December 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:

$2,664,627 in grant funding

57 publications

5 awards

Member Highlights and Successes

New Projects


Carlin Miller, Kendall Soucie, Catherine Vanner, Dora Cavallo-Medved, Jennifer Willet, University of Windsor ($23,921) SSHRC - Partnership Engage Grant. Step Way from the Silo: A Collective Effort in Creative Knowledge Mobilization.


Meranda Nahkla, Montreal Children's Hospital, Jessica Kichler, University of Windsor, Elizabeth Moreau, Canadian Paediatric Society, Shazhan Amed, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Anne-Sophie Brazeau, McGill University, Remi Rabasa-Lhoret, McGill University, Nadine M Taleb, Centre Hospitalier de L'Universite de Montreal, Julia E Von Oettingen, Montreal Children's Hospital, Jane E Yarley, Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Ian S Zenlea, University of Toronto ($14,659) CIHR - Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support. BETTER CAPACITY for Diabetes Care Across the Lifespan.


Munir Rahim, University of Windsor ($135,000) Cancer Research Society funded in partnership with WindsorEssex Community Foundation through its Cancer Research Collaboration Fund. Cancer immunosurveillance via an inhibitory NK cell receptor.


Tess Sheldon, University of Windsor, Sheila Wildeman, Dalhousie University, Lucy Costa, Empowerment Council, Michele Leering, Queen's University ($7,743) SSHRC - Connection Grant. Connecting Mental Health and Justice: Critical Approaches to Scaling Up Health Justice Partnerships in Mental Health Settings.


Joanne Tay, University of Windsor, Priscilla Boakye, Toronto Metropolitan University, Edward Cruz, Joanne Ta, University of Windsor ($10,000) CIHR - Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support. Relational Care in Action: A Co-Design Framework for Pediatric Home and Community Support.


Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee - Hiatus House, Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, and Legal Assistance of Windsor in collaboration with 21+ partnering institutions across Windsor-Essex ($2,473,304) The Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (Government of Ontario). HWoW - A Hub Without Walls: Ending Gender Based Violence in Windsor-Essex.

Publications / Articles / Presentations


Abbaslou M, Laxdal RE, Junginger T, Kolb P, Marchetto M, Kester O, Marquardt D (2025). Beam dynamics design for alternating phase focusing proton Linac for a compact accelerator-based neutron source. Canadian Journal of Physics.


Adam NA, Monforton PE, Peterson ML, Duquette AM, Sutherland CA, Perrotta AS (2025). Can Anaerobic Testing Be Used to Accurately Examine VO2 Max in Healthy Individuals? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.


Adam NA, Perrotta AS, Sutherland CA, van Wyk PM, Woodruff SJ, Duquette AM (2025). A Large-Scale Evaluation into the Accuracy of Bioelectrical Impedance Devices for Assessing Body Composition: A 10-Year Analysis in Canadian University Students. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences.


Adu J, Wong JPH, Boakye P, Gyamfi S, Etowa EB, Owusu MF (2025). Addressing the Stigma of Mental Illness in Black Families and Communities in Ontario, Canada: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Research Protocols.


Aggarwal DD, Mishra P, Patel Y, Singh M, Sharma V, Korol AB, Michalak P (2025). Experimental evolution-induced transcriptome and phenotype responses of Drosophila melanogaster to novel thermal environments. Journal of Experimental Biology.


Anazodo KS, Ricciardelli RR, Budworth MH, Chan C (2025). Identity work and stigma: Understanding job seeking for people formerly in prison. Probation Journal.


Anazodo KS, Young NCJ, Griffith JN, Chan C, Ricciardelli RR, Rade CB, Ali AA, Cook H, Ahmadi R (2025). The overlooekd workforce: Harnessing the talent of people with criminal histories. Organizational Dynamics.


Banks D, Gottberg A, Marchetto M, Laxdal R, Kester O, Marquardt D (2025). Establishing a Canadian compact accelerator-driven neutron source research and development program. Canadian Journal of Physics.


Barrette-Ng IH (2025). Moving Forward with Hope and Optimism in the Face of Challenges: An Introduction to Issue 16.1. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.


Connelly DM, Nguyen A, McIntyre A, Tanlaka E, Snobelen N, Guitar NA, Masood M (2025). Nurses' Contributions to "Getting Them Better" in Rehabilitation Units: A Case in Canada. Rehabilitation Nursing.


Dziura M, Castillo SR, Maharaj DD, King S, Laxdal R, Kester O, Marquardt D (2025). We CANS do it: would a SANS on PC-CANS be worth it? Canadian Journal of Physics.


Farid P, Quijano MH, Luo R, Cervi A (2025). Assessing quality metrics in sickle cell disease: A multicenter review of community hospitals in southwestern Ontario from 2017-2024. Blood.


Farid P, Quijano MH, Cervi A (2025). Undiagnosed patent foramen ovale with bi-atrial thrombus in transit: A case of pulmonary embolism and refractory hypoxia. Blood.


Fisher D, Potter M, Mandapati P, Drover MW, Rondeau-Gagne S, Mutus B (2025). Tetrazolium Blue-Based Colorimetric Sensor for Hydrogen Gas. ACS - Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.


Franco-Palacios DJ, Franco-Palacios CR, Crowley S, Allenspach LL, Stagner L, Corrales JP, Olexsey K, Waynick L, Simanovski J, Bhatti H, Laier R, Myszenski A, Wang Y, Lu M, Song T (2025). Effect of Total Psoas Muscle Area and Serum Albumin on Outcomes After Lung Transplantation. Clinical Transplantation.


Franco-Palacios DJ, Raymond-Forde S, Olexsey K, Allenspach L, Aggarwal V, Engel P, Frisoli T, Parsons A, Simanovski J, Simpson E, Villalba P, Miletic K (2025). ProtekDuo in Lung Transplant Candidates: Insights From a Single-Center Study of Cases. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports.


Gyamfi S, Boakye P, Giannotti N, Cruz E (2025). Understanding the Multi-Faceted Nature of the Public Stigma of Mental Illness: Insights and Implications From a Structural Violence Perspective. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.


Ho-Tieng D, Sharma V, Sonenberg N, Gkogkas CG, Khoutorsky A (2025). The integrated stress response in the brain: cell type-specific functions in health and neurological disorders. Trends in Neuroscience.


Hou Q, Parpia S, Wierzbicki M, Kundapur V, Faria S, Okawara GS, Tsakiridis TK, Ahmed N, Bujold A, Hirmiz K, Owen T, Leong N, Ramchandar K, Filion E, Lau H, Gabos Z, Thompson R, Yaremko B, Mehiri S, Louie AV, Swaminath A (2025). Quality of Life of Stereotactic Versus Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Inoperable Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results From the LUSTRE Trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics.


Hulko W, Mirza N (2025). 'I think most of it comes down to the social determinants of health': older adults' views on primary and community care restructuring. Ageing & Society.


Hussein RN, Gomes TC, Ng E, Rondeau-Gagne S, Carmichael TB (2025). Composites of Shellac and Silver Nanowires as Flexible, Biobased, and Corrosion-Resistant Transparent Conductive Electrodes. Advanced Functional Materials.


Kabir MP, Plaza-Diaz J, Mercier E, D'Aoust PM, Goodridge L, Lawal OU, Hegazy N, Nguyen T, Wong C, Addo F, Renouf E, Graber TE, Delatolla R (2025). Optimization of the Primary Sludge Processing Method for Wastewater Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. ACS EST Water.


Kabir MP, Plaza-Diaz J, Mercier E, Wan S, Hegazy N, Wong C, Addo F, Renouf E, Lawal OU, Goodridge L, Graber TE, Delatolla (2025). Passive sampling for genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater resource recovery facility: Insights for pandemic prepardness. Water Research.


Khanna D, Satter Shaikh AA, Rueda L (2025). PPISHES - an enhanced physiochemical approach for predicting protein interaction sites using graph neural networks. Protein Science.


Lawal OU, Parreira VR, Rizvi F, Precious M, Anderson REV, Overton AK, Knapp JJ, Maxwell B, Thomas S, Zambrano M, Landgraff C, Fleury MD, Knox NC, Charles TC, Goodridge L (2025). Evaluation of sampling methods for genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in aircraft wastewater: Advancing global early-warning systems for future pandemics. Frontiers in Microbiology.


Leone RM, Franklin-Kidd M, Gayer E, Brown J, Patel R, Thompson C, Mullican KN, Salazar LF, Neighbors C, Gilmore AK, Gray KM, Senn C (2025). Integrating Alcohol and Cannabis Risk Reduction Into Sexual Assault Resistance Programming: Findings From a Pilot of EAAA+. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.


Lubanska D, Roye-Azar A, Alrashed S, Cieslukowski A, Soliman MAR, deCarvalho AC, Shamisa A, Kulkarni S, Porter LA (2025). Profiling Glioma Stem Cell Dynamics via 3D-Based Cell Cycle Reporter Assays. Brain Tumour Stem Cells.


MacNeil D, Ward L, Williamson K, Voth J, Hayes K, Marie R, Cox H, Massender K (2025). Piloting an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT-C) Program for Younger Children Aged 6 to 12 Years in Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.


Magbor P, Wang WZ, Gugan G, Olabode AS, Becker DG, Parreira VR, Lawal OU, Fedynak A, Zhang L, Rizvi F, Precious M, DeGroot CT, Goodridge L, Poon AFY (2025). Spatiotemporal structure of SARS-CoV-2 mutational frequencies in wastewater samples from Ontario. PLoS One.


Marquardt D, Kester O, Gutberlet T, Granada R (2025). Introduction to the 11th meeting of the Union for Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources Special Issue. Canadian Journal of Physics.


Marquardt D, Pingali SV, Zolnierczuk PA (2025). Neutrons breathe new life into lung research. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.


Martin F, Harroun SG, Meunier M (2025). Nanomaterial-Based Optical Biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 Detection: A Retrospective of the Pandemic. Advanced Sensor Research.


Menard AD, Balint S, Cheek O, MacIntosh H (2025). Adult sexual behavior in a Canadian sample of two-spirit, trans, and non-binary survivors of childhood sexual abuse. International Journal of Transgender Health.


Menard AD, Soucie K, Ralph J, Pratt S, Freeman L (2025). Simulation training to increase resilience of nursing groups (STRONG): Results from a multi-site trial. Clinical Simulation in Nursing.


Mitchell FR, Horton S, Scharoun Benson S, Mogyorody V, van Wyk PM (2025). Agents of Change: Understanding User Perspectives to Guide Inclusive Gym Practices. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada.


Mitchell FR, Horton S, Scharoun Benson S, Mogyorody V, van Wyk PM (2025). Comparing performance and experience in a conventional and accessible gym: a mixed methods study. Disability and Rehabilitation.


Mitchell FR, Mogyorody V, Scharoun Benson S, Horton S, van Wyk PM (2025). Designing for All: A Comparison of Usability and User Experience in an Adapted Gym and a Conventional Gym. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies.


Mitchell FR, Scharoun Benson S, Horton S, Mogyorody V, van Wyk PM (2025). "We just want to get fit too": belonging and inclusion in the gym. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health.


Morrell S, Pittman G, Ziegler E, Simanovski J, Horton A, Sheppard-LeMoine D, Rashid HA, Mammarella A, Abdulmoula I, Al-Hamdani M (2025). Registered Nurse Prescribing in Ontario: Learners' Perspective. Quality Advancement in Nursing Education.


Mostafiz MI, Gali N, Ahmed FU, Hughes M (2025). A Betrayal in the Family: An Inhibitor or Stimulus for Business Model Innovation? Journal of Product Innovation Management.


Pare MA, Muir IL, Munroe-Chandler KJ, Sutherland CA, Loughead TM (2025). UWorkItOut UWin Program: A RE-AIM Framework Program Evaluation. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.


Parsons A, Franco-Palacios DJ, Antishin S, Ronchetto E, Major J, Srikanth A, Nakdali R, Simanovski J, Olexsey KH (2025). Outcomes and Long-Term Allograft Function in Lung Recipients Transplanted on Life-Sustaining Therapies in the ICU. Chest.


Patskovsky S, Perraton A, Largilliere I, Darviot C, Harroun SG, Meunier M (2025). Methods and instrumentation for quantitative analysis with immunoplasmonic nanoprobes. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical.


Peitzmeier SM, Senn CY, Eliasziw M, Edwards K, Barata P, Papp LJ, Hobden KL (2025). An Internet-Delivered Sexual Assault Resistance Intervention for Undergraduate Women (The IDEA3 Trial): Protocol for a Multisite Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial. JMIR Research Protocols.


Peterson ML, Monforton PE, Bain AR, Milne KJ, Perrotta AS (2025). Examining the Exercise Dose-Response Using Cardiac Autonomic Activity in Female University Ice Hockey Players. Sports.


Pezeshki KL, Haghighi S, Jouyandeh F, Sadesghi S, Moradian Zadeh P, Fong J, Soucie K, McKay RM, Ng KKS, Porter LA, Tong Y, Goodridge L (2025). A Multi-modal Data-Driven Dashboard for Enhanced Public Health Surveillance and Awareness. Innovations for Community Services.


Quijano MH, Farid P, Cervi A (2025). When pregnancy, HIT, and stroke collide: Navigating complex thrombotic care in a community-based setting. Blood.


Rahman MFF, Andleeb I, Rabi AMA, Zhang N, Abdel-Raheem E (2025). Robust Ultra-Lightweight Multi-Object Tracking on UAVs in Diverse Weather Environments. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments.


Raufu IA, Lawal OU, Parreira VR, Soni M, Kaur H, Ahmed AO, Aremu A, Al-Mustapha AI, Goodridge L (2025). Draft genome sequences of Citrobacter cronae isolates recovered from food animal production chain in Nigeria. Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.


Raufu IA, Lawal OU, Parreira VR, Soni M, Kaur H, Ahmed AO, Aremu A, Al-Mustapha AI, Goodridge L (2025). Draft genome sequences of multiple Salmonella enterica stereotypes isolated from eight different animals in Nigeria. Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.


Sahoo PK, Biondi F (2025). On the Effect of Laser Projection Operator Guidance on Cognitive Workload and Task Performance. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.


Sterling M, Balint S, Power J, Cheek O, Armstrong N, MacTavish A, Morgan V, Menard AD (2025). Politics, Not Science Revisited: The Harms of Continuing to Ask About Gender Identity and Biological Sex. Archives of Sexual Behavior.


Tapp K, Kobrosli J, Kichler J, Giannotti N, Soucie K (2025). Beyond the skin: Stories of advocacy and resilience from women with Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Journal of Health Psychology.


Tay J, Rappaport A, Crawley J, Ta J, Kichler J (2025). "Rolling the Boulder Up the Hill": A Qualitative Study of Parents' Experiences Providing Ongoing Care at Home for Their Child with Complex Medical Needs. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.


Vasta N, Biondi FN (2025). Art Immersion: Evidence for attention restoration in museums. Consciousness and Cognition.


Zaur AJ, Latourrette C, Rappaport LM, Fountain C, Walker WC, Austin TA, Martindale SL, Amstadter AB, Sheerin CM (2025). Functional Relationships of Binge Drinking and Alcohol-Related Problems With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in a Pilot Sample of Veterans. Journal of Dual Diagnosis.


Zhang S, Wang Y, Mason GT, Qian Z, Rondeau-Gagne S, Gu X (2025). Thin-Film Fracture Behavior for Diketopyrrolopyrrole Semiconducting Polymeric Films. Chemistry of Materials.

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).

Appointments and Awards


Dr. Adrian Guta, School of Social Work Associate Professor, was appointed at the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health Disparities and Public Health.


Dr. Drew Marquardt, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry was a guest editor for a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Physics.


Dr. Debbie Rickeard, Faculty of Nursing Professor Alumni, received the Excellence in Nursing Eduation Award from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.


Dr. John Trant, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Dr. Lisa Porter, Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Sciences, received the 2025 Mel Mitzel Research Excellence Award from the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada for their project with Dr. Cindy Hutnik at the University of Western Ontario.

Year 7 Mid-Year Report Available Online


The mid-year report for year 7 is available on the WE-SPARK website.


Year 7 runs from May 2025 to April 2026.


Our mission is to enhance the health, well-being, and care of people through transformative research, evidence-based interventions, and knowledge translation.

Congratulations Everyone!

Stay Connected and Register Now!

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

The inaugural Battle of the Badges is coming to Windsor! Join us on February 4, 2026 at the WFCU Centre for an exciting charity hockey showdown between the Windsor Police Service and Windsor Fire & Rescue Services, all in support of local cancer research. Purchase your tickets now!

Join Windsor Regional Hospital for their upcoming Cancer Education Day on Friday, February 13, 2026 from 8:00am to 12:30pm. This year's event will focus on Head and Neck Cancers, featuring content-expert speakers and insightful discussions. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and engage with experts in the field. Register today!

Register now! WE-SPARK's annual Health Research Conference is taking place on March 28, 2026. To submit an abstract, buy a ticket(s), or learn more, visit the Health Research Conference website.

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

Send news to wesparknews@uwindsor.ca

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