WE-Spark Health Institute is preparing to host its next bi-monthly virtual Think Tank, a unique opportunity for researchers, healthcare providers, students, and the Windsor-Essex community to come together to share ideas, get to know each other, and learn what’s happening in the region.

The Think Tank is open to everyone and will take place Friday, April 9, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Click here for more information and to register.

Laura D’Alimonte, clinical practice manager for Windsor Regional Hospital, says that participating in previous Think Tanks has helped her to understand the research landscape in Windsor-Essex, allowed for networking opportunities with academic leaders across the region, and provided opportunities for collaborations with experts with similar academic interests.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the participants and I encourage people from all backgrounds to be part of these,” she says. “You don’t have to be thinking of being on a research team to enjoy sharing ideas and to benefit from the experience.”

The event will begin with an update on health research activities, new funding opportunities, and an overview of the three focused projects, followed by breakout sessions:

• Future of Biobanking in Windsor-Essex - Building it Together
  Lisa Porter, University of Windsor, and David Cervi, Windsor Regional Hospital
• Encouraging Vaccine Confidence in Windsor-Essex: Building a Knowledge Translation Strategy Using Vaccine Confidence as a Case Study
  Dora Cavallo-Medved, University of Windsor, and Adriana Baggio, WE-Spark Health Institute
• Physiological Measure Detection for Mental State Monitoring
  Francesco Biondi, University of Windsor

“You don’t have to be an expert to participate,” says WE-Spark executive director Lisa Porter. “You’re guaranteed to learn something new and meet new people. And you’ll help us improve the health and wellness of our local community in the process. A win-win for everyone.”