Research partnership aims to enhance outcomes for breast cancer patients Lisa Porter, Laurice Arayan, Caroline Hamm, Bre-Anne Fifield, and Rasna Gupta celebrate the support of the WE-Spark Health Institute for a project exploring a new treatment regime for breast cancer. A team of researchers is collaborating with Windsor Regional Hospital oncologists on a pilot project to improve treatment outcomes for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients, a group that represents a significant portion of breast cancer diagnoses. The WE-Spark project will examine the effects of starting treatment with ribociclib, a medication that blocks proteins driving cell growth. While this drug is typically used when breast cancer has advanced or spread, this project, described by research associate and adjunct professor Bre-Anne Fifield as a “window of opportunity study,” will explore whether using it at the beginning — before surgery — can make patients more responsive to later treatments. “This project focuses on a type of hormone receptor-positive breast…
Securing the road ahead: SHIELD research centre leads in automotive cybersecurity Doctoral students Shiva Nejati and Kunj Dhonde are part of a UWindsor research team working to make the vehicles of tomorrow safe from cyber attack. At the University of Windsor, two teams — red and blue — are locked in a strategic battle, working toward the same goal: safeguarding the future of automotive cybersecurity. These teams, operating from the Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, better known as SHIELD, are focused on opposing areas of security solutions for the auto sector. With an eye on the future, SHIELD, the only centre of its kind in North America, has the goal of ensuring vehicles of tomorrow are safe and secure. “I always go back to the difference between computers and cars,” said co-founder Mitra Mirhassani. “We typically keep our computers close and secure, while cars connect to networks outside our control when parked or at a repair shop. This lack of control raises safety concerns, especially since cars can physically harm us if their security systems…
New devices aimed at accelerating pharmaceutical innovation Researchers Ethan Douglas, Nick Vukotic, Anton Dmitrienko, and Joy-Lynn Kobti Utilizing robotics and ingenuity, UWindsor researchers have developed a one-of-a-kind instrument and a series of cutting-edge patent pending devices that could aid the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the formulation and production of more efficient drugs. The Vukotic Research Group, led by professor Nick Vukotic from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in collaboration with industry partner PROTO Manufacturing Ltd., spearheaded the development of both the innovative instrument and the newly patented devices. This partnership also led to the creation of a new company called Solid4m. The company’s name is a play on the term “solid form,” reflecting its focus on devices which aid in discovering and forming new solid materials, while its logo draws inspiration from UWindsor’s blue and gold. “I’ve been sketching designs for these devices for almost three years, trying to figure out how to…
WE-SPARK Health Institute’s Cheers to Hope Event showcases health innovation in Windsor / Essex Theresa Chao, Samantha Dade, Dania Mousa, and Seeret Banwait, student members of Science Meets Art, discuss health research projects at Cheers to Hope, Thursday at the Ambassador Golf Club. WE-SPARK Health Institute’s annual “Cheers to Hope” event, held Nov. 7 at the Ambassador Golf Club, brought together academic and health-care professionals, students, and community supporters from across Windsor-Essex to raise awareness and launch fundraising efforts for its 2025 grants program, which powers health innovation throughout the region. Celebrating collaboration, the event spotlighted WE-SPARK’s five key partners—Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital. A research showcase demonstrated the impact of previously funded projects, reinforcing the event's focus on advancing local health research. WE-SPARK’s grants program includes two strategic funding streams: • Igniting Discovery…
Program breaking down barriers through inclusive fitness Mikala Jones leads Seth Sugarman through weight training during an Adaptive Physical Exercise session in the Toldo Lancer Centre. Asked what his favourite part of coming to the gym is, Seth Sugarman replied: “everything.” Sugarman is a participant in the Adaptive Physical Exercise (APEX) program, a partnership between the University of Windsor and Community Living Essex County that connects student volunteers with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “The key piece to our program is that it’s an inclusive exercise program. So, it’s critical that they work out in our gym, alongside our community members and university students, and they’re in those spaces — shoulder to shoulder,” said APEX Research Group founding co-director Chad Sutherland. Sutherland, who also serves as director of operations at the Centre for Human Performance and Health within the Department of Kinesiology, works alongside professor Sean Horton in crafting the exercise programming.…
Business professor explores the impact of mental health on employee silence In an article published last week, management professor Kyle Brykman explores the relationship between employee mental health and silence. To better understand why some employees keep silent and explore how organizations can best intervene, Odette School of Business management professor Kyle Brykman and Dalhousie University management professor Anika Cloutier explored how fluctuations in mental health relate to fluctuations in employee silence. “Even the most vocal employees experience phases of silence,” they write in an article published last week in the Conversation, “intentionally withholding ideas, information, or concerns that could otherwise benefit them and their organization.” To better understand the impact of mental health and ways to decrease employee silence, they conducted a survey of 136 employees about their work experiences across four weeks. The results provided a road map for workplaces to help encourage silent employees to speak up. To learn about the results…
Researchers secure $2.5 million to advance groundbreaking sexual violence prevention program Student actors Olivia Sasso and Ewen Van Wagner review with Charlene Senn a script for an educational film on sexual assault resistance. Two University of Windsor professors will further their innovative work in sexual assault resistance education thanks to a $2.5 million investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Charlene Senn, a professor of psychology and women’s and gender studies, and Sara Crann, an adjunct professor of psychology, will use the funding to expand the Girls - Flip the Script with EAAA program, a sexual assault resistance initiative designed for high school-aged girls across Canada. The funding is part of a larger $14.5 million federal initiative to prevent youth dating violence. The Girls - Flip the Script with EAAA program empowers girls with the knowledge and skills to trust their own judgement and effectively resist acquaintance sexual assault. The program will now be delivered by different types of community-based organizations beginning in Ontario and…
WE-SPARK Health Institute to Host "Cheers to Hope" Event to Support Health Innovation in Windsor/Essex WE-SPARK Health Institute is preparing for its annual “Cheers to Hope” event on November 7, 2024, at the Ambassador Golf Club. Open to the public, this event invites the Windsor/Essex community to interact with local health researchers and students, providing a unique opportunity for attendees to learn about ongoing research efforts. Whether you're familiar with the research or just curious, this is the perfect event to get involved in local health innovation. The goal of the event is to raise $400,000 for research grants that support cutting-edge health projects across the region. Running from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, “Cheers to Hope” will showcase the collaborative work between local and international institutions aimed at addressing key health challenges. Since WE-SPARK’s inception in 2020, the institute has awarded 105 grants, totaling over $1.8 million. These grants fuel a wide range of health research projects and contribute to local innovation, creating jobs and positioning…
Online think tank to ignite health research collaborations An online session Oct. 25 will bring together healthcare researchers, professionals, and community organizations. The next WE-SPARK Think Tank will take place Friday, Oct. 25, offering an opportunity for researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to come together and find solutions. This virtual session on Zoom will run from 1 to 3 p.m. and will feature two exciting projects. Attendees are encouraged to bring fresh ideas, engage in problem-solving discussions, and build meaningful collaborations to drive these initiatives forward. 1. Improving Social Determinants of Health by Developing Relationships with Nature in the City Presented by: Anneke Smit, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor Catherine Febria, the Healthy Headwaters Lab Clint Jacobs, Indigenous scholar, Indigenous Knowledge Table This session, led by the University of Windsor’s National Urban Park Hub, will explore how green spaces within the proposed National Urban Park can improve the mental,…
