Year 4 – Reaching New Heights Q1 Highlights May 1, 2022 – July 31, 2022
In our first three years we established a strong common vision, united our strengths and accelerated our research activities. We continued to expand and build efficiencies within our health research ecosystem, made diversity and inclusion a priority and supported researchers at all stages of their career.
Linda Hudson Chapman, Administrative Assistant
Igniting Discovery, Living Better
Nicole Sbrocca (Chair)
KarenLisaPeterJenniferChadHeatherAlisonCarolineWindsorRegionalHospitalHammWindsorRegionalHospitalMurrayHôtelDieuGraceHealthcarePrattUniversityofWindsorSutherlandUniversityofWindsorVothHôtelDieuGraceHealthcareWawrowSt.ClairCollegePorterWESPARKHealthInstituteMetcalfeWESPARKHealthInstitute
Kyle Lago, Translational Research Associate
Devinder Moudgil, Medical Student Research Associate
A thriving and engaged research community, driving advancements in health Year 4 – Reaching New Heights
Lisa Porter, Executive Director Karen Metcalfe, Assistant Director
Ryan Palazzolo, Student Network Coordinator
Executive Committee
Cathy Mombourquette, Special Projects Media Relations
Year 4 Q1 Page 2 Quarter 1 Highlights
The WE-SPARK Team
Lisa A. Porter, PhD, Executive Director Distinguished Professor, University of Windsor
Christopher Ng Fletcher, Innovation Research Associate
Adriana Grande, Knowledge Translation (on maternity leave)
We ended our year by hosting a celebratory event that focused on the impact of health research and what can be accomplished when we focus on succeedingtogether. The details can be found in our Year 3 Impact Report
Emily Espinoza Lewis, Social Media & Communications
In Year 4, we are focused on continuing to support the people that drive health research in our community and accelerate research to become successful funded projects. We are focused on growing health innovation and critical infrastructure, creating an environment that is attractive to the brightest minds and demonstrating the importance of health research for the economic development of our region. We aim to ignite discovery, reachnewheights andlivebetter
Q1 Year 4 2022-2023 SNAPSHOT VIRTUAL (SOCIALENGAGEMENTSMEDIA&WEB) 17,247 EVENTS/WORKSHOPSHOSTED 4 ENGAGEMENTSNEWSLETTER 2921 120 EVENT ATTENDEES MEMBERS 893 $310,000 IN GRANT GRANTSAWARDEDFUNDINGAWARDED 15 83 APP ACCOUNTS MEDIA STORIES 49 STUDENTHOURSVOLUNTEERLOGGED 400+ quarter one highlights
Reporting Driving Organizational Effectiveness – Governance Committee Next Meeting: October 13, 2022 (committee meets quarterly) Lisa Porter (Chair), WE SPARK Alison Murray, HDGH Heather Pratt, UW Nicole Sbrocca, WRH Monica Staley Liang, SCC Karen Metcalfe, WE SPARK Year 4 Q1 Page 4 EffectivenessOrganizational Build the effective organizational structures and systems we need to achieve our mission Year 4 Milestones a) Continue quarterly reporting and tracking that leads to the yearly impact report b) Monitor and adapt budget reporting c) Implement a fundraising plan d) Develop MOUs between WE SPARK institutions, as needed e) Review current terms, policies and reporting mechanisms to identify and respond to changing needs f) Implement the next strategic planning cycle HIGHLIGHTS a) Continue quarterly reporting and tracking that leads to yearly impact report Quarterly and year end reporting for year 3 has been fully implemented with all reports available on the WE SPARK website. WE SPARK’s Year 4 will be focused on ‘Reaching NewHeights’. e) Review current terms, policies and reporting mechanisms to identify and respond to changing needs Terms of reference for all committees are currently being updated with terms being added to address new partnership requests. Q1
Year 4 Milestones a) Host events that build collaboration, grow teams and support professional development research excellence forward b) Continue to host the WE SPARK Grant competitions to support local researchers to elevate grant success at the national level c) Profile and track successes of Core Members to elevate the academic profile of Windsor Essex d) Provide opportunities for research mentorship e) Consult and grow WE SPARK programs f) Provide a central hub for research processes and system navigation g) Monitor the progress toward a regional Research Ethics Board (REB) h) Provide support for external peer review i) Initiate and continue to evolve the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) action plan j) Bring together local experts to develop position papers that advocate for change HIGHLIGHTS a) Host events that build collaboration, grow teams and support professional development that moves local research excellence forward Launched a Conference and Hosted 4 Events In Q1 we launched the 2022 Health Research Conference and WE SPARK After Dark a monthly, in person event that provides an opportunity for our pagebenextpresentallowWeresearchcommunitytocasuallyconnect.continuedourThinkTankseries,ingpeopletomakeconnections,researchideasandmobilizesteps.AsummaryofalleventscanfoundontheThinkTanklanding. Driving Research Excellence – Research Development Committee Next Meeting: August 19, 2022 (committee meets every 6 weeks) Caroline Hamm (co chair), WRH Chris Abeare, UW Jessica Bennett, WRH Kyle Jackson, SCC Balraj Jhawar, WRH Jody Ralph, UW Simon Gagne,Rondeau UW Jennifer Voth (co chair), HDGH Peter Wawrow, SCC Lisa Porter, WE SPARK Karen Metcalfe, WE SPARK Year 4 Q1 Page 5 ExcellenceResearch Create a dynamic research environment that enables, supports and promotes excellence
Q1
Year 4 Q1 Page 6 Research Excellence
b) Continue to host the WE-SPARK grant competitions to support local researchers to elevate grant success at the national level
Think Tank Successes Think Tanks now include a spotlight on past presenters and how their projects have 2022successfullytogetherThinkbyprogressed.ThislatestprojectwaspresentedDr.JenniferBondyattheOctober2021Tankandsincethen,shehasbroughtanewteamofcollaboratorsandsecuredgrantfundingintheIgnitingDiscoveryGrantcompetition
Decisions have been made in the 2022 grant competition. Nineteen members of the Multidisciplinary Research Assessment Committee (MRAC) were asked to declare any conflicts of interest and indicate areas of expertise. Each grant was assigned a primary, secondary, and tertiary reviewer. Reviewers attended an onboarding session, were assigned to a panel and met for the designated online review panel where the Chair, Co Chair, Scientific Officer and score keeper ran the meeting. All grants were discussed and scored. Consolidated scores were calculated and grants were ranked against scores, priority streams and partner institutions. Grants were recommended for funding and approved. Details of all projects can be found on the WE SPARK website in September. Outcomes and impacts of the grants program will be highlighted in Q2.
c) Profile and track successes of Core Members to elevate the academic profile of Windsor-Essex We continue to add new members to our research ecosystem with a total of Highlighting Member Profiles, Projects and Successes Our research activities are driven by our Principal and Core Associate Members who are actively engaged in the research field on a daily basis. Members profiles, projects and successes continue to be shared on social media, newsletters and added to the WE SPARK website. In Q1, a number of Members were successful in receiving grant funding, two began with an Igniting Discovery Grant. Members are asked to submit research activities and successes for the bi monthly newsletter. They are distributed to our research community and archived on our website The newsletter for Q1 highlighted: • $1.3 Million in new funding • 16 publications • 3 awards • 9 new projects Publishing Dates June, October,August,202220222022 December, 2022 February, 2023 April, 2023 f) Provide a central hub for research processes and system navigation There are now 83 active app accounts and a Daily digest sent to users every Monday to update on missed posts New features are being added in Q2 that will encourage engagement @mentions and reaction buttons. As our research network grows, this app will be critical to staying engaged and connected. Be sure to sign up now! Year 4 Q1 Page 7 Research Excellence
Q1 Year 4 Milestones a) Create workshops, series and/or events that engage the community and build the profile of WE SPARK b) Showcase research facilities and projects happening in the community c) Maintain social media engagement while continuing to refine messaging to target audiences d) Broaden community understanding of WE SPARK through media relations, our community newsletter and speaking engagements, locally, regionally and provincially e) Continue to evolve our website capabilities and reach f) Implement the WE SPARK Engage program to invite the community to join our research efforts HIGHLIGHTS f) Implement the Engage Program to invite the community to join our research efforts We continue to grow the ‘Ask the Expert’ program to serve as a trusted resource for our community and showcase the expertise we have in Windsor Essex. In Q1 we added 3 experts to the series:
e) Continue to evolve our website capabilities and reach WESPARKHEALTH COM Total Q1 Unique Visits Most Visited Pages in Q1 Driving Community Understanding - Community Engagement Committee Next Meeting:
• Clementa Stan, Mental Health & Addictions Patient and Family Advisory Council, HDGH
• Patrick Kolowicz, Director Mental Health & Addictions, HDGH
Year 4 Q1 Page 8 EngagementCommunity Enhance understanding and build trust with the community
• Laurie Freeman, PhD., Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor November 2, 2022 (committee meets quarterly) Dora Cavallo Medved, UW Erica Colovic, HDGH Allison Johnson, WRH Chad Sutherland (Chair), UW Roseann Danese, SCC Karen Metcalfe, WE-SPARK
c) Maintain social media presence and engagements, while continuing to refine messaging to target audiences @wesparkhealth continued to engage the community on all social media platforms during Q1. A shift from standard to tailored content according to the platform and type of audience, and including storytelling and personal narratives to our communications has had positive results d) Broaden community understanding of WE-SPARK through media relations and community engagements locally, provincially and nationally Select Featured Media Stories In Q1, WE SPARK was part of 12 local mainstream news stories, 30 stories in partner newsletters/communications and 7 in national/other media. The Drive Magazine: The H.E.A.L. Lab University researchers work to understand and improve women’s healthcare experiences CTV News: Windsor Regional Hospital and University of Windsor team up for potential 'health and innovation park' St. Clair College S.T.E.M. Speaker Series Podcast: A discussion with WE-SPARK Executive Director Dr. Lisa WindsorPorterStar:Windsor researcher earns grant money for breast cancer WRH The Pulse: Video showcases health research environment Community Newsletter In Q1, we continued with our community newsletters alternating between providing a quarterly highlight (May, 2022) and spotlighting the impact of research (June, 2022) (engagements: 2036) Community Connections and Outreach WE SPARK supports the efforts of others by speaking at events, providing sponsorship and collaborating on initiatives locally, regionally, provincially and nationally. Some connections made in Q1: Year 4 Q1 Page 9 Community Engagement
a) Expand the student research network and integrate with existing student programs and services at St. Clair College and UWindsor
d) Support student experiential learning, novel training opportunities and professional development
e) Develop and implement a plan for increasing engagement with industry and community partners
Translate research information to inspire and drive change
b) Expand, promote, and streamline management of our Health Research Resource Hub
c) Expand and promote the Knowledge Translation Toolkit, including tools for commercialization, and increase awareness to our research community
TranslationKnowledge
b) Expand, promote and streamline management of our Health Research Resource Hub In Q1, WE SPARK began working closely with HDGH and WECHU and are in the initial stages of developing a mental health and addictions research resource hub. This will build off initiatives that each organization is moving forward internally and create efficiencies and build collaborations.
Q1
Year 4 Milestones
HIGHLIGHTS
Year 4 Q1 Page 10
Karen Metcalfe, WE SPARK
Driving Knowledge Translation – Knowledge Translation Committee
Next Meeting: August 10, 2022 (committee meets every 6 weeks) Pete Wawrow (Co Chair), SCC Dave Andrews, UW Becky Berlasty, SCC Martin Crozier, UW Linda DiRosa, HDGH Dora Cavallo Medved (Co Chair), UW Jody Ralph, UW Indryas Woldie, WRH Lisa Porter, WE-SPARK
a) Expand the student research network and integrate with existing student programs and services at St. Clair College and UWindsor In Q1, our student network onboarded 15 new members, including masters, PhD and medical students. We received over 10 project requests and are encouraging our membership to continue to utilize our highly skilled network. With many of our students graduating in Q1, we have reached 100 student alumni!
The Master of Science in Translational Health Science students attended July’s WE SPARK After Dark to meet potential supervisors. Since then, all students have been connected with a research project. A key part of their professional development activities has been REDCap training The Masters program is designed to provide students with education and skills to enter a wide variety of career paths in translational health sciences.
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry restarted the summer research electives after they were stalled during the pandemic and funded 6 Windsor campus medical students to conduct a research project with clinician researchers at Windsor Regional Hospital. An example of the type of project is one being supervised by Dr Amit Bagga and Dr. Monica Bagga, “Evaluation of a Continuous Glucose Sensor in PatientswithDiabetesonHemodialysis.”
e) Develop and implement a plan for increasing engagement with industry and community partners
• Designing layout and content for new Innovation Hub on WE SPARK website that will be formally launched in the Fall
d) Support student experiential learning, novel training opportunities and professional development in health research
Chris Ng Fletcher, Innovation Research Associate, has moved forward plans to connect and grow industry engagement in health research related areas. Highlights to date: Preparing to launch Innovation Ambassadors Program
• Conducting an environmental scan on similar events
Year 4 Q1 Page 11 Knowledge Translation
• Conducting an environmental scan on similar events
• 5 Innovation Ambassadors have been onboarded. Developing an Industry Collision Event
• Focusing on key themes that are gaining traction in the health care sector Inpartnershipwith:
• Focusing on key sectors related to the pandemic, such as biotechnology, manufacturing, supporting our most vulnerable populations, mental health, etc. Inpartnershipwith: Developing a Health Care Hackathon
a) Support and expand use of data sharing platforms for our researchers
Year 4 Milestones
Year 4 – Q1 Page 12 Build Capacity Secure
a) Support and expand use of data sharing platforms for our researchers
d) Explore and evolve infrastructure planning and a capital plan, including a research infrastructure map of Southwestern Ontario
b) Create research ecosystem maps to facilitate clear reporting and communication pathways for WE SPARK members, staff and committees
Q1
e) Implement the NUCLEUS plan, including collecting key core facility metrics and developing promotional content to inform our members and the community about research infrastructure
c) Facilitate joint funding plan for large infrastructure grants by creating multi institutional, multi disciplinary teams in preparation for large infrastructure grant competitions
To increase capacity and provide RDM skill development for students, we began to implement a REDCap training program that is being pilot tested with the students in the Master of Science in Translational Health Science (MSTHS) Moving Forward WE-SPARK’s Health Data and RDM Strategy
Driving Research Capacity – NUCLEUS Committee
WE SPARK’s research data management strategy (RDM) began in 2020 with the launch of REDCap which has grown to over 160 active users. RDM progress in Q1 looked at expansion of REDCap and the development of a larger RDM strategy. Completed Pilot Phase of REDCap REDCap demonstrated that it is an effective RDM tool and we are moving forward to support it as one of our key data sharing platforms. Implementing a Comprehensive Training Program
HIGHLIGHTS
Next Meeting: September, 2022 (committee meets every quarter) Adriana Grande, WE SPARK Renee Biss, UW Arezoo Emadi, UW Jackie Fong, UW Wendy Foote, SCC Phil Karpowicz, UW Kyle Lago, WE SPARK Krista Naccarato, WRH Michelle Nevett, UWindsor Ken Ng, UW Ming Pan, WRH Lisa Porter, WE SPARK Jody Ralph, UW Chad Sutherland, UW Pete Wawrow, SCC TBD, HDGH the resources needed to achieve our mission
This strategy will help guide the governance of shared research data management tools for health research in our region. This includes REDCap and acquisitions of other RDM software and platforms. The next step will be to bring together a committee with representation from each partner to develop a RDM strategy that aligns with each institution’s goals and creates a robust health research data system.
c) Facilitate joint funding plan for large infrastructure grants by creating multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary teams, in preparation for large infrastructure grant competitions
e) Implement the NUCLEUS plan, including collecting key core facility metrics and developing promotional content to inform our members and the community about research infrastructure In Q1 we prepared for our upcoming participation in the Science Ontario Cross Country Roadshow that showcases the life sciences and health care ecosystem in our region. The audience includes academic institutions, accelerators, incubators, and community partners such as Roche, Diabetes Canada, etc.
The Canadian Biomedical Research Fund is a Tri Agency Program designed to strengthen research systems and talent pipelines. In Q1, we submitted an application as a major partner with University of Toronto to be part of a Canadian Biomedical Research Hub.
Year 4 Q1 Page 13 Build Capacity
d) Explore and evolve infrastructure planning and a capital plan
• An environmental scan into Health Innovation Parks was completed and submitted to the Steering Committee for review.
• We are continuing to grow our network to support our researchers in preparation for the Health Innovation Park 13 new contacts were made representing a mixture of startups, economic development corporations, innovation support organizations and government
• Completed a review of economic impact models to initiate the development of a health research economic impact that could be adapted to specific audiences
Progress continues to be made on research infrastructure planning to continue to grow our academic health research environment.
@wesparkhealth Igniting Discovery, ReachingNewHeights, Living Better Reporting Timeline REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Year 4 Q1 Page 14 Looking Forward Below are a few action items you can expect to see in coming months. Organizational Effectiveness • Develop a budget proposal that includes plans for sustainability and grants program support • Align strategic planning with partner initiatives • Revise and rework WE-SPARK’s approach to fundraising that takes into account and builds on the existing fundraising strategies of each partner Research Excellence • Support new grant recipients to initiate projects • Highlight outcomes and impacts of grants program • Grow number of members with profiles created on the website • Increase use and engagement of the WE-SPARK researcher App by adding additional engagement features • Promote the Fall 2022 Health Research Conference Knowledge Translation • Create a commercialization navigation and resource hub to support health researchers connect with Industry • Expand and share the Research Training Hub for students • Introduce the Innovation Ambassador Program Community Engagement • Implement, pilot and expand the Engage Program • Roll out WE SPARK branded merchandise Build Capacity • Launch revised NUCLEUS section of the website, highlighting infrastructure available within Windsor Essex Q2
May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023 ProposedBUDGET2022-2023SalariesADMINISTRATION $380,000 • Research Director Stipend/Teaching Release • Assistant Director Salary • Translational Research Associate • Administrative Assistant • Nucleus Manager • Medical Student Research Associate • Social Media and Communications Coordinator • Student Network Research Associate • Innovation Research Associate • Conference Coordinator Discretionary, Supplies and Consumables (meetings, office equipment, printing, Professional Development, software licenses, etc.) $40,000 Marketing & Website (including dissemination) $30,000 WE-Spark Grant Competitions $50,000 TOTAL $500,000 Operating Revenue (Partner Contributions) University of Windsor $200,000 Windsor Regional Hospital $100,000 Hotel Dieu Grace $100,000 St Clair $100,000 TOTAL $500,000 Year 4 Q1 Page 15 YearAppendix:4Budget