Nursing research at UWindsor drives conversation on improving healthcare access for rural seniors Dr. Noeman Mirza led the ROAR study, advancing research focused on improving healthcare access for rural seniors. (CHERRY THERESANATHAN/University of Windsor) As winter loosens its grip and the first signs of spring emerge, many Canadians are welcoming the change. But for vulnerable older adults, particularly those living in rural communities, the most pressing challenge exposed by the colder months does not disappear with the thaw. For Dr. Noeman Mirza of the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing, winter is more than a backdrop of snow and ice — it is a magnifier. The deeper issue is transportation. Through his team’s Researching Older Adults’ Repositioning (ROAR) study in British Columbia, Mirza and his colleagues have heard repeatedly from rural seniors that simply getting to appointments is one of the greatest barriers to staying healthy. Winter conditions, like icy roads, long distances and reduced availability of travelling specialists intensify that barrier, but they…
WE-SPARK Health Institute Announces 2026 Grants Competition to Advance Health Research in Windsor-Essex WE-SPARK Health Institute has launched its 2026 Grants Competition, inviting health researchers across Windsor-Essex to apply for funding that supports early-stage health research, pilot projects, and collaborative training opportunities. Through this annual competition, WE-SPARK aims to ignite discovery and strengthen the regional health research ecosystem by supporting new ideas that address important health challenges and improve care for communities in Windsor-Essex. Applicants must have a primary affiliation with one of the five WE-SPARK partners: Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, University of Windsor or Windsor Regional Hospital. Igniting Discovery Grants The Igniting Discovery Grants provide seed funding to support novel, early-stage health research and education projects. These grants are designed to help researchers generate preliminary findings that can lead to larger research programs and future funding opportunities. In addition to…
What a nursing student found in a neuroscience lab: Alzheimer's research and a career edge As part of the University of Windsor’s Outstanding Scholars program, nursing student Anna Papanastassiou gains hands-on research experience in a neuroscience lab, contributing to Alzheimer’s-related genetic testing. (ROGERS KOBOJI/University of Windsor) Anna Papanastassiou spends most days in her nursing classes learning how to care for people. But in a quiet neuroscience lab at the University of Windsor, she is also learning how to study the brain through hands-on genetic testing. The second-year nursing student is part of the university’s Outstanding Scholars program, a competitive initiative that pairs high-achieving undergraduates with faculty-led research projects. Although her placement is not directly connected to nursing, Papanastassiou says it has broadened her skills in surprising ways. The role has immersed her in research techniques she had never encountered. “I am mostly doing lab maintenance and genotyping,” she said. “I work with mice to identify their genetic…
Better medicines, local jobs: How a UWindsor chemist is closing the gap between lab and life Dr. Nick Vukotic and his research group are working on making the medicines people already take work better. (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor) A University of Windsor researcher is making the medicines people already take work better – and turning that science into jobs, companies and globally commercialized technology rooted in Windsor-Essex. Dr. Nick Vukotic, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and PROTO Manufacturing Industrial Research Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, received a 2025 Impact Award-Innovation through the University of Windsor’s Employee Recognition Awards program, recognizing his work bridging academia and industry. This motivation is partly personal, shaped by seeing family members undergo treatments. “Many pharmaceuticals suffer from poor absorption, inconsistent release, or unwanted side effects,” he says. His research group focuses not on discovering entirely new drugs, but on improving what is known…
UWindsor professor wins one of Canada’s top research awards for work securing the cars we drive Dr. Mitra Mirhassani studies how the connected systems in modern vehicles can be hacked and how to stop it. That work has earned the University of Windsor professor one of Canada's most prestigious research honours, the 2026 Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship. (FILE/University of Windsor) Every time you start your car, sensors, software and wireless connections work together to keep you moving. Dr. Mitra Mirhassani wants to make sure no one can use that technology against you. The University of Windsor engineering professor is the co-founder and director of SHIELD Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence — the only centre of its kind in Canada dedicated to end-to-end automotive cybersecurity. Her research examines how connected and autonomous vehicles can be attacked, manipulated, or compromised, and how to stop it. “From auto theft to the theft of personal information, or even malfunctioning sensors, whether caused by malicious acts, glitches or failures, problems can arise…
Collaborative nursing research initiative seeks to transform health-care delivery Nursing Faculty, students and Dean gather in celebration of the Faculty of Nursing’s Research Collaborative, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing nursing scholarship and strengthening a culture of research at the University of Windsor. (SARA MEIKLE/University of Windsor) The University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing is advancing its research ecosystem through the launch of the Nursing Research Collaborative. The new Collaborative marks a significant milestone in the Faculty’s strategic plan. It formalizes three core research pillars while creating intentional space to grow research capacity, foster collaboration and enhance impact across programs and communities. “Growing the research capacity of the Faculty of Nursing is a critical part of the strategic plan,” said Dr. Kathy Pfaff, associate dean. “Building a deeper and more productive research culture requires proactive action. Creating space and support for research activities is essential, and that commitment…
Your DNA has a schedule. Daylight Saving Time doesn't care. Our body’s natural clock — the circadian rhythm — gets disrupted when Daylight Saving Time hits. (Photo by Adobe Stock/University of Windsor) Nearly half your genome operates on a clock. Daylight Saving Time throws it off. When the clocks move forward an hour for Daylight Saving Time on March 8, our body’s natural clock — the circadian rhythm — gets disrupted. This year, British Columbia will move the clocks forward for the last time as they make Daylight Saving Time permanent — a move Dr. Phil Karpowicz says could help reduce annual disruption. Karpowicz, UWindsor circadian rhythm researcher and biomedical science professor, says we cannot discount the toll this takes on our overall health. “Daylight Saving Time is overall unhealthy, but it is deeper than just the time change that happens that one day,” says Karpowicz. “For most people you are staying up later and waking up when it is still dark, because of Daylight Saving Time, your body ends up out of sync from…
An Evening of Connection and Conversation in Health Research: WE-SPARK After Dark WE-SPARK Health Institute invites the community to attend its next WE-SPARK After Dark networking event on Thursday, March 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This monthly gathering is open to anyone with an interest in health research, including researchers, healthcare professionals, students, community partners, and those simply curious to learn more. Whether actively involved in research, exploring new ideas, or seeking meaningful connections with others who share a commitment to improving health and well-being, attendees will find a welcoming and engaging environment. The evening begins with informal networking and conversation, creating a relaxed space to meet new people, exchange perspectives, and spark connections that can lead to future collaboration. Everyone is welcome. Registration is encouraged, but not required. Please click here to register.
Internationally educated nurses are vital to Canada’s health system — but support gaps remain Dr. Edward Cruz is pictured at the Faculty of Nursing, where his research includes advancing the integration and success of Internationally Educated Nurses within Canada’s healthcare system. (GAM MACASAET/University of Windsor) As Canada faces ongoing health-care worker shortages, internationally educated nurses (IENs) are increasingly relied upon to fill critical roles. Research by Dr. Edward Cruz, a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Windsor, suggests many of these nurses continue to encounter systemic barriers that limit their ability to fully integrate into the workforce — even as they are actively recruited to meet demand. “Internationally educated nurses are not just a stopgap,” said Cruz. “If we want them to succeed — and to stay — we have to support them beyond simply getting them registered.” Canada’s reliance on IENs has grown alongside pressures from an aging population, strained hospitals and evolving immigration pathways. Yet integration…
