cognitive health research in Windsor-Essex: challenges and opportunities Kristoffer Romero, University of Windsor Department of Psychology Seeking physicians (neurologists, psychiatrists, physiatrists, geriatricians) in hospitals and community medical clinics and community organizations relevant to older adults, from those providing recreation and maintaining aging in place, to those who deal with older adults with dementia. Students also welcome. Exploring solutions…
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Upcoming Event Focused on Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Among Youth (Photo: Side Show Stock / iStock) A local group is trying to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among youth. The WE-SPARK Health Institute is getting set to host a student-led event to talk about the issue which will feature will feature a panel including a science expert, frontline worker and college and university students focused an answering any unanswered questions. University of Windsor professor Dora Cavallo-Medved will be taking part and says peer to peer advice can go a long way. "Having our students really being at the leading edge of this to share their stories, their experiences really allows them to take this leadership role and really speak to their peers about what those hesitancies are, and more importantly, how we can build confidence in the vaccines that are out there," says Cavallo-Medved. She says many students are on the fence about getting the shot. "Students, like everyone else, definitely have a lot of questions," she says. "They have…
Report highlights progress by WE-Spark Health Institute WE-Spark Health Institute has released its second quarterly report from its third year of operation, highlighting key metrics from August to October 2021. The report communicates outcomes and provides accountability to its members and the Windsor-Essex community. Highlights include: doubled the number of student volunteers, logging more than 400 hours and completing 16 projects; received approval on a Masters in Translational Health Research program, launching April 2022; launched a new app interface that connects the research community using a mobile device; hosted eight events, including a town hall meeting, think tanks, and knowledge translation workshops; added a dedicated equity, diversity, and inclusion section to its website, including an action plan; and facilitated four clinical assistant professorships and one professor of practice. Read the report here. Courtesy: https://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2021-11-15/report-highlights-progress-we-spark-health-institute
