Health Institute surpasses $1.8 million in research grants

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.