WE-SPARK Health Institute and its funding partners have awarded 18 research grants totaling $345,000 to tackle local health challenges in its latest round of funding during a celebration event at the University of Windsor’s CORe (Centre of Research Excellence) Building.

The grants provide funding to promote the development of early-stage, innovative health research and health education projects in Windsor-Essex and support other health research programs to increase their prospects for future funding.

Projects include addressing gaps in healthcare needs, igniting new ideas, generating and disseminating knowledge, studies in emerging health topics, and sparking collaborations.

The grants involve collaborators across 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 numerous community members, students and volunteers across Windsor-Essex.

“With each grant cycle, the number of new collaborators coming on board grows” said WE-SPARK director Dr. Lisa Porter.

“And we’re beginning to see the outcomes of grants that were awarded since the program’s launch just over 3 years ago. These grants create jobs, address pressing problems and make Windsor-Essex competitive for national funding competitions.”

The 18 projects will involve over 116 researchers and trainees and thousands of participants.

“We’re grateful for the generous support from this year’s grant sponsors – The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, University of Windsor’s Office of Research & Innovation Services, Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, Tayfour-Emara Excellence in Research and Education Fund, St. Nicholas Macedonian Church & Banquet Centre, and University of Windsor faculties of Science, Human Kinetics and Engineering,” adds Porter.

“$275,000 of the funds were raised during our Cheers to Hope event in April, and those funds along with additional contributions from WE-SPARK have made it possible to fund these innovative projects.”

Projects will begin in September and will found here: www.wesparkhealth.com/projects.

Since the launch of the WE-SPARK Health Institute grants program in April 2020, at total of $1.4 million has been awarded for local projects.