Biology researcher wins UWindsor thesis pitch competition with study on breastfeeding and cancer risk The top three winners in the 2026 University of Windsor Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition are (from left) Alex Stoinescu, Dora Strelkova and Isabelle Hinch. (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor) Biology PhD candidate Isabelle Hinch earned first place at the 2026 University of Windsor Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition with a three-minute pitch on breastfeeding and breast cancer risk. Judged on comprehension, communication and engagement, Hinch took the top prize at the April 1 final. In addition to a $1,000 cash prize, she will represent UWindsor at the provincial competition hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., on May 6, 2026. For the second year in a row, Dora Strelkova placed in the top three. The mechanical engineering PhD candidate won first place in 2025 and finished second this year with a presentation on defects in 3D printing, earning $500. Third place and $250 went to Alex Stoinescu, a master's student in chemistry and biochemistry, who…
New infrastructure funding to strengthen research at UWindsor Dr. Simon Rondeau-Gagné works in his materials chemistry lab in Essex Hall. (SARA ELLIOTT/University of Windsor) New research infrastructure funding for science and engineering will advance four University of Windsor research projects. This Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCCURES) has awarded $438,699 to UWindsor research teams through the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) – Research Infrastructure program. This investment is matched dollar for dollar by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) awards, bringing the total to nearly $900,000. A variety of projects will benefit with research teams focusing on cancer research, conservation of migratory birds, climate-resilient planning and advanced materials research. “These matching investments are critical to ensure our researchers continue to have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure to drive discovery, innovation and…
UWindsor inventors secure U.S. patent for innovative biosensor technology Dr. Mitra Mirhassani secured a U.S. patent for an electronic chip that could precisely detect viruses. (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor) Research out of a University of Windsor engineering lab has generated an electronic chip that could precisely detect viruses such as COVID-19 — at a cost of just pennies to produce. The electronic device has received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Dr. Mitra Mirhassani says the idea emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired by her former PhD student, Dr. Hamidreza Esmaeili Taheri. “He was working on hardware security when COVID happened,” says Mirhassani. “There was a shortage of chemical COVID tests, and my student came to me and said, ‘What if we developed a COVID sensor that can actually be adjusted?’” Unlike traditional chemical-based tests, the electronic biosensor’s sensitivity levels can be recalibrated to match identifiers across different applications. “We wanted something…
AI infotainment systems: Just another distraction for drivers? Faculty of Human Kinetics professor Dr. Francesco Biondi studies distracted driving (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor) Twenty years ago, the cockpit of the average car was a lot less complicated. Knobs and buttons turned on the heat and air conditioning, adjusted vents or changed the radio station. Today, touch screens are the norm, and manufacturers compete to add the latest in technological advancements. The high-profile announcement of artificial intelligence (AI) applications such as ChatGPT and Gemini being added to vehicle infotainment systems is just the latest in this ongoing trend toward driver tech. While manufacturers may promise that this addition will allow drivers to keep more of their attention on the road while AI handles navigation, phone calls and other tasks, Dr. Francesco Biondi, a professor in the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Human Kinetics, says the effect is likely to be the opposite. “We’re sold the sort of reality…
WE-SPARK Conference Showcases Strength of Collaborative Health Research in Windsor-Essex Internationally recognized experts and local leaders come together to advance innovation and improve patient outcomes
Neutron facility could bring new cancer therapies and high-skilled jobs to Windsor Doctoral candidates Stuart Castillo and Maks Dziura stand beside the sample mount of the Neutron Spin Echo instrument at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Spallation Neutron Source. (GENEVIEVE MARTIN/University of Windsor) A University of Windsor researcher is one step closer to building a facility that could deliver cutting-edge cancer treatment, produce medical isotopes and anchor a new industry in Windsor — after securing nearly $2 million to design it. Dr. Drew Marquardt, head of chemistry and biochemistry, has spent years advocating for a compact accelerator-based neutron source (CANS) in Windsor. The funding, announced March 13 as part of a $552-million federal infrastructure investment through the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), will support a full scientific and technical design for a prototype facility. “Building this facility would anchor a new industry in Windsor, create high-skill, high-paying jobs, and deliver a level of healthcare infrastructure…
UWindsor researcher tracking the human cost of Canada's retreat from harm reduction Dr. Adrian Guta is a professor in the University of Windsor School of Social Work. (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor) More than 53,000 Canadians have died from opioid-related causes since 2016. As governments scale back harm reduction services, Dr. Adrian Guta wants to understand what happens to the people left behind — and what alternatives could keep them alive. The University of Windsor School of Social Work professor is leading two major studies examining how drug policy, health systems and harm reduction services shape HIV prevention and treatment outcomes for people who use drugs. The work is backed by more than $2.2 million in new funding: a $299,730 Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) grant and a five-year, $1.9-million Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) team grant. “Together, the projects respond to overlapping public health challenges,” says Guta. “While Canada has made progress in reducing HIV, rates are rising again in some communities. At…
Kinesiology students embrace turns and transitions in their research journey The 19th annual Kinesiology Research Day featured keynotes, a poster session and lab tours (MICHAEL WILKINS/University of Windsor) Isabella Anes Rangel knows better than most the necessity of pivoting when life takes an unexpected turn. A talented basketball player from a young age, Rangel’s athletic skill and drive set her on a trajectory from her home country of Venezuela to Canada as a high school student and eventually to the University of Windsor for an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. As a guard on the Lancer women’s basketball team, however, Rangel experienced a career-ending injury, necessitating a sudden shift in how she engaged with sport. This pivot was central to her address as one of four keynotes at the 19th annual Kinesiology Research Day, which took place March 18 in the Faculty of Human Kinetics. Started in 2007 by Dr. Dave Andrews, KRD’s 2026 theme was Turns, Transitions and Trajectories: Research and Experiential Learning in Kinesiology. …
Kinesiology explores impact of circadian rhythms on muscle regeneration Dan Scurto recently led a research project focusing on the impact of circadian rhythms on muscle regeneration alongside faculty supervisor Dr. Matthew Krause (MICHAEL WILKINS/University of Windsor) How does the timing of an injury affect the regeneration of that muscle tissue? That’s what new research out of the Faculty of Human Kinetics sought to explore. In a recently published article in the American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, Human Kinetics research associate and recent M.Sc. graduate Dan Scurto, along with colleagues including professor Dr. Matthew Krause, investigated how the timing of a muscle injury within the body's daily cycle influences the recovery of that muscle. “Circadian rhythms have been a relatively explosive area of scientific interest in the last 15 years or so, at least in terms of their impact on peripheral tissues like muscle,” explains Krause. “We are now realizing how impactful circadian rhythms are, and how…
