Shedding light on new possibilities in Parkinson’s research Brooke Shepley, a PhD candidate in kinesiology at the University of Windsor, is studying the effects of near-infrared light therapy on Parkinson’s disease. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor) By studying how near‑infrared light affects the brain, a University of Windsor PhD candidate is exploring a potential new approach to managing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Brooke Shepley (MHK ’21, BHK ’19), a kinesiology researcher specializing in cerebrovascular physiology and vascular biology, is studying an approach known as photobiomodulation (PBM). The treatment uses near-infrared light — a form of invisible electromagnetic radiation just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum — to stimulate brain activity and may influence cells involved in dopamine production, a key factor in Parkinson’s disease. Rather than measuring dopamine levels directly, Shepley and her team are examining how the therapy influences brain blood vessel function, motor skills and cognitive performance.…
Can stream sounds predict ecosystem health? University of Windsor grad’s thesis research asks the question Avery Ng is graduating from the behaviour, cognition and neuroscience science program. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor) From leading a group of art-loving scientists, to helping organize summer symphony performances for the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra, Avery Ng builds community in every role she takes on. This commitment helped the fourth-year behaviour, cognition and neuroscience student earn a science medal. At spring convocation, she will sport a Leadership, Engagement, Application and Discovery (LEAD) gold medallion. Read on to learn how Ng makes balancing it all look effortless. How did you earn LEAD gold medallion? In part, I co-led Science Meets Art (SMArt) with Sophia Egidio. My leadership goal was to create an even stronger community. I just got to enjoy art the way I love to enjoy it for a whole year. What a privilege. I also helped with the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra. For the completely student-driven effort, they get to program their own…
What makes a lake turn toxic? UWindsor is part of a global team trying to find out University of Windsor researchers have partnered with global experts to write a five-year action plan aimed at understanding the risk of highly toxic blue-green algae blooms. (Photo: David Hamilton, Griffith University/University of Windsor) University of Windsor researchers have partnered with global experts to write a five-year action plan aimed at understanding the risk of highly toxic blue-green algae blooms. The five-year research plan outlines priorities to address the threats these blooms pose to freshwater resources worldwide, including the Great Lakes. As part of the initiative, scientists from 12 countries gathered in Kunming, China, for an in-person workshop supported by Kunming University, Yunnan University and the University of Windsor. Dr. Xuexiu Chang, a professor at Kunming University and an adjunct professor with the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), co-led the event with UWindsor professor emeritus Dr. Hugh…
‘Making invisible experiences visible’: University of Windsor study uses art to explore life after abuse A participant-created artwork from the study visually maps the complex help-seeking journey women often navigate after leaving a violent intimate partner. (SUBMITTED BY RACHEL ELLIOTT/University of Windsor) For many women leaving a violent intimate partner, the journey to safety continues long after the relationship ends. Rebuilding health, stability and quality of life often means navigating healthcare, housing, social services and community supports — a complex process researchers at the University of Windsor are exploring through an innovative arts-based study. As May marks Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, the project examines the help-seeking journeys of women who have physically separated from violent intimate partners. Led by Dr. Rachel Elliott from the Faculty of Nursing and Dr. Kendall Soucie from the Department of Psychology, the interdisciplinary project explores how women navigate formal and informal supports after physically separating from abusive partners.…
Connect, Collaborate and Spark New Ideas at After Dark WE-SPARK After Dark returns on June 4, offering another opportunity for Windsor-Essex’s health research community to come together in a relaxed and informal setting. This monthly networking event brings together researchers, clinicians, students, and community partners to share ideas, build relationships, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Whether you are actively involved in health research or simply interested in learning more about the work happening across the region, WE-SPARK After Dark offers a welcoming space to connect with others, exchange perspectives, and be part of the conversation. All are welcome. This month’s event will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Bourbon Tap & Grill, located at 1199 Ottawa Street in Windsor. The casual setting provides an easy opportunity to meet new colleagues, reconnect with peers, and strengthen connections across disciplines. Attendees can look forward to informal networking and meaningful discussion focused on supporting…
UWindsor students’ experience in Tanzania inspires nursing research publication University of Windsor nursing students and faculty sourced sustainable menstrual kits prepared for girls attending a leadership and health education program in Tanzania as part of a global health experiential learning initiative. (SUBMITTED BY RACHEL ELLIOTT/University of Windsor) A group of University of Windsor nursing students have turned a transformative global experience into research, reflection and recognition. Their manuscript, based on a three-week experiential learning trip to Tanzania last year, has been published in the Global Qualitative Nursing Research journal — marking a significant milestone for both the students and faculty involved. For fourth-year nursing student Bayan Nasra, the project represents far more than an academic achievement. “This experience brought everything together,” she said. “Writing the manuscript allowed us to reflect on how the trip changed us both personally and professionally and how it will shape the kind of nurses we become.”…
As Great Lakes lose ice, a UWindsor researcher makes the consequences visible — and wins an international prize for it From left, Dr. Michael McKay, Steven W. Wilhelm and Brittany N. Zepernick conducting research in the lab. (Photo by the Daylight Award/University of Windsor) As climate change strips ice from the Great Lakes, something less visible is also changing: the underwater world of light that microscopic life depends on. When ice recedes, wind and water stir sediment, clouding the water and blocking the sunlight that drives photosynthesis at the base of the food web. What looks like a simple seasonal shift is, in scientific terms, a restructuring of habitat. Dr. Michael McKay has spent his career making that invisible change legible — and an international jury has taken notice. The University of Windsor researcher has been named a 2026 laureate of the Daylight Award for Research, presented by the Swiss-based Daylight Academy on May 16, UNESCO’s International Day of Light. McKay is recognized alongside collaborators Brittany N. Zepernick and Steven W. Wilhelm, an adjunct professor at…
Reducing Missed Appointments: RCC Project Strengthens Family Engagement in Mental Health Services A staff-driven quality improvement initiative is helping more children, youth, and families stay connected to care. (Photo courtesy: Markus Spiske, Unsplash) At the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Regional Children’s Centre (RCC), a recent quality improvement project is making a measurable difference in how families engage with counselling and therapy services. Like many organizations, RCC experienced an increase in missed appointments and same-day cancellations following COVID-19. These disruptions can have a real impact, limiting the effectiveness of treatment and making it more difficult for children and youth to receive consistent care. In response, RCC brought together frontline staff, families, and its Department of Research and Evaluation to better understand what was getting in the way of participation and what could help. Using a community-based participatory approach, the project engaged 25 frontline staff, the Family Engagement Committee, and parents with lived experience.…
UWindsor research powers the next wave of motion‑sensing technology Dr. Jalal Ahamed, mechanical, automotive and materials engineering professor, and lab manager Bhawya in the MicroNano Mechatronics Lab at the University of Windsor. (ANGELA KHARBOUTLI/ University of Windsor) Every time a car deploys an airbag, a smartphone tilts its screen or a satellite adjusts its position in space, tiny motion sensors are at work — quietly measuring movement with remarkable precision. At the University of Windsor, researchers are working to push that technology further, developing next-generation sensors that are smaller, more accurate and better suited for large-scale manufacturing. Dr. Jalal Ahamed, a professor of mechanical, automotive and materials engineering, has secured $1 million through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Alliance–Mitacs Accelerate program — $750,000 in cash and $250,000 in in-kind support — to develop nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), or nano chip-based motion sensors, for efficient, industry-ready production.…
