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Keeping Our Members Informed and Connected

December 2023

Member Highlights and Successes

Letting us know about the accomplishments of you and your colleagues let’s us celebrate the great work being done in our region, build further collaborations, and ignite excitement about research in Windsor-Essex! Here are just a few of your latest successes.

New Projects


Dave Andrews, University of Windsor, Heather Jamniczky, University of Calgary. ($10,000) Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education; ($10,000) two University of Windsor sources that support equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Anatomy Video and Imagery Diversity project (AVIS).


Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. Myeloma Canada. Establishing a Multiple Myeloma Drug Screening Platform to Predict Patient Response to Therapy.


Kristoffer Romero, University of Windsor. ($68,375) SSHRC. Exploring the impact of culture on metamemory.


Publications / Articles / Presentations


Adam N A, Sutherland C A, Perrotta A S, van Wyk P M, Woodruff S J, Duquette A M. (2023) Understanding the difference in body composition assessment methods in University-aged Canadian students. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.


Kosar M, Taimoory S, Diesenhaus O, Trant J F. (2023) Improvement of electrolytes for aluminum ion batteries: A molecular dynamics study. The Journal of Chemical Physics.


Munroe M, Staffell Z, Coyne P, Ruta J, Woodruff S J. (2023) Exploring relationships between embodiment, intuitive eating, and psychological resources with a community sample of women. Current Psychology.


Munroe M, Staffell Z, Coyne P, Ruta J, Woodruff S J. (2023) Positive embodiment and psychological wellbeing: Exploring expereinces of embodiment, mindful self-care and psychological wellbeing with a community sample of women. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology.


Naseem S, Khan S, Hussain S, Mirza M U, Ashraf M, Shafiq Z, Trant J F. (2023) Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking study of xanthene-linked thiosemicarbazones as cholinesterase inhibitors. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics.


Noura M, Kosar M, Rahdar A, Trant J F. (2023) Hydrogen adsorption on magnesium-decorated (3, 3) and (5, 0) boron nitride nanotubes. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.


Sharma V, Oliveira M M, Sood R, Khaifia A, Lou D, Hooshmandi M, Hung T, Mahmood N, Reeves M, Ho-Tieng, Cohen N, Cheng P, Rahim M M A, Prager-Khoutoursky M, Kaufman R J, Rosenblum K, Lacaille J, Khoutoursky A, Klann E, Sonenberg N. (2023) mRNA translation in astrocytes controls hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity and memory. PNAS.

Thank You!


WE-SPARK's 2nd annual Health Research Conference was a great success! Thank you to all presenters, panelists, judges, attendees, sponsors, and our partners. We couldn't have done it without you.


This event brought together a diverse range of health research areas and individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.


To view photos taken at the event, please visit the conference website.

2023 WE-SPARK Health Research Conference Awards


Rapid-Fire Oral Presentation Awards


Sarah Julius, Cayla Wood, Kathryn Markham-Petro, Beckie Berlasty, Vivian Hawe, Michaela Reid, Annamaria Lopez, Alexandra Frabotta, Justine Van Herk, St. Clair College. Collaboratively Addressing Food Insecurity: Co-Developing a Sustainable and Equitable School Nutrition Program. Sponsored by St. Clair College.


Jack Webb, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Lauren Viola, Adrian Buensuceso, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Matthew J Borrelli, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Yudith Ramos Valdes, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Bipradeb Singha, Trevor G Shepherd, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. Loss of ULK1 Impairs Autophagy Activation, Spheroid Viability, and Tumour Progression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Science.


Chelsea Ymana, Kailyn St. Pierre, University of Windsor, Dhuvaraha Srikrishnaraj, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Genesis Flores, WE-SPARK Health Institute, Kanza Mirza, Manahel Elias, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Ryan Palazzolo, University of Windsor, Farwa Zaib, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Aya El-Hashemi, University of Windsor, Retage Al-Bader, Abdelhady Osman, Alex Zhou, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Maureen Muldoon, University of Windsor, Indryas Woldie, Windsor Regional Hospital, Jayashree Mohanty, Amy Llancari, University of Windsor, Carrin Primeau, Windsor Regional Hospital, Janet E McLaughlin, Laurier University, Jood Issa, University of Guelph, Juliana Wiggins, University of Windsor, Nicole Sbrocca, Windsor Regional Hospital, Tanya Basok, University of Windsor, Caroline Hamm, Windsor Regional Hospital. Barriers to Equitable Healthcare for Critically Ill Temporary Foreign Workers. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Graduate Student Society.


Poster Session Awards


Danya Al-Hassani, Jocelyne Cyrenne, Abedalrhman Alkhateed, Bre-Anne Fifield, University of Windsor, Benita Rangira, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Julianna Orlando, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Tiamin Zhang, Osama Hamzeh, Joshua Matthews, University of Windsor, Asma Ghafoor, University of Windsor, University of Toronto, Tom Deklaj, Raj Goel, Ronald Sorenson, Bassel Al-Farra, Hussein M Kalaff Abourawi, Yasser El-Gohary, Windsor Regional Hospital, Dora Cavallo-Medved, Luis Rueda, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor, Govindaraja Atikukke, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Sindu Mary Kanjeekal, Windsor Regional Hospital. Molecular Biomarkers for the Progression of Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. Sponsored by Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.


Allison Baker, University of Ottawa, University of Windsor, Bre-Anne Fifield, University of Windsor, Nora McVinnie, UCD School of Medicine, Omer Elkhidir, Nick Philbin, University of Windsor, Alexandra Shoust, Kendall Soucie, Suzanne McMurphy, University of Windsor, Caroline Hamm, Windsor Regional Hospital, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. Attitudes Regarding Science Knowledge and Clinical Trials. Sponsored by Windsor Regional Hospital.


Astrid Coleman, Emily Cordeiro, Kristoffer Romero, University of Windsor. Predicting Event Memory Performance Using Subjective Ratings in Older and Younger Adults. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Science.


Lucas Campo Diaz, Ana Maria Podadera Gonzalez, Nikola Kolobaric, University of Windsor, Fasih Rehman, University of Windsor, University of Calgary, Anna Niedzwiecka, Ping Zhang, Chang-Chun Ling, University of Calgary, Kenneth K S Ng, University of Windsor. Development of an Antiviral Compound Screening Platform Targeting the Sars-Cov-2 Polymerase. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Science.


Hadeja Faraj, Siri Ravipati, Waffa Bakheet, University of Windsor, Indryas Woldie, Windsor Regional Hospital, Rasna Gupta, Greg Yousif, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Caroline Hamm, Windsor Regional Hospital. CML Stop. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Graduate Student Society.


Tiffany Johnston, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Yudith Ramos Valdes, Adrian Buensuceso, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Trevor G Shepherd, Mary & Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. Therapeutic Targeting of ULK1 and Autophagy Using MRT68921 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Nursing.


Krista Lucier, Jessica Kichler, Owana LaBelle, University of Windsor. Effects of Social Isolation on Wellbeing: Undergraduate Student Engagement in Positive and Negative Coping Behaviours During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Sponsored by St. Clair College.


Robin Mackenzie, Umaima Abbas, Ushra Khan, Shulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rija Fatima, University of Windsor, Tzu-Fei Wang, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Caroline Hamm, Andrea Cervi, Windsor Regional Hospital. Anticoagulation in Patients with Cancer-Associated Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia: A Retrospective Review. Sponsored by the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.


Hema Priya Mahendran, Dorota Lubanska, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. The Role of SPY1 in Cell Cycle Checkpoint Evasion in Glioblastoma. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Science.


Ali Nadi, Kole Polkinghorne, Elizabeth Fidalgo da Silva, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. Dissecting Tuberin Localization and Function During the Cell Cycle. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Science.


Claudia Pecoraro, Bre-Anne Fifield, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. The Role of SPY1 in Adhesion and Metastasis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Sponsored by the University of Windsor Vice President: Research and Innovation.


Nick Philbin, Ellen M Laurie, Bre-Anne Fifield, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. Elucidating the role of the SPY1 in BCSC Regulation and Relapse in TNBC Patients. Sponsored by BEAR Construction and Engineering.


Masha Rahimi, Bre-Anne Fifield, Dorota Lubanska, Lisa A Porter, University of Windsor. Exploring Core Genes Associated with Cirrhotic and Non-Cirrhotic in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Sponsored by Erie Shores HealthCare.


Brooke Shepley, Nicholas Lester, Paula van Wyk, Chad Sutherland, Sean Horton, Anthony R Bain, University of Windsor. Effects of Photobiomodulation on Cognitive, Physical, and Cerebral Neurovascular Function in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study. Sponsored by WE-SPARK Health Institute.


Michael Zon, Guha Ganesh, Ishita Paiiwal, Hailey Wang, Oishee Ghosh, David Chan, Henry Siu, Alexandra Papaioannou, Isabel Rodrigues, Qiyin Fang, McMaster University. Validation of Physical Activity Levels from Shank-Placed Axivity AX6 Accelerometers. Sponsored by Smart Mobility for the Aging Population (sMAP).


Appointments and Awards


This year's recipients of the $5,000 Athena Scholarship are UWindsor students Gabrielle Gibbs and Annalise Gignac, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry--Windsor Campus student Maegan Miklas, and fourth-year social justice and legal studies student, Hannah Wagner, from St. Clair College. This scholarship recognizes community involvement, potential for leadership, academic excellence, and inspiring women to reach their full potential. To learn more about the recipients, please visit the University of Windsor DailyNews.


From the Celebration of Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, 9 of our members were recipients of various awards. Drs. Adrian Guta and Simon Rondeau-Gagné - Mid-Career Scholars/Researchers award. Drs. Jeffrey Dason and Kendall Soucie - Emerging Scholars/Researchers awards. Undergraduate student, Alan Cieslukowski, and graduate student, Paige Coyne - Outstanding Student Awards for their respective degree levels. Eric Gee, Research Finance - Outstanding Staff Award. Dr. Bre-Anne Fifield - Outstanding Community Engagement, Knowledge Transfer, and Knowledge Mobilization Award. Dr. Guoqing Zhang - Established Scholars/Researchers award.

Congratulations everyone!

Submit your news items to The Spark! (Pictures/links encouraged)

Research Participants Wanted



Title of Study: Exploratory Analysis of Healthcare Worker Experience with Migrant Workers in Windsor-Essex



Were you involved in the treatment of a migrant worker in Windsor-Essex? We want to hear from you! We are asking you to complete a 20-minute online survey to help us understand your experience treating migrant workers locally. The survey asks you to reflect on barriers you faced when treating this population and your feelings about the situation. Participants will be entered into a draw for 5 prizes of $20 Amazon gift cards.



URL: https://redcap.uwindsor.ca/surveys/?s=9344NJLPTDRF8FFM

THANK YOU!

WE-SPARK Health Institute extends our heartfelt gratitude to the community for their support and contributions to advancing our mission.

Special thanks to the WonderBroads, a local breast cancer survival group dedicated to advocating for research. They donated to the 2024 grants competition.

We are grateful to Conference sponsors - their support was instrumental in making the event a success!.

Thank you to our student volunteers for their enthusiasm and commitment!

WISHING YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Share your news with us!

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

Send your great 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
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