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WINDSOR, ON, August 14, 2025 - - WE-SPARK Health Institute has released its Year 6 Impact Report, celebrating a year of innovation, collaboration, and transformative research across the Windsor-Essex region. The report highlights major milestones, from ground-breaking cancer research and expanded mental health outreach to national recognition for local initiatives.
Supported by its founding partners—Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital—WE-SPARK continues to lead in advancing health outcomes through collaborative, community-driven research.
Year Six Highlights (May 2024 – April 2025):
- $15.9M in new funding secured by core members with $31.5M in active project funding
- 73 new research projects and 180 peer-reviewed publications
- 6,200+ community members engaged through 49 events and outreach initiatives
- $412,714 awarded through the WE-SPARK Grants Program
- Renewal of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding among all partner institutions, reinforcing WE-SPARK’s commitment to long-term regional impact
The report also features innovative projects led by WE-SPARK members and partner organizations that are advancing health equity, access, and innovation across Ontario, including:
- Launch of Ontario’s first Assertive Community Treatment for Children (ACT-C) program (Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare)
- Expansion of rural cancer care through satellite chemotherapy services in Leamington (Erie Shores HealthCare)
- Pilot of a universal school lunch program to inform national food policy (St. Clair College)
- Improving breast cancer treatment resistance (Windsor Regional Hospital & University of Windsor)
- Development of a smart implantable sensor that detects and treats brain cancer (University of Windsor)
“Our success is rooted in the strength of our partnerships,” said Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, Interim Director of WE-SPARK. “This past year has shown how academic researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and community organizations continue to come together to drive meaningful change in people’s lives.”
The full Year 6 Impact Report is available online.
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