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WINDSOR, ON, August 28, 2025 - - WE-SPARK Health Institute and its funding partners have awarded 32 research grants totaling $499,000 to address pressing health challenges in Windsor-Essex. The announcement was celebrated at an awards ceremony on August 27 at the Ambassador Golf Club.
This round of funding supported projects across two streams:
Igniting Discovery Grants: These grants fund early-stage, innovative research and education projects aimed at addressing healthcare gaps, sparking new ideas, and fostering collaborations. This year’s projects include work in:
- Cancer and disease detection – new approaches for breast cancer detection, non-invasive cancer screening, cancer biomarkers, and tumor immunology.
- Mental health and well-being – addressing stigma, supporting researcher wellness, advancing health psychology, and exploring the impact of entrepreneurship and stress.
- Brain and neuroscience research – studies on memory, pain, neural circuits, and the use of AI in neurosurgery.
- Aging and rehabilitation – research on frailty, motor skills development, caregiving, and healthcare optimization.
- Artificial intelligence and technology – AI for tumor detection, clinical decision-making, and diagnostic innovation.
- Community health and education – projects focused on early literacy, school readiness, recreation, and community engagement.
IDEA Grants: These smaller grants support pilot projects, preliminary studies, and quality improvement initiatives that lay the groundwork for future research. This year’s projects focus on:
- Inclusive and community programs – physical activity in schools, arts-based approaches to understanding women’s health journeys, and mapping determinants of health.
- Mental health and patient care – improving services for individuals with borderline personality disorder and sickle cell disease and strengthening peer support.
- Healthcare improvement – enhancing nursing education to reduce medication errors, redesigning pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD, and exploring new genetic targets for treatment.
These projects bring together researchers, students, community members, and volunteers across WE-SPARK’s five supporting institutions: Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital.
“These grants highlight the incredible talent and collaborative spirit in Windsor-Essex,” said Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, interim director of WE-SPARK. “Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our local sponsors, we’re able to support bold new ideas and pilot projects that help build the foundation for research aimed at improving health and well-being in our community and beyond.”
This funding was made possible thanks to the generosity of community organizations, unions, and university partners, including Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, Cancer Research Collaboration Fund/Play for a Cure supported by the Windsor Essex Community Foundation, The Tayfour-Emara Excellence in Research and Education Fund, In Honour of the Ones We Love, ChildCan, Connecting for a Cause, GreenShield, Katelyn Beddard Bone Marrow Association, Unifor Locals 2458 and 444, and the University of Windsor’s Office of Research & Innovation Services and academic faculties and institutes.
Projects will begin in September, with details available at www.wesparkhealth.com/projects.
Since launching its grants program in April 2020, WE-SPARK has awarded $2,299,000 to local health research projects.
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