WE-SPARK Health Institute received $150,000 to help advance research focused on cancer prevention, cancer risk, survivorship and youth engagement in cancer care. Pictured from left to right: Houida Kassem, Dr. Ayman Sayyed, Dr. Vikas Garg, Dr. Kathy Pfaff, Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, Dr. Lisa Porter and Dr. John Hudson. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)
By Sara Elliott
Five WE-SPARK Health Institute members are receiving funding from the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation to advance research focused on cancer prevention, cancer risk, survivorship and youth engagement in cancer care.
The investment, provided through the Dr. Hakam Abu-Zahra Research Fund, is part of a $150,000 commitment to support locally led projects selected through WE-SPARK Health Institute's 2026 Igniting Discovery Grants competition.
At UWindsor, the funding will support projects led by Dr. Phillip Karpowicz and Dr. Lisa Porter from the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Dr Joanne Tay from the Faculty of Nursing.
Karpowicz will examine whether time-restricted eating can reduce inflammation and slow the progression of colorectal cancer, which could offer a low-cost, non-drug cancer prevention strategy.
Porter will study workplace exposures and breast cancer risk among autoworkers, with a focus on young women and postpartum breast cancer.
Tay will work with young people affected by cancer to co-design a framework for ensuring adolescents and young adults are meaningfully included in regional cancer care decisions.
Two Windsor Regional Hospital researchers will lead the remaining two projects. Dr. Vikas Garg will examine why some breast cancer survivors stop taking endocrine therapy and identify ways to strengthen treatment adherence and the transition to primary care.
Dr. Aymen Sayyad will study immune recovery and cytomegalovirus reactivation after stem cell transplantation to help improve follow-up care, survival and quality of life. This project is supported jointly with the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, which has committed $10,000 to stem cell-related research.
“Research is the foundation of every breakthrough in cancer care,” says Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, Director of WE-SPARK Health Institute.
“By investing in discovery today, the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation is helping create the knowledge and evidence that will drive better treatments, better patient experiences and better outcomes in the future. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and generosity.”
The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation is WE-SPARK Health Institute's largest grant supporter in 2026. It is the official fundraising arm of the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre.
WE-SPARK Health Institute brings together health research strengths across the University of Windsor, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, Windsor Regional Hospital and Erie Shores HealthCare. Through collaboration, mentorship and capacity-building, WE-SPARK supports health research that responds to the needs of the Windsor-Essex community.