August 2026

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:

$4,290,784 in grant funding

44 publications

1 Award

Member Highlights and Successes

New Projects


Tara M Dumas, Huron University College, Kathryn M Graham, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Katarina L Huellemann, McGill University, Charlene Y Senn, University of Windsor, Samantha Wells, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Rachel R O'Donnell, University of Stirling, AnnaLise Trudell, Western University ($103,059) SSHRC Insight Grant. "Bro, stop trying." Engaging youth to advance knowledge about the role of social status and peer dynamics in sexual aggression perpetration and bystander intervention in drinking venues.


OmiSoore Dryden, Dalhousie University, Camisha Sibblis, University of Windsor, Cornel Grey, Western University, Jad Sinno, Community-Based Research Centre, Lance McCready, University of Toronto, Nakia Lee-Foon, Trillium Health Partners, Notisha Maasquoi, Qui Alexander, Roberta Timothy, University of Toronto, Syrus Ware, McMaster University, Tyler Boyce, The Enchante Network, Ayodele Sogunro, Dignity Network Canada, Danielle Leacock, Fred Victor Centre, Eric Peters, Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance, Garfiled Durrant, Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Lounanjio Brown O'Sullivan, African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario, Oghentega Ubor, University of Toronto, Orville Burke, Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh, Black Health Education Collaborative, Tatyanna Watts-Burke, Sherbourne Health Centre, Vincent Mousseau, no primary affiliaiton ($47,432) SSHRC Connection Grant. Building a Black queer community of practice: a Black 2S/LGBTQ+ symposium and outreach program to establish a Black queer community-based praxis.


Amy Fitzgerald, Adrian Guta, University of Windsor, Lindsay Jennings, Alexander McClelland, Carleton University ($97,160) SSHRC Insight Development Grant. The Nathaniel Krug Project: Mobilizing Inquest Recommendations to Reduce Deaths in Custody in Ontario.


Sarah Flicker, York University, Casey Burkholder, Concordia University, Jen Gilbert, University of Toronto, Denise Handlarski, Trent University, Claudia Mitchell, McGill University, Vanessa Oliver, Wilfrid Laurier University, Catherine Vanner, University of Windsor ($94,923) SSHRC Insight Development Grant. Performing Prevention Pedagogies: Exploring the Use of Theatre for Sex Education with Pre-Service Teachers.


Adrian Guta, Katherine Rudzinski, University of Windsor, Danielle German, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Workers for Ethical Substance Use Policy, Vancouver BC ($50,000) SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant. Developing a Worker-Led Program of Research for Workplace Inclusion and Social Justice for People Who Use Drugs.


Suzan M Ilcan, University of Waterloo, Tanya Basok, University of Windsor, Guillermo Candiz, Université de l'Ontario français, George Iordanou, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Cyprus ($124,639) SSHRC Insight Grant. Constellations of migrant precarity: precarious legal status in precarious spaces and precarious times.


Jaclyn Meloche, Dora Cavallo-Medved, Michelle Bondy, University of Windsor, Helen Gregory, Western University, Chris Houser, Corina McDonald, University of Waterloo, Chad Riley, no primary affiliation, Lisa Salfi-Novena, Jennifer Willet, University of Windsor ($63,358) SSHRC Insight Development Grant. Picturing the "A=Art" in STEAM: Piloting Research-Creating as a Methodology for the Democratization of Science Communication.


Claudia A Mitchell, Gracen Brilmyer, Myriam S Denov, McGill University, Monica Patterson, Carleton University, Catherine E Vanner, University of Windsor, Naydene de Lange, Nelson Mandela University, Sadiyya Haffejee, University of Johannesburg, Kyveli Lingou-Tsamantani, York St John University, Relebohile T Moletsane, University of the Witwatersrand, Twisha Singh, McGill University ($342,685) SSHRC Insight Grant. Unspeakable Images: Archiving, Reading, and Curating Images of Gender-Based Violence Produced by Children and Young People in South Africa.


Festus Moasun, Obianuju Juliet Bushi, Kathryn Szechy, Carol Wade, University of Windsor, Melissa T Baidoobonso, no primary affiliation ($84,054) SSHRC Insight Development Grant. From Paper to Practice: Understanding Parental Involvement and Advocacy in the Implementation of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) in Southern Ontario Schools.


Kim A Nelson, Carlo Charles, Kristoffer Romero, University of Windsor, Rasmus Greiner, University of Bremen, Alison Landsberg, George Mason University, Laura M MacArthur, Steven P Palmer, University of Windsor, Jeffrey M Zacks, Washington University in St. Louis ($94,994) SSHRC Insight Grant. Assessing the Impact of Moving Histories on Public Perceptions of Shared Pasts.


Andrew S Perrotta, Sport Science Laboratory, University of Windsor, Field Hockey Canada. Longitudinal adaptation in lumbar bone mineral density in Women's National Team athletes.


Lisa Porter, Bre-Anne Fifield, University of Windsor, Caroline Hamm, Rasna Gupta, Windsor Regional Hospital, Alexandra (Sandi) Shoust ($140,000) Cancer Research Society. Evaluating Novel Options to Overcome CDK4/6 Resistance.


Jody Ralph, Dave Andrews, Aznam Yacoub, Mark Lubrick, University of Windsor, Terri Lawrence, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Windsor Campus ($15,000) Pat Griffin Research Grant. An Educational Innovation for Undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology: Serious Game Development and Evaluation.


Steven M Smith, Saint Mary's University, Reza Ahmadi, The John Howard Society of Canada, Kemi S Anazodo, University of Windsor, Katelynn Carter-Rogers, St. Francis Xavier University, Meaghan Costa, The John Howard Society of Canada ($311,440) SSHRC Insight Grant. Overcoming Barriers to Employment for People with Criminal Records.


Wenjie Xia, Iowa State University, Simon Rondeau-Gagne, University of Windsor, Jianguo Mei, Purdue University, Xiaodan Gu, University of Southern Mississippi, Aristide Gumyusenge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($2,000,000) NSERC ($400,000) NSF. Data-Driven Materials by Design for High Performance Organic Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conductive Polymers and Devices.


Jasmin Zine, Wilfrid Laurier University, Naved Bakali, Siham Elkassem, University of Windsor, Wafaa Hasan, University of Toronto, Khaoula Zoghlami, Universite Laval ($322,040) SSHRC Insight Grant. Examining the Impact of Heightened Islamophobia and Anti-Palestinian Racism on Canadian Muslims after Oct. 7.

Publications / Articles / Presentations


Ahluwalia-Cameron A, Guta A (2026). "We still have a siloed system": Structural barriers and health system fragmentation in borderline personality disorder care in Ontario, Canada. SSM - Health Systems.


Alebooyeh M, Urbanic J, Dat Vo T (2026). A Prototype System Integration Solution for Limp Fabric Handling Utilizing Reconfigurable and Scalable Grippers. New Paradigms for Anticipated Uncertainty.


Awin F, Alginahi Y, Abdel-Raheem E (2026). Firebug Swarm Optimization Algorithm: An Overview and Applications. Signals.


Barrette-Ng I, Hall S, Prins H, Stillwell D, Wong M, D'Ambrosio L, Singh NR (2026). Revisiting the 4M Framework: Canadian SoTL in a Post-Pandemic World. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.


Bhinder K (2026). Constraints on nuclear-driven photon generation and radiation transport in extreme-energy systems. Nuclear Engineering and Technology.


Boucher CM, Schneider S, Bayrhammer-Savel M, Tyson BT, Puente-Lopez E, Lehrner J, Morales RFP, Crisan I, Erdodi LA (2025). Performance Validity Tests Can Enhance the Differential Diagnosis of Somatic Disorders. Psychological Injury and Law.


Boucher CM, Schneider SJ, Puente-Lopez E, Sirianni C, Cutler L, Csaszar K, Erdodi LA (2026). Unburdened by What Has Been: A Methodological Template for Managing the Invalid before Clinically Elevated Paradox. Psychological Injury and Law.


Broadbent ML, Morrell S, Crawley J, Giannotti N, Mulcaster A (2026). Childbirth after Gender-Based Violence: A Scoping Review. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing.


Cameron L, Ryan S, Bowman A, Bateman EA, Eng JJ, Mehta S, Sequeira K, Teasell R (2026). Female participation in randomized controlled trials of motor rehabilitation after spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Spinal Cord.


Carmona-Alcocer V, Gobet C, MacDonald J, Taleb Z, Naef F, Karpowicz P (2026). Chrono-atlas of cell-type specific daily gene expression rhythms in the regenerating colon. Nature Communications.


Carr-Kirby K, Horton S, Sutherland CA, Paraschak V, Weir P (2025). 'I Don't Think They've Ever Seen People Like Me Do Jobs Like This': Exploring Hope Within Strengths-Based Employment Services for People With Disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.


Dion D, Salters D, Scharoun Benson S (2026). Preferential Cup Size and End-State Comfort in Children. Journal of Motor Behavior.


Eddy T, Gee S, Millar P, Evans Z, Warner M (2026). Examining the brand relationships between a professional sport organization and its corporate social responsibility initiative. Managing Sport and Leisure.


Elliott RA, Cruz E, Morrell S, Guta A, Pfaff K (2026). Facilitators and Barriers to Integrating Trauma-Informed Care in Undergraduate Nursing Education. Global Qualitative Nursing Research.


Freer JRR, Somma M, Miklas E, Scibetta L (2026). Elementary Students' Conceptualizations of Disability in Written and Illustrated Forms. American Educational Research Journal.


Gaqui AE, Gravoso MA, Cruz E, Indar A (2026). Internationally Educated Nurses Supporting Internationally Educated Nurses: A Leadership Profile of the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association. Nursing Leadership.


Gojic A, Wang Y, Shah PS, Lee S, Pullenayegum E, Mukerji A, Ng E, Stavel M, Agrawal S, McDonald SD, ..., Augustine S, ..., on behalf of the Canadian Neonatal Network and the Canadian Preterm Birth Network Investigators (2026). Previable Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes Reaching Viability: Canadian Outcomes. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.


Gyamfi S, Adu J, Martin-Yeboah E, Owusu MF, Agyabeng-Fandoh E, Attiogbe A (2026). Perceived public attitudes that influence experiences and perceptions of stigma among persons with mental illness in a South Saharan country. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences.


Harroun SG, Largilliere I, Patskovsky S, Trudel D, Meunier M (2026). Immunoplasmonic Nanoprobes With Controlled Orientation Antibodies for Darkfield Microscopy Detection of Biomarker Proteins on Lung and Breast Cancer Cells. Analysis & Sensing.


Hej-Ali S, Banwell K, Mohamed H, Cervi A, Dass A, Gupta R, Hamm C, Kanjeekal S, Seguel IS, Szalay M, Khan S (2026). Toxicities of CAR-T, Bispecific Antibodies, and Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Multiple Myeloma: A Practical Approach to Risk Mitigation and Management. Cancers.


Khalil A, Khalil M, Ngom A (2026). TempHalluc-Bench: Evaluating Temporal Hallucination in VideoLLM-based Video Search and Information Extraction. International Journal of Computer Applications.


Letts E, da Silva SM, King-Dowling S, Di Cristofaro N, Obeid J (2026). Finding the Goldilocks Zone for Toddler Accelerometry: How Many Days Are Needed for a Reliable Estimate of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time Using Machine Learning? Human Kinetics Journal.


Mitra S, Jain A, Ting JY, Fadel NB, Drolet C, Mehrem AA, Soraisham AS, Jasani B, Louis D, Lapointe A, Dorling J, Khurshid F, Hyderi A, Kumaran K, Toye J, Harabor A, Weisz DE, Stavel M, Morin A, Bhattacharya S, Lalitha R, Afifi J, Augustine S, Castaldo MP, Hartfield T, Su YC, Shah PS, for the Canadian Neonatal Network Investigators. Pharmacologic Therapies for Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Extremely Preterm Infants. JAMA Open Network.


Modak S, Rueda L, Abdel-Raheem E (2026). EGPD-Nodule: An enhanced lung nodule detection and segmentation framework utilizing superpixels and graph neural networks. Signal, Image, and Video Processing.


Morrison KA, Shier ML, Millar P (2026). The Impact of Organizational Capacity on Strategic Approaches to Membership Retention and Growth in Community Sport Organizations. Human Kinetics Journal.


Niculescu I, Biss RK, Romero K (2026). The role of depressive symptoms, episodic memory, and executive functioning on prospective memory: New insights from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The Journals of Gerontology - Series B.


Park Y, Lee C, Kim E, Yoo JK, Kim K (2026). Functional data analysis of human drivers' car-following behavior in the mixed traffic of human-driven vehicles and autonomous vehicles. Transportation Letters.


Passy AG, Anes I, Perrotta AS (2026). Health of Collegiate Athletes - An Investigation into Symptoms Associated with Low Energy Availability. International Journal of Exercise Science.


Peitzmeier SM, Ashwell L, Adams MP, Edwards K, Senn CY (2026). The IDEA3 pilot trial: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an online adaptation of an evidence-based intervention for campus sexual assault prevention. BMC Women's Health.


Piggott T, Saadat P, Herrmann A, Stein AT, Darzi AJ, Haines A, Bognanni A, Sousa-Pinto B, Michels C, Akl EA, Poluzzi E, Senerth E, Madrid E, Barbic F, de'Donato F, Nonino F, Vist GE, Neumann I, Bracchiglione J, Bousquet J, Meerpohl JJ, Anto JM, Scahill KA, Qiu K, Miersch K, Saif-Ur-Rahman KM, Thinagaran LV, Benton L, Schwingshackl L, Siedler MR, Bala MM, Metzendorf MI, Aloosh M, Cinquini M, Cumpston M, Skoetz N, Oloyede O, Alonso-Coello P, Dahm P, Vieira RJ, Morgan RL, Murthy S, Hofstede S, Laot-Cabon S, Thomander T, Siebert U, Leontiadis GI, Schunermann H (2026). Integrating Planetary Health in Health Guidelines (GRADE Guidance 46). Annals of Internal Medicine.


Poulin KL, Rene CA, Smith IC, Vacratsis PO, Burger D, McMillan HJ, Kothary R, Perkins TJ, Warman-Chardon J, Parks RJ (2026). Extracellular vesicles as biomarkers of disease progression and therapeutic response in patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Cell Press.


Rahman MFF, Andleeb I, Zhang N, Abdel-Raheem E (2026). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Future Transportation Systems: An Overview. Journal of Pervasive Intelligence and Internet of Things.


Robinson SL, Boucher CM (2026). Looking Back in Kindness: A Self-Compassion Exercise for Self-Relevant Unresolved Events. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research.


Rose L, Motaghedi F, Vanier N, Ahamed MJ, Rondeau-Gagne S (2026). Tuning metal-ligand crosslinking for shape-stable, self-healing capacitive pressure sensors. New Journal of Chemistry.


Safari A, Tavana KT, Hagh MT, Rahimi A, Nezhad AE (2026). A surrogate framework for green Hydrogen plants using Conditional Wasserstein GANs with gradient penalty. Energy Conversion and Management: X.


Senn CY (2026). Book Review: Everyday Coercion: Men's Routine Use of Sexual Coercion toward Women by Mardi Wilson. Gender & Society.


South CA, Brazeau AS, Talbo MK, Bandini A, Kichler JC, Iceta S (2026). Factors Associated With Intentional Insulin Omission to Lose Weight in People Living With Type 1 Diabetes: A BETTER Registry Analysis. Canadian Journal of Diabetes.


Stirbys C, Jaber L, Saint-Cyr C, El Hajj A (2026). Nanadagikenim: Incorporating Indigenous Ways of Knowing into the Social Work Cirriculum. Canadian Social Work Review.


Streklova D, Urbanic RJ (2026). A slicer-agnostic tool for void characterization from slicer images and its correlation to build orientation and raster angle in FFF. Rapid Prototyping Journal.


Tay J, Widger K, Stremler R, Pole JD (2026). Coping as a mediator between family stressors and behavioural adjustment in siblings of children with progressive life-limiting conditions: a multilevel longitudinal study. BMC Pediatrics.


Teague L, Browne G, Jaglal S, Calzavara A, Voth J, Thabane L, Birch S, Campbell K, McGillivray C, Deeb M, Mahoney J (2026). Exploring Factors Associated With Complications Among Persons With Spinal Cord Injury Undergoing Surgical Closure of Stage 4 Pelvic Pressure Injuries. Canadian Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence.


Wang CY, Mao JY, Unnikrishnan B, Chan KM, Sarkar S, Lin L, Hsu PH, Huang YF, Harroun SG, Huang CC, Chen SY (2026). Cocktail-like alginate-derived carbonized nanogels with diverse moieties attenuate tumor metastasis via potential multi-pathway modulation. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.


Warner RJ, Rondeau-Gagne S (2026). Non-symmetric side chain engineering as a design strategy towards novel functional semiconducting polymers. Materials Chemistry Frontiers.


Yao X, Brown K, McKay RM, Lawal OU (2026). Draft genome sequences of two Pseudomonas species from Lake St. Clair (Ontario, Canada) encode multiple heavy metal resistance determinants. Environmental Microbiology.

Appointments and Awards


Dr. Trevor Shepherd has been appointed as Director of the Centre for Translational Cancer Research at Western University.

Congratulations Everyone!

Stay Connected and Register Now!

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 3rd @ The Bourbon on Ottawa Street. Registration is encouraged!

Join us for our next Think Tank scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM via Zoom. Register for free today! Enjoy great discussions and new research ideas! Have an idea you'd like to present? Let us know!

Save the Date! WE-SPARK's annual Cheers to Hope event is happening on November 5, 2026 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

401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor ON N9B 3P4



(519) 253-3000 x 4394

wesparkhealth@uwindsor.ca


Support WE-SPARK: wesparkhealth.com/donate

Facebook  X  Instagram  Linkedin  Youtube