August 2025

Every edition of The Spark captures the momentum of our growing research community. By sharing accomplishments - from new grants and publications to awards and appointments - we celebrate the impact of your work, foster collaboration and amplify research excellence across Windsor-Essex. This edition brings together recent research activity and member successes that continue to move our region forward. This edition highlights:

$3,035,748 in grant funding

41 publications

Member Highlights and Successes

New Projects


Scott Harroun, University of Windsor ($195,000) NSERC - Discovery & ($12,500) NSERC - Discovery Launch Supplements. Fluorescent Nanoantennas for Probing Protein Function.


Scott Harroun, University of Windsor ($149,940) NSERC - Discovery - Research Tools and Instruments. Electrochemical Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Platform for Disease Detection and Physiochemical Characterization.


Roman Maev, University of Windsor ($240,000) NSERC - Discovery. A Real-time Fully-Embedded Super-Resolution System for Ultrasonic Spot Weld Inspection Technology.


Rayzel Shulman, The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto), Noah M Ivers, Institute of Health Policy, Manageent and Evaluation, Nicole Cleary, Thomas Jefferson University, Ian S Zenlea, University of Toronto, Shazhan Amed, BC Childnre's Hospital Research Institute, Debbie G Chiodo, Western University, Lauren Linklater, Diabetes Canada, Tracy McQuire, Diabetes Action Canada, Heather Miller, University of Toronto, Beth Pollock, Queen's University, Alicia St. Hill, BORN Ontario, Lesley A Tarasoff, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Sara Abdullah, Diabetes Action Canada, Gillian D Alton, Ontario Veterinary College, Katherine Bailey, BC Children's Hospital Research Insitute, Anne-Sophie Brazeau, McGill University, Sarah Corathers, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Dianne M Fierheller, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Mikayla A Keen-Sonnenberg, The Hospital for Sick Children, Jessica C Kichler, University of Windsor, Faisal Malik, Seattle Children's, Elizabeth Moreau, Canadian Paediatric Society, Geetha Mukerji, Banting & Best Diabetes Centre, Kevin E Thorpe, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Alene Toulany, The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto), Alanna Weisman, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute ($1,500,000) CIHR - Team Grant. A Youth-Engaged Community of Practice to Improve Readiness to Transition to Adult Type 1 Diabetes Care.


St. Clair College ($198,308) NSERC - Applied Research Tools and Instruments. Autonomous 3D Scanning and Digital Twin Research Lab.


Jill Urbanic, University of Windsor ($240,000) NSERC - Discovery. Generative Additive Manufacturing Process Planning for Fabricating Large Freeform Metal Components Built by Multiaxis Directed Energy Deposition Processes.


Claudio Verani, University of Windsor ($305,000) NSERC - Discovery. Metallosurfactants in Electrode - Molecule Junctions: Unifying Electron Transport in Molecular Electronics and Corrosion Mitigation.


Huiming Zhang, University of Windsor ($195,000) NSERC - Discovery. Binaural processing in the auditory midbrain and its dependence on inputs.

Publications / Articles / Presentations


Adams EJ, Zheng V, Cooper R, Warwar S, Brown D, Schulte L, Kline D, Kulkarni SA (2025). Barriers to recruitment in a pre-surgical trial for ductal carcinoma in situ: an exploratory qualitative study of at-risk women, survivors, and providers. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.


Biondi FN, Bashir V, Yujin L, Horrobin B (2025). Driver distraction in school zones: A roadside observational study in Canada. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour.


Browne DL, Dickman R, Gallant SK, Kimble-Hill A, Menard AD, Trant JF (2025). Building safer laboratories by evolving culture and practice. Cell Reports Physical Science.


Cassar E, Hamm C, Luo R, Georgescu I, Ghafoor A, Rhee S, Ahmed F (2025). A Cohort Study Analysing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Colorectal Cancer Presentations in a Medium-Large Canadian Community Hospital. Cancer Control.


Cao Z, Li Z, Awada A, Tolba SA, Mooney M, Wang Y, Chiu YC, Rondeau-Gagne S, Xia W, Gu X (2025). Approaching highly stable optoelectronic device operation at elevated temperature by locking torsion of conjugated polymers. Matter.


Chan A, Nixon N, Al-Khaifi M, Bestavros A, Blyth C, Cheung WY, Hamm C, Joly-Mischlich T, Manna M, McFarlane T, Minard LV, Naujokaitis S, Peragine C, Railton C, Edwards S (2025). Optimizing Adjuvant Care in Early Breast Cancer: Multidisciplinary Strategies and Innovative Models from Canadian Centers. Current Oncology.


Chan B, Ting JY, Yoon E, McDonald SD, Orton M, Floyd I, Beltempo MM, Mukerji A, Augustine S, Coughlin K, Shah PS on behalf of the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) and Canadian Preterm Birth Network (CPTBN) (2025). Factors associated with rates and durations of cord clamping practice compliance in preterm neonated of <33 weeks' gestation. Journal of Perinatology.


Ciotoli A, Pedri N, Jakob MRJ, Sehgal N, Mohamad J, Malakoti-Negad NA, Gow A, Yekinni T, Sultana M (2025). Erie Shores HealthCare's Experiences and Perceptions of the Critical Care Outreach Team. Fortune Journals of Health Sciences.


Daros AR, Paramasivan T, Sadek M, Wilks CR, Quilty LC (2025). Predictors of Treatment Outcome and Engagement in Self-Guided Internet-Delivered Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Substance Use Disorders. Substance Use & Misuse.


Gamage GS, Medina-Luna D, Scur M, Zein HS, Dey S, Bryan S, Wight A, Dong Z, Parsons BD, Rahim MMA, Makrigiannis AP (2025). Ly49G, but not Ly49C/I, is dispensable for diverse antigen-specific memory NK cell responses in H-2d and H-2b mice. The Journal of Immunology.


Guo M, Novo J, Schacht D, Kulkarni S (2025). Pleomorphic Ademona in the Setting of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Case Report. Clinical Case Reports.


Hakim S, Ngom A (2025). PolyLLM: polypharmacy side effect prediction via LLM-based SMILES encodings. Frontiers: Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery.


Hon C, Ellis J, En Chaing TI, Jeronimo M, Ciconte R, Menard AD (2025). Adoption of Closed-System Drug Transfer Devices: Effectiveness in Reducing Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs and the Change Management Process. The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy.


Kennedy K, Dryden K, Sehgal N, Brar R, Bessey B, Kettle H, Fields P, Sultana M (2025). Admission and Discharge Unit: Erie Shores Health Care Experience. Fortune Journal of Health Sciences.


Kim SH (S), Schneider KM, Sultana M, Yekinni I (2025). Vulvar Malignant Melanoma: A Case of Rapid Progression despite Multimodal Treatment. Fortune Journals.


Kulatunga P, Pillon A, McKillop SP, Lessard BH, Trant JF, Rondeau-Gagne S (2025). Design and Development of Biocompatible, Flexible, and Biodegradable Collagen-Based Organic Field-Effect Transistors. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.


Lin CC, Prakoso SP, Laysandra L, Chang MH, Jo HI, Li YT, Chen CY, Cowen LM, Fujiwara E, Nyayachavadi A, Rondeau-Gagne S, Schroeder BC, Ando S, Chuang WT, Lin JM, Chiu YC (2025). Altering the Microstructure of Conjugated Polymers in Solution via Microwave Irradiation. Macromolecules.


Macefield VG, Bain AR, Badour MI, Kumric M, Drvis I, Barak OF, Bozic J, Dujic Z (2025). Microelectrode recordings from the human cervical vagus nerve during maximal breath-holds. Experimental Physiology.


Mactavish A, Mastronardi C, Babb KA, Menna R, Amstadter AB, Battaglia M, Rappaport LM (2025). Contributions of Social Support to Mitigate Pediatric Internalizing Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Child and Family Studies.


Marangoni JM, Zutic A, Dhindsa A, Uche-Orji E, Wong SL, Ng KKS (2025). An engineered redox-switchable streptavidin mutein enables the high-affinity capture and efficient elution of biotinylated ligands. Protein Science.


Mastronardi C, Smail-Crevier R, Shih JH, Rappaport LM (2025). Manifestation of emotion regulation difficulties in intraindividual emotion dynamics. Cognition and Emotion.


Melamed N, Murphy KE, Pylypjuk C, Sherlock R, Ethier G, Yoon EW, Shah PS, ..., Augustine S, ..., for the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) and the Candian Preterm Birth Network (CPTBN) Investigators. Timing of Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration and Neonatal Outcomes. Obstetrics and Gynecology.


Menard AD, McMurphy S, Sterling M, Armstrong N, Cheek O, Balint S (2025). Bots, scammers, and fraudulent responders: a year of disrupted data collection. Ethics & Behavior.


Mitchell FR, Mogyorody V, Scharoun Benson S, Horton S, van Wyk PM (2025). Diverse Users' Exerpeinces in Gyms: An Exploration of Person-Environment Fit. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly.


Mitchell FR, Mulcaster A, Scharoun Benson S, Horton S, Mogyorody V, van Wyk PM (2025). Recommendations for Inclusive Fitness and Recreational Facilities: A Rapid Review. Kinesiology Review.


Mukerjij A, Read B, Su YC, Barbosa de Oliveira C, Louis D, Makary H, Zwicker J, Thomas K, Dunn M, Shah PS, ..., Augustine S, ..., on behalf of the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) and Canadian Neonatal Follow Up Network Investigators (2025). Severity of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Using a Contemporary Canadian Definition and Early Childhood Outcomes: A Population-Based Cohort Study. The Journal of Pediatrics.


Paunic M, Rim S, Hilal O, Nassar R, Driedger Z, Zaib F, Touma K, Hossami M, Abdel-Nabi R, Hirmiz R, Hamm C (2025). Cross sectional analysis of clinical trials search results for cancer patients using a navigator-assisted clinical trials search using five different search engines. PLoS One.


Pipitone VA, Scurto DL, Pozzi J, Rahman FA, Quadrilatero J, Milne KJ (2025). A pilot study: the effect of intensity and menstrual cycle phase on exercise-induced leukocytosis in females. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.


Rahimi N, Schuelke-Leech BA, Mirhassani M (2025). A comprehensive review of security vulnerabilities in heavy-duty vehicles: Comparative insights and current research gaps. Computers & Security.


Salters D, Chauvin E, Woodruff SJ, Scharoun Benson SM (2025). Promoting Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Literacy Among 8-12-Year-Old Children: Feasibility insights from an 8-Week Pilot Program in Southwestern Ontario. Children.


Sam J, Mirza N, Grinder B, Stump A, Grinder P, Grinder P, Sanderson D (2025). Strength-based Indigenous public health emergencies research: TI'etinqox methodology. International Journal of Indigenous Health.


Shargall Y, Vella ET, Del Giudice ME, Dennie C, Ellis PM, Kulkarni S, MacRae R, Ung YC (2025). Systematic Review for the Follow-up of Curatively Treated Patients With Lung Cancer. Clinical Lung Cancer.


Shepley BR, Lester NJ, Yacoub LH, Bain AR (2025). Association of circulating Notch1 and VEGF with flow-mediated dilation and aerobic fitness in healthy adults. Translational Exercise Biomedicine.


Shepley BR, Milne KJ, Bain AR (2025). Caffeine in cerebrovascular research: To withdraw or not to withdraw? Experimental Physiology.


Simanovski J, Ralph J, Morrell S (2025). An Exploratory Study of Sleep Quality After Lung Transplantation Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Progression in Transplantation.


Sturrock SL, Moineddin R, Gesink D, Woodruff S, Fuller D (2025). The effect of software and hardware version on Apple Watch activity measurement: A secondary analysis of the COVFIT retrospective cohort study. PLOS Digital Health.


Sultana M, Taylor C, McPhee D, Chandler A, Hyde H, Yekinni I, Sayeed N, Bessey M (2025). Reducing falls in inpatient older adults: Quality improvement initiative. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.


Tay J, Saari M, Mulcaster A, Cruz E (2025). Home Health Care Providers' Readiness to Care for Children and Youth With Complex Medical Conditions: Protocol for a Scoping Review. JMIR Research Protocols.


Thraya M, Patel A, Stewart K, Abou-Akl H, Roberts D, Heath D, Pitcher TE, Carmona-Alcocer V, Karpowicz P (2025). Integration of photoperiod and time-restricted feeding on the circadian gene rhythms in juvenile salmon. Scientific Reports.


Wang TF, Thomas M, Cervi A, Tan Y, Wu C, Leader A, Jara-Palomares L, Stanworth SJ, Carrier M (2025). Strategies for anticoagulation in patients with thrombocytopenia and cancer-associated thrombosis (START): design and rationale of the START pilot-randomized controlled trial. Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis.


Wang Y, Santaguida P, Parpia S, Bacchini F, Shah PS, Murphy KE, Shivanada S, McDonald SD, ..., Augustine S, ..., on behalf of the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) and Canadian Preterm Birth Network (CPTBN) Investigators (2025). Outcomes with cesarean delivery vs vaginal birth in extremely preterm breech singletons. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Seeking Participants for Research on Barriers to Hospital-Based Research!


The research team of Jessica Flammia (MSc) and Danielle Gyemi (PhD) is conducting a study to better understand the barriers and facilitators to completing research in a community hospital setting. They are seeking participants from the Windsor-Essex medical community, including physicians, medical students, and others involved in research. Participation involves a short virtual interview to share your experiences.


Interested in participating or learning more? Please contact Jessica Flammia (flammia@uwindsor.ca).

Congratulations Everyone!

Stay Connected and Save the Date

Stay informed and involved! This section highlights what's ahead for our members.

Want to make some new connections, eat great food, and converse with others involved in health research? Join us for our next WE-SPARK After Dark on September 4th. Register to find out more!

Join the next Think Tank scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00pm via Zoom. Register for free today! Enjoy great discussions and new research ideas!

Save the Date! WE-SPARK's annual Cheers to Hope event is happening on November 6, 2025 at the Ambassador Golf Club. To learn more about this event, visit our Cheers to Hope website.

Share your news with us!

We want to hear about your latest projects, grants, publications, awards, and conferences!

Send news to wesparknews@uwindsor.ca

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