WE-SPARK Virtual Think Tank: Advancing Collaborative Health Research

WE-SPARK Health Institute invites researchers, healthcare professionals, community partners, industry collaborators, and students to participate in an upcoming Virtual Think Tank taking place on Friday, February 13, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

This interactive session is designed for individuals who enjoy hearing about new ideas, value collaborative problem-solving, are interested in building new connections, and want to support other researchers in moving early-stage projects forward. Participants will engage with emerging, data-driven health research initiatives and explore opportunities for collaboration, partnership development, and future funding.

Featured Think Tank Workshops

Creating a Community-Driven Research Hub in the Downtown Core
Adrian Guta, PhD – School of Social Work, University of Windsor
This session will explore the development of a community health research strategy grounded in the University of Windsor School of Social Work’s downtown presence and commitment to serving Windsor-Essex, with particular attention to equity-deserving communities. Participants from across the health and human services continuum are invited to help identify shared research priorities, partnership models, and governance considerations to support collaborative teams and future funding opportunities.

Mapping Complex Chronic Disease Processes: A Novel, Patient-Centric Framework
Marcel Dufour – President and Chief Research Analyst, Boomslang Analytics Inc.
This workshop introduces a patient-centric framework for complex chronic disease research that moves beyond siloed approaches by leveraging existing and emerging patient data. The presenter is seeking to connect with post-secondary and hospital-based researchers, patient advocacy groups, small business partners, and government program leads interested in advancing data-driven, patient-focused innovation.

Designing Healthier Buildings: Integrating Health Risk Insights into Building Information Modeling
Rajeev Ruparathna, PhD – Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor
This session presents a BIM-based research approach that integrates health risk insights into building design decisions, addressing gaps in traditional sustainability-focused tools. The presenter is seeking collaborators in environmental science, computer science, and related fields such as public health, data analytics, and human factors to support the development of healthier built environments.

Please click here to register.