Securing funding is often the biggest challenge for early-career researchers, says Vijendra Sharma, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

That’s why he is especially pleased with a grant of $20,000 towards his project “Identification of Cell-Type-Specific Dysregulated mRNA Translation in Alzheimer’s Disease.” It’s one of 18 research grants totalling $345,000 awarded this fall to tackle local health challenges from the WE-Spark Health Institute’s Igniting Discovery program.

“The WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery Grants empower emerging researchers to explore new avenues of knowledge and provide a source of recognition that boosts their confidence to pursue innovative ideas,” says Dr. Sharma.

The grants provide funding to promote the development of early-stage health research and education projects in Windsor-Essex. Projects include addressing gaps in healthcare needs, igniting new ideas, generating and disseminating knowledge, studies in emerging health topics, and sparking collaborations.

The grants involve collaborators across the institute’s five supporting institutions: the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital, along with community members, students, and volunteers.

“With each grant cycle, the number of new collaborators coming on board grows,” says WE-Spark director Lisa Porter. “These grants create jobs, address pressing problems and make Windsor-Essex competitive for national funding competitions.”

The 18 projects will involve more than 116 researchers and trainees and thousands of participants. Find details here.