UWindsor joins global effort to advance neutron science Dr. Drew Marqurdt at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, a world-leading centre for research in the United Kingdom. (MAKS DZIURA/University of Windsor) The University of Windsor is helping shape Canada’s future in nuclear science by joining an international initiative aimed at transforming how scientists access neutron technology. Neutron beams are indispensable tools for probing the structure of materials, from advanced batteries to biological tissues, without causing damage. “Neutron beams enable scientists to see inside materials without destroying it, making them critical for breakthroughs in energy storage, drug development and industrial quality control,” says chemistry and biochemistry’s Dr. Drew Marquardt. Now, UWindsor is part of a global effort to expand access to this irreplaceable tool. The University is joining a coordinated research project led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an independent United Nations organization. Traditionally,…
Windsor nurse–police partnership builds trust, bridges gaps in community Dr. Laurie Freeman (centre) is shown receiving support from WESpark for the NPT study, joined by Susan Fox, Johnathan Foster, Dora Cavallo, and Dominika Boron. (SUBMITTED BY LAURIE FREEMAN/University of Windsor) The idea began in the emergency department, where police officers and registered nurses (RN) wondered: what if they could help people before they reached the hospital? That question sparked Windsor’s Nurse–Police Team (NPT) program, which pairs officers from the Windsor Police Service with RNs from Windsor Regional Hospital to respond to calls in the city’s downtown core. Instead of taking people to the emergency department or correctional facilities, the teams provide on-the-spot care, wound treatment, crisis support and connections to community resources. Early research shows it is changing attitudes and outcomes across the city. University of Windsor Nursing Associate Professor and Associate Dean Laurie Freeman is studying the initiative with a 2024 Ignite Discovery grant…
An Evening of Connection and Conversation in Health Research: WE-SPARK After Dark WE-SPARK Health Institute invites you to its next WE-SPARK After Dark networking event on Thursday, February 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This monthly gathering is designed for anyone interested in health research, including researchers, healthcare professionals, students, community partners, and those who are simply curious to learn more. Whether you’re actively involved in research, exploring new ideas, or looking to connect with others who share an interest in improving health and wellbeing, you’ll feel at home here. The first hour focuses on informal networking and conversation, creating space to meet new people, share perspectives, and spark connections that may grow into future collaboration. Everyone is welcome. Registration is encouraged but not required. Click here to register. All attendees will be entered into a draw for two complimentary WE-SPARK Health Research Conference registrations (a $370 value).
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…
Lifting weights, lifting spirits: Kinesiology student shares the joy of exercise with high schoolers through APEX Chloé VidAmour is an APEX program coordinator, MSc kinesiology and health studies student, and Lancer track and field athlete (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor). In high school weight rooms across Essex County, leadership class students and students with disabilities are sharing in the joy of exercise. Master of science in kinesiology and health studies student and APEX program coordinator Chloé VidAmour describes seeing these students build connections as “beautiful to watch.” “We see this blossom of friendship,” she says. “It’s so fulfilling to see how much everyone loves the program.” APEX, which stands for Adapted Physical Exercise, grew out of a partnership between the Faculty of Human Kinetics’ Centre for Human Performance and Health (CHPH) and Community Living Essex County 15 years ago. As part of the APEX program, founded by Dr. Sean Horton and Prof. Chad Sutherland, community members with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities…
Study sheds light on mental health disclosure among workplace leaders A new University of Windsor study seeks input from leaders who have experienced mental health challenges. (COURTNEY/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM – stock.adobe.com/University of Windsor) When it comes to mental health in the workplace, most conversations focus on employees seeking support from their supervisors. But what happens when the person in charge is the one struggling? A new study from the University of Windsor aims to answer that question by exploring how leaders manage mental health challenges and whether they choose to disclose those experiences to their teams. The research, led by Dr. Kyle Brykman, professor of management at the Odette School of Business, opened its screening survey Monday, Jan. 19 and will run for approximately four weeks. The study targets leaders who supervise at least one employee and have faced mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression. Participants will first complete a brief screening survey, which takes about five to 10 minutes and determines eligibility…
Getting Heated: Profs talk queer representation in sport and media Actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie play hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in the hit streaming show Heated Rivalry. (BELLMEDIA/University of Windsor) From social media to the Golden Globes, the spicy new TV show Heated Rivalry seems to be everywhere. The Canadian-made romance, directed by Jacob Tierney and based on the book series by Rachel Reid, centres around fictional gay and bisexual professional hockey players navigating their on-ice careers and personal lives. The show has become a cultural phenomenon, receiving wide-scale attention not just for its steamier scenes but its positive representation of queer characters. “I think it's a representation of queer joy, which is not always included in the media,” says Dr. Dana Ménard regarding the show’s sudden popularity. Ménard, a professor of psychology, studies sex, sexuality, gender identity and sexuality in media. “At the end of the day, it's a love story, and there really…
Brain health research highlights powerful protein’s role in stem cells and tumour growth Hema Priya Mahendran, Lisa Porter, Ingrid Qemo, Dorota Lubanska and Bre-Anne Fifield are a few of the authors on a new paper published in the journal Stem Cell Reports. (ANGELA KHARBOUTLI/University of Windsor) The key to designing future brain cancer therapies could lie with a mighty protein called Spy1, which is found in neural stem cells in the adult brain. Neural stem cells play a critical role in memory, learning and brain repair. Since these cells decline as we age, Spy1 becomes important because, at certain levels, it can help “wake up”, or turn on, these stem cells in a process called neurogenesis. But new research suggests that too much of a good thing can be harmful. “We know that elevated levels of Spy1 are found in aggressive human brain cancers, including glioblastoma,” says principal investigator Dr. Lisa Porter. “We wanted to understand what this protein does in normal adult brain stem cells before cancer develops.” Porter’s research team designed…
AI research at UWindsor shows promise for earlier detection of eye disease First-year engineering students Saxon Vandenwollenberg (seated) and Sneha Chitte (standing) helped to develop custom artificial intelligence models to help detect diabetic retinopathy and presented their findings at the 37th IEEE International Conference on Microelectronics. (MIKE WILKINS/ University of Windsor) Researchers at the University of Windsor, including two first-year engineering students, have developed custom artificial intelligence models to help detect diabetic retinopathy — a leading cause of adult blindness — at earlier stages of the disease. Their work compared four machine learning models, known as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), designed to analyze retinal images and identify patterns associated with the condition. “We are using databases along with machine learning,” said Dr. Esam Abdel-Raheem, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “This means we train neural networks (i.e., a network inspired by the human nervous…
