A UWindsor research team is partnering with the Shogun Maitake Canada company to investigate the anti-cancer properties of mushrooms.

Led by chemistry and biochemistry professor Siyaram Pandey, the team received a two-year $60,000 Mitacs-Accelerate grant for their project, “Evaluation of anticancer activity of Shogun black maitake mushroom extract and its interaction with chemotherapeutic drugs in in vitro and in vivo models of human cancers.”

“We are extremely excited to work with Shogun Maitake Canada on black maitake mushroom extract for its anti-cancer potential,” says Dr. Pandey.

“It could be a safe and very effective natural product that can accelerate cancer remission and reduce toxic side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. We are hoping that our research results will lead to supplemental clinical trials and benefit cancer patients soon.”

Graduate student Hannah Drew (BSc 2023) is the student lead on the project. Drew says the Shogun black maitake mushroom extract will be tested against prostate, breast, pancreatic, lung, and colon cancer cells.

“The formulation of the extract is ready to go,” says Drew.

“In the first year we’ll be working with highly sensitive machinery to test for measurement of early and late apoptosis induction, or cell death, to visually see which cells are expressing it.”

Shogun Maitake Canada is the brainchild of Yoshinobu Odaira. Familiar with the tradition in Japan and with deep understanding in black maitake cultivation and production, along with his unique organic techniques, Odaira makes use of a proprietary growing process he developed to replicate the natural atmosphere inside a factory setting which helps in the mass production of the mushrooms.

Odaira’s long-term mission is to make the world cancer-free by making use of maitake benefits.

“Maitake mushrooms need the natural setting to grow. To cultivate it without any pesticides or chemicals, we brought the nature inside our factory,” says Odaira.

“Shogun Maitake technology allows us to carefully control and manipulate the temperature and humidity, so that mushrooms can be grown naturally. Maitake mushrooms and its benefits must be provided to the wellness of humanity.”

For the research study, the cancer cells will be derived from stage-four cancer patients. Drew says a big part of the study will be figuring out appropriate dosage levels.

“In the long-term it would be great if physicians could recommend these extracts to patients to take along with chemotherapy. What we want is if we put extracts through clinical trials, then doctors can recommend patients take as supplements to help with treatment,” she says.

“I just think the different applications of the extracts are really cool and I feel like I’m contributing to anti-cancer research.”

—Sara Elliott

Through a partnership with the Multicultural Council of Windsor-Essex, the Psychological Services and Research Centre provides free mental health services for refugees settling in the Windsor area.

The multicultural council is the largest immigrant and refugee resettlement and support service in the region, providing critical supports for refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Honduras, Congo, Zambia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Myanmar, and more.

Many refugees experience significant hardships before and after reaching Canada, including torture, traumas, acculturative stresses, physical health problems, and subsistence needs, presenting wide-ranging and complex mental health concerns.

The Advanced Adult Psychotherapy Practicum, supervised by Chantal Boucher, is a year-long educational experience for doctoral candidates in the clinical psychology program. The multicultural and community-focused training model was initiated by psychology professor Ben Kuo. Students receive intensive training and supervision in culturally sensitive and responsive interventions, with special emphasis on multicultural competencies in clinical practice.

Under the supervision of Dr. Boucher, a licensed clinical psychologist, students work closely with case managers and language interpreters from the multicultural council to provide counselling and psychotherapy services for refugee clients.

Through this practicum, refugee clients struggling with social, cultural, emotional, psychological, and adjustment difficulties receive free mental health services that would otherwise not be available to them.

“We are thrilled to continue this important university-community partnership with the exceptional team at the multicultural council,” says Boucher. “It’s a mutually beneficial collaboration that crucially addresses the unique mental health needs of refugees living in our community, while also providing culturally responsive training for doctoral students who are working to become clinical psychologists.”

A research study exploring how to make gyms usable for all people is seeking volunteer participants.

Fallon Mitchell, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Kinesiology, is investigating accessibility and user experience in gym settings.

She is seeking adult participants to complete a series of tasks at the Toldo Lancer Centre while sharing their thoughts aloud. Afterwards, participants are invited to an optional 30-minute interview to further discuss their experiences, accessibility, and inclusion in gyms.

Participation takes approximately one to two hours, and participants will receive a $25 gift card in appreciation. People 18 years or older with all types of abilities are welcome to participate.

This study has received clearance from the Research Ethics Board. Contact Mitchell at mitch11e@uwindsor.ca for more information or to volunteer.

Three-dimensional-printed ghosts are back with a spooky friend — and a cause.

MakerSpace and the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) have introduced a heart-warming twist to their production of the light-up accessories.

Instead of selling them, they’re spreading the spirit of giving by giving away these charming ghosts in return for support for students in need.

Bring at least one non-perishable food item to the MakerSpace and you can take home either a ghost or a bewitching black cauldron. Those with extra holiday spirit who donate as many non-perishables as they can will receive not one, but two of these spooky friends.

All donations will go directly to support UWindsor students.

The program runs on a first-come, first-served basis Oct. 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the MakerSpace, room 1110, Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation.

Learn more on the EPICentre website.