Explore Clinical Research & Training Opportunities: Join WE-SPARK's Virtual Info Session with CANTRAIN on June 10 WE-SPARK Health Institute is hosting a virtual information session on June 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. featuring representatives from CANTRAIN. The session will give researchers, clinicians, and trainees an opportunity to learn how CANTRAIN supports clinical research and workforce development, explore training and collaboration opportunities, and connect with a national research community. Registration is required to receive the meeting link. Please click here to register. In February 2025, WE-SPARK officially joined CANTRAIN—a national training platform dedicated to strengthening Canada’s clinical trial and research capacity. CANTRAIN provides comprehensive support for clinical trials, including training for research professionals, tools for study implementation, and access to national networks that foster collaboration across institutions and disciplines. To learn more about CANTRAIN, visit wecantrain.ca.
Dramatic arts student and brain tumour survivor drives research support Karen Metcalfe, Blake and Mckenna Lumley in the CORe atrium at the University of Windsor. Fifteen years ago, everything changed for Mckenna Lumley. At just four years old, Lumley was diagnosed with a juvenile benign pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA), a rare childhood brain tumour. Her family started to notice something was off when she was in the bath and unable to move her head back. This limited mobility progressed into her screaming due to neck pain and vomiting. While doctors were convinced Lumley was suffering from a flu bug, her mother, WE-SPARK assistant director Karen Metcalfe, knew something more was going on. After some tests to further investigate, they received the news. “My mom was roasting beets in the oven — I remember this because she hasn’t since — and she got the phone call saying, ‘She has a giant mass in her cerebellum. You need to get her to the hospital. We’re sending her to the Children’s Hospital in London,’” Lumley said. While she doesn’t…
Researchers probe link between mealtimes and cancer Graduate student Rachna Patel is working with the research team in professor Phillip Karpowicz’s lab to determine how eating patterns that conflict with circadian rhythms may contribute to development of colorectal cancers. Your eating patterns could be throwing off your circadian rhythms. Biomedical sciences professor Phillip Karpowicz says this negatively affects your health — specifically your gut health — which could result in an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Circadian rhythms are 24-hour physiological changes that include sleep-wake cycles, metabolic changes, hormone oscillations, and cycles of feeding-fasting. These are driven by the circadian clock, a molecular timer that enables our cells to anticipate daily events. “Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer that is notably increasing in younger people,” Dr. Karpowicz says. “It has been suggested that circadian disruption due to lifestyle contributes to this trend.” For his research, Karpowicz has received…
Connect with the Dynamic and Expanding Network of Health Researchers WE-SPARK Health Institute invites you to attend WE-SPARK After Dark, a monthly networking event designed to bring together individuals with a shared interest in health research. This engaging evening offers a unique opportunity to connect with members of the research community through both informal conversation and structured networking. The event will take place Thursday June 5th, from 5-7pm at the Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa Street. Whether participants are actively involved in health research or simply curious to learn more, the event provides a welcoming environment to build meaningful connections. The first hour will focus on casual networking, giving attendees a chance to meet like-minded individuals in a relaxed setting. Registration is encouraged but not required. Guests are welcome—please feel free to bring a friend or colleague. Click here to register.
Reducing lab waste through innovation and community action Pavithra Prasad (MSc student), Vivian Peng (going into 4th year undergrad), and Elham Pourian (PhD candidate), properly disposing of lab gloves for recycling in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. To support sustainability and reduce the volume of laboratory waste sent to landfills, the University of Windsor has launched a new initiative aimed at recycling uncontaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) from labs across campus. Gloves, masks, gowns, and hairnets that are free of contaminants are collected and sent to a specialized facility, where the materials are repurposed into new plastic products. This process not only reduces reliance on virgin materials but also supports the development of a more circular, sustainable economy. In its first year, 28 labs from nine academic departments participated in the program, diverting more than 700 kilograms of single-use PPE from landfill — a mass equal to that of seven full-size refrigerators. This effort reflects the University’s…
Schulich medical students embark on transformative health research projects in Windsor-Essex BioMed students at a lab in the University of Windsor. Thirteen future physicians are tackling pressing health challenges — from cancer care to vaccine hesitancy — through hands-on research projects grounded in the Windsor-Essex community. Supported by the Schulich-UWindsor Opportunities for Research Excellence Program (SWORP), these innovative projects give first- and second-year medical students early exposure to research while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with University of Windsor faculty and clinical leaders. “SWORP nurtures a culture of inquiry and community impact,” said Shanthi Johnson, Vice-President, Research and Innovation at the University of Windsor. “Through mentorship and meaningful engagement, students are addressing complex health issues and building skills that will shape their future contributions to evidence-informed healthcare.” Now in its 11th year, SWORP has funded more than 80 student-led projects, with this year’s cohort receiving…
Charity hockey tournament raises $230K for local cancer research Play for a Cure Pro-Am Hockey Tournament raised over $418,000 for local cancer research, of which WE-SPARK Health Institute received $230,000 Funds raised at a charity hockey event will in part go straight to WE-SPARK Health Institute to support cancer researchers at the University of Windsor and across Windsor-Essex. This year’s Play for a Cure Pro-Am Hockey Tournament raised over $418,000 for local cancer research, of which WE-SPARK Health Institute received $230,000 to support the following three new cancer research grants: Cancer Research Igniting Discovery Grant worth $30,000 Cancer Research Incentive grant of $50,000 Cancer Research Program Lead valued at $150,000 over three years Researchers will benefit with the seed funding to advance innovative cancer research and elevate their projects for national funding. Support for a Cancer Research Program Lead will help recognize research excellence and lead the growth of the WE-SPARK cancer research program across our region.…
About 20 per cent of drivers caught distracted, new study finds In a recent article in the Conversation, kinesiology professor Francesco Biondi says human error may have contributed to the Key Bridge disaster. With summer fast approaching, it’s not just the temperature that’s rising — so are the risks on the road. A new study suggests drivers are more likely to be distracted this time of year. Francesco Biondi, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and an expert in driver behaviour, led a study with Windsor Police Service examining rates of distracted and aggressive driving in school zones and business improvement areas (BIAs) around the city. We designed and adopted a mixed-method approach, using both quantitative and qualitative data collection, to get a better idea of how prevalent driver distraction is in Windsor, especially in areas that exhibit a greater prevalence of vulnerable road users,” Dr. Biondi explained. Researchers conducted roadside observations in summer and fall 2024 and winter 2025, tracking driver behaviour in…
Local cancer researchers receive $230,000 from Play for a Cure Pro-Am The Play for a Cure Pro-Am event has officially kicked off with two huge funding announcements. On Thursday afternoon, the Cancer Research Collaboration Fund, the Play for a Cure Fundraiser in partnership with the WindsorEssex Community Foundation announced $230,000 in local cancer research investments. These funds will be distributed across three major initiatives aimed at advancing cancer research, fostering innovation, and supporting local scientific research. $50,000 will be provided to the Cancer Research Incentive Grant to support local cancer research scholars, $30,000 will be provided to the Igniting Discovery Grant to fund projects that align with the WE-SPARK Health Institute's mission, and $50,000 will be provided for three years to the Cancer Research Program Lead to support a scientist or clinician to lead WE-SPARK's Cancer Research Program. On top of this funding, Windsor Spitfires' Carson Woodall, who launched Woody's Hoodies and donates 24 per cent of…
