Local seed funding for research benefits Windsor-Essex. This local project started with funding from a WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery Grant. That small investment turned into a multi-disciplinary $500,000 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant.

Yufeng Tong, PhD

Principal Investigator

THE STUDY

This project focused on finding solutions for a strained testing capacity for COVID-19 by working with industry partners. Dr. Yufeng Tong's idea was to find a more sustainable alternative for the gold standard PCR and a reliable diagnostic standard to validate the alternative qRT-PCR test. Promising results led Tong to expand not only his reach but his impact by supporting the local community and beyond.

Congratulations to the team for being the recipient of the 2021 University of Windsor's Employee Recognition Award for Excellence in Health & Safety!

THE IMPACT

This project highlights the importance of local seed funding. The WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery grant allowed Dr. Tong to gather preliminary data and bring together a strong team of local researchers to apply for a national grant. The $40,000 investment led to a one-year, $500,000 CIHR grant.

The team provides timely information to our community and has built a platform that will continue to evolve and provide critical information that can be used to protect our community now and in the future.