The SPARK Member Newsletter

October 2025

Join us on November 6 from 5-7:30pm to celebrate local research and raise a glass to hope and new possibilities!

Dont miss out - get your tickets now for Cheers to Hope.

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:

$404,616 in grant funding

10 publications

Welcoming Madeline to our Team!

We would like to offer a warm welcome to Madeline Garlatti, our new Clinical Health Research Associate. Her position is a collaboration between WE-SPARK and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. She recently completed her Masters of Science in Translational Health Science.

Madeline will support the clinical research activities of learners from UWindsor, St. Clair College and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry – Windsor Campus being supervised by WE-SPARK clinical researchers in Windsor-Essex

We are thrilled to have her join our team!

Member Highlights and Successes

New Projects

Guillermo Candiz, Université de l’Ontario français, Tanya Basok, University of Windsor ($74,970) SSHRC - Insight Development Grant. Trajectoires migratoires et politiques de contrôle des frontières au Costa Rica : Dynamiques, défis et perspectives dans un contexte géopolitique en évolution.

Ann De Shalit, Adrian Guta, University of Windsor, Emily van der Meulen, Toronto Metropolitan University, Sandra Chu ($71,100) SSHRC Insight Development Grant. Beyond protection: Mapping PCEPA implementation and impacts in Ontario.

Nazim Habibov, University of Windsor, Lida Fan, Lakehead University ($59,286) SSHRC - Insight Development Grant. Repairing a "broken elevator" of social mobility: Drivers and barriers of perceived social mobility in 29 countries across 2008 Global Financial Crisis and Covid19 pandemic.

Samantha Hancock, Western University, Kemi Anazodo, University of Windsor ($72,014) SSHRC - Insight Development Grant. Women on the Spectrum: Examining the Experiences of Women with Autism at Work.

Kristen Morrison, University of Windsor, Micheal Shier, University of Toronto, Georgia Teare, Western University ($57,037) SSHRC - Insight Development Grant. Strategic Leveraging of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kathryn Szechy, Festus Moasun, Nicole Scott, University of Windsor, Brieanne John ($70,209) SSHRC - Insight Development Grant. Public Perceptions of Autism in the Workplace: Additional Impacts from Intersecting Marginalizing Identities.

Spotlight on Excellence: Projects Highlighted in the Breast Cancer Canada Research Roster!

Two of WE-SPARK's core Principal Members, Dr. Caroline Hamm and Dr. Lisa Porter, have had their research projects featured in the July 2025 Breast Cancer Canada Research roster. Dr. Hamm's project focuses on increasing clinical trial access through the Clinical Trials Network Program, while Dr. Porter's project is developing a postpartum breast cancer biomarker platform. You can view the poster, their projects, and other researchers highlighted here.

Publications / Articles / Presentations

Cruz EV, Tay J, Bradley P, Baxter C (2025). Supporting Internationally Educated Nurses Through Effective Preceptorship: A Canadian Perspective. Journal of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses.

De Shalit A, van der Meulen E, Orsini M, Laforest R, Guta A (2025). "We like to be in the tent": How charitable organizations navigate political advocacy for health equity. Social Science & Medicine.

Rahimi N, Schuelke-Leech BA, Mirhassani M (2025). Enhanced TARA model for heavy-duty vehicles using ISO/SAE 21434 and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). Expert Systems with Applications.

Ravipati S, Bakheet W, Woldie I, Gupta R, Yousif G, Faraj H, Hussein A, Luo R, Cervi A, Gupta G, Kanjeekal S, Khan S, Hamm C (2025). Pilot study: A prospective, real-world, feasibility study testing a decreased frequency paradigm in treatment free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia Research.

Riley M, Jakob J, Govi A, Mohamad J, Malakoti-Negad NA, Ciotoli A, Pedri N, Sehgal N, Bessey M, Chawla D, Yekinni T, Sultana M (2025). Virtual Intensivist Support Model reducing Intensive Care Unit admission: Erie Shores HealthCare Experience. Fortune Journals of Health Sciences.

Roy-Fleming A, Nakhla M, Mok E, Vanasse A, Cianci L, Kichler J, Simoneau-Roy J, Couture Y, Gagne J, Dupont M, Brazeau AS (2025). Support-t, an online training and peer support platform to accompany youth living with type 1 diabetes transitioning to adult healthcare: protocol of an effectiveness-implementation trial. BMJ Open.

Sultana M, Chandler A, Elmais D, McPhee D, Willms A, El Hage N, Maraj V (2025). Culturally Safe Nutrition Counselling for Caldwell First Nation Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Fortune Journals of Health Sciences.

Sultana M, Chandler A, Koltko T, Petrlich A, Chawla D, Weibe J, Ahsan MA, Bessey M (2025). Impact of Targeted Medicaiton Counselling during Discharge: Erie Shores HealthCare Experiences. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research.

Tay J, Jarrar M, Yeung T, Kichler J (2025). Cancer Care Experiences Among Adolescents, Caregivers, and Health Care Providers in a Canadian Context: Protocol for a Qualitative Study. JMIR Research Protocols.

Wang R, Panesar B, Sonnenberg M, Landry A, Brazeau AS, Greenberg M, Nakhla M, Zenlea I, Mok E, Kichler JC, Goldbloom EB, Booth GL, Henderson M, Shulman R, Desveaux L (2025). Insights Into How Digital Health Interventions Shape Outcomes for Emerging Adults Living With Type 1 Diabetes: Qualitative Realist Process Evaluation. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

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 December 4th @ The Bourbon on Ottawa Street.

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

Buy your tickets now! WE-SPARK's annual Cheers to Hope event is happening on November 6, 2025 at the Ambassador Golf Club. To donate, buy a ticket, or learn more about this event, visit our Cheers to Hope website.