In the News

Walking through a pandemic — study shows people are stepping up Jory Fulcher, a masters student in human kinetics at the University of Windsor, walks down her street in South Windsor, Thursday, September 25, 2020. Fulcher uses a Fitbit to track her walking for a University of Windsor study on walking during the pandemic. PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star   When the pandemic pounced on Windsor in the spring, almost overnight the time spent on physical activity plummeted and the time spent vegging out in front of TV and smartphone screens shot up. But then something unexpected happened amid all the sedentary self-isolating, according to a University of Windsor study just concluding. The homebodies began moving, and we started walking — a lot. “It’s really surprising, and it’s really good news,” said kinesiology professor Sarah Woodruff. “People adapted to this new life.” Emily Stadder, a masters student in sports management at the University of Windsor, one of the participants in a study tracking walking levels during the pandemic, has…

Local researchers’ study finds increased anxiety among children since COVID-19 Children and parents in Southwestern Ontario have reported higher anxiety and increased distress since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to study. Local researchers have published their initial findings on the acute impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. The research project was initially funded through the University of Windsor’s Officer of the Vice-President of Research and Innovation and WE-SPARK Health Institute. “These results demonstrate the need to expand the research efforts to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our children” Dr. Lance Rappaport, the lead investigator said in a news release. “We are excited and grateful for the additional support from the provincial government.” The findings of the study also include:  Children and parents reported increased distress and decreased well-being such as loneliness and unhappiness;  Children and parents reported higher anxiety and depression, and parents reported higher irritability; and  Children’s perception…

UWindsor vaping research grabs international attention Omotayo Gbadamosi, an undergraduate student in Integrative Biology, left, and doctoral student Mitchell DiPasquale, are part Drew Marquart’s research team studying how vitamin E acetate found in some vaping liquids damages lungs.

Community group reaches milestone in creating hand-made masks The Windsor-Essex Sewing Force this month surpassed creation of over 25,000 hand-made masks and caps for the local community.

Quarterly report details WE-Spark Health Institute progress WE-Spark Health Institute highlights its key accomplishments in a report covering May to July 2020.

Communication key during early days of COVID-19 pandemic: HDGH CEO Janice Kaffer was interviewed following WE-SPARK Health Institute's online speaker series where Kaffer spoke on September 9th.

Windsor group lands $50K grant to develop low-cost ventilator Credits WE-SPARK Health Institute for connecting him with the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation COVID-19 Taskforce’s Ventilator Group to make the linkage with Leschyna that started things rolling.

Student designing toolkit for communicating health research A UWindsor student is designing a toolkit to help health researchers disseminate information about their work.

Healthcare researchers and executives to engage in conversations on COVID-19 A series of conversations will pair healthcare executives with researchers in September to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.