wespark – Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team

September 3 2024

WE-SPARK Health Institute Releases 5th Annual Impact Report

WE-SPARK Health Institute has proudly released its 5th Annual Impact Report, covering the period from May 2023 to April 2024.

Since its inception in 2019, WE-SPARK Health Institute has been committed to advancing research, education, and community engagement in Windsor-Essex. Over the past five years, the institute has celebrated significant milestones, driven by the collaborative efforts of its members, partners, and supporters.

Thanks to the dedication of WE-SPARK members and a highly successful grants program—awarding over $1 million in seed and bridge grants—the institute has fostered substantial growth in health research across the region. Their events and student programs have played a critical role in aligning with advancements in health research.

The institute’s influence on national health research funding has been profound, with the region’s funding tripling since WE-SPARK’s founding. This increased focus has enhanced the region’s profile and positively impacted local health and vitality. Local health researchers have secured nearly $78 million in external funding and fostered 1,685 active collaborations. Additionally, 2,068 students from Windsor-Essex have gained valuable experience and training opportunities. Through their grants program, WE-SPARK has awarded 85 local grants totaling over $1.4 million, which has generated an additional $4.8 million in national and international funding. These grants have propelled innovative ideas and supported over 455 highly qualified personnel (HQP).

These achievements underscore the exceptional work of WE-SPARK’s staff, the dedication of community champions, and the creativity and passion of their researchers, experts, and students.

WE-SPARK Health Institute is supported by Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital. The institute is guided by a Board of Trustees comprising leaders from each of these organizations.

The full report can be accessed here.

About WE-SPARK Health Institute

WE-SPARK Health Institute is an innovative partnership between the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital. The institute unites health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure from across the Windsor/Essex region, fostering collaboration and advancing healthcare innovation.

Media Contact:

Cathy Mombourquette
WE-SPARK Health Institute
226.340.3003
cathy.Mombourquette@uwindsor.ca

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August 28 2024

WE-SPARK Health Institute: $412,714 Awarded Locally for Health Research

WINDSOR, ON, August 28, 2024 – WE-SPARK Health Institute and its funding partners have awarded 20 research grants totaling $412,714.00 to tackle local health challenges in its latest round of funding. The celebration event took place at the University of Windsor’s CORe (Centre of Research Excellence) Building.

The grants support early-stage, innovative health research and education projects in Windsor-Essex, aiming to address healthcare gaps, spark new ideas, and foster collaborations. The projects will involve over 140 researchers, trainees, and thousands of participants.

Collaborators span WE-SPARK’s five supporting institutions—Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital—along with community members, students, and volunteers.

Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, interim director of WE-SPARK, highlighted the increasing interest in grant applications each year. “People are seeing the impact of the investment and are eager to make use of this opportunity,” she said. “These grants not only create jobs but also address pressing issues and position Windsor-Essex as a strong competitor in national funding competitions. The growing number of applications reflects the community’s recognition of the importance of these grants in driving meaningful change.”

The grants are made possible by generous contributions from The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, ChildCan, Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, Tayfour-Emara Excellence in Research and Education Fund, Connecting for a Cause, and the University of Windsor’s Office of Research & Innovation Services, as well as the faculties of Business, Science, Nursing, and Human Kinetics.

Projects will begin in September with details available at: www.wesparkhealth.com/projects.

Since the launch of the WE-SPARK Health Institute grants program in April 2020, over $1.8 million has been awarded for local projects.

“We are so pleased to be funded by a WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery Grant and the Faculty of Nursing to do an initial study on the Nurse Police Teams currently caring for our equity-deserving groups in Windsor. New innovative care models are expanding across Ontario, but little research has been done on how these models impact care providers. Through this grant, we can begin to explore and support best practices for these teams.”

– Dr. Laurie Freeman, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor; Jonathan Foster, Vice President, Emergency, Trauma, Mental Health, Office of Research, Renal and Regional Cancer, Windsor Regional Hospital

“We are incredibly grateful for the support provided by this grant, which will be instrumental in advancing our Oral Health Pathway for the Acute Mental Health Program at Windsor Regional Hospital. This initiative addresses a critical gap in healthcare for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community. The grant not only empowers us to continue providing essential oral health education and interventions but also positions us as pioneers in this area. We hope our success will serve as a model for other hospitals across the province and the nation, ultimately leading to broader adoption of innovative health solutions that improve patient care.”

– Luke Di Paolo, Clinical Director, Mental Health & Allied Health Services, Windsor Regional Hospital

“We are thankful to have been awarded funding through the WE-Spark Igniting Discovery grants program, which will support our efforts to address the epidemic of intimate partner violence in Windsor-Essex. This grant offers a unique opportunity to bridge academia and community collaboratively, bringing together diverse expertise to co-create comprehensive training modules. By aligning resources and knowledge across sectors, we aim to build a unified and proactive response to this public health crisis that truly meets the needs of our community.

– Dr. Amy Peirone, Professor, Social Justice and Legal Studies, St. Clair College

“Nurses in stroke rehabilitation teams often face a lack of respect, specialized training, and control over their work environment. Their roles are not clearly defined, and their contributions to rehabilitation outcomes are neither documented nor measured. We aim to document the practices of Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) in stroke rehabilitation, explore their perceived roles, and align their work with established rehabilitation frameworks. This will enhance understanding of their contributions and improve the documentation and measurement of their impact on stroke recovery. Funding from WE-SPARK Health Institute will ensure the successful realization of this project”

– Dr. Eric Tanlaka, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor

I am excited to be awarded the WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery Grant supported by the Faculty of Human Kinetics. This is a new interdisciplinary collaboration between myself and Dr. Dana Menard from Psychology that will investigate ways to increase inclusivity in recreational sports leagues for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Greater involvement in recreational sports leagues is likely to benefit the physical and mental health of all members, including 2SLGBTQ+, who are consistently less active than their heterosexual/cis-gender counterparts.

– Dr. Sarah Woodruff, Professor and Associate Dean (Academics), Faculty of Human Kinetics

About WE-SPARK Health Institute

Media Contact:

Cathy Mombourquette
WE-SPARK Health Institute
226.340.3003
cathy.Mombourquette@uwindsor.ca

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February 22 2023

Regional health institute marks 3-year milestone of one-of-a-kind Windsor-Essex innovation

Windsor-Essex healthcare and academic institutions are marking three years since they joined together using a one-of-a-kind model designed to elevate health research excellence – an innovative model that has proven to deliver exceptional results.

WE-SPARK Health Institute is an official partnership of Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital, governed by a Board of Trustees made up of the CEOs of the respective organizations. Its six committees include representatives from across all partner organizations who inform, direct and implement the institute’s strategic priorities of Organizational Effectiveness, Research Excellence, Community Engagement, Knowledge Translation, and Building Capacity.

The seeds of the institute began approximately 13 years ago as a grassroots effort between health researchers and healthcare professionals across the Windsor-Essex region, and after years of planning and consultations, officially launched on March 9th, 2020 during a celebration and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Windsor Club.

In the span of the three years since its launch, WE-SPARK can boast a number of accomplishments. Local health researchers have attracted almost $30M in external funding to the region, included local patients in clinical trials, engaged in almost 700 collaborations, and provided training opportunities for over 1,000 St. Clair College and University of Windsor students on research projects. Through the WE-SPARK grants program, 52 local grants have been awarded totaling almost $1M. The institute holds regular think tanks, conferences and town halls, and publishes newsletters and quarterly and annual impact reports for its many stakeholders and the Windsor-Essex community.

Dr. Lisa Porter, a cancer researcher and distinguished professor at the University of Windsor is WE-SPARK’s executive director, and the visionary behind the institute. The very busy day-to-day operations are run by assistant director Karen Metcalfe, along with a lean but mighty staff.

“Health research has far-reaching benefits,” says Dr. Porter. “It creates an academic culture that attracts and retains the best and brightest in healthcare, keeps our professionals current, supports the best learning experience for students, empowers and educates the community, delivers new therapies, brings in new infrastructure, provides answers to healthcare problems unique to our region, and aids in rapid adoption of the best prevention and care practices. And, data shows that patients treated in institutions that conduct medical research live longer. This is not an advantage that can be reserved for those living only in larger cities: we need and deserve that here in Windsor-Essex.”

On April 20th, WE-SPARK will be hosting its Cheers to Hope event to raise funds for local health research. “We believe that together we can transform health and care of people here in our region” concludes Porter. For more information, please visit: www.cheerstohope.ca.