A UWindsor professor has been named the 2023 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

Social work professor Adrian Guta conducts research into HIV, substance use, and harm reduction. His appointment is hosted at Johns Hopkins through a pre-arranged affiliation between that institution and Fulbright Canada, whose research chair program promotes opportunities at select universities for exceptional scholars.

The award comes with $25,000 U.S., and Dr. Guta will be a visiting professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health from September to December.

“I’m honoured to receive the Fulbright and to collaborate with leading public health scholars at Johns Hopkins,” said Guta, who holds a Ph.D. in public health sciences.

He is on sabbatical and will reside in Baltimore this fall, with plans to conduct comparative research on the impact of unregulated fentanyl, which has contributed to tens of thousands of deaths across Canada and the U.S., and the feasibility of providing a “safer supply” of drugs in the U.S. context.

Safer supply is a Health Canada-sanctioned approach to reducing overdose deaths by providing prescriptions for pharmaceutical-grade alternatives to the toxic drug supply. Guta is involved in several CIHR and SSHRC-funded safer supply research projects.

“The early evidence from safer supply programs shows they are dramatically reducing the risk of overdose and changing the lives of people who use drugs across the country,” he said.

Guta has been leading a Canadian program of research on these issues through the pandemic and will collaborate with U.S. public health scholars, drug policy experts, and harm reduction practitioners to explore the transferability of the Canadian model.

Alumni Field will welcome Lancer fans for the first home contest of the 2023 football season Sunday, Sept. 3.

The Lancers will host the Guelph Gryphons; kick-off is at 7 p.m.

Admission is free for UWindsor students, $12 general admission, $10 for youth and seniors, and $15 for gold section seats. Purchase tickets here.

Anti-cancer student researchers from UWindsor won top awards at the Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada’s annual conference in June.

Hannah Drew (BSc 2023) finished her biochemistry degree this spring and is about to start master’s studies under the supervision of Siyaram Pandey, chemistry and biochemistry professor. Drew won the $500 best poster prize for her presentation on white tea and long pepper extracts.

“I presented how those individually and in combination were causing anti-cancer effects in prostate cancer,” she says.

Two other undergraduates from Dr. Pandey’s lab also took home acknowledgements. Abby Raad won second place in the oral platform presentation with a $500 prize and Karolina Konior took first place in the three-minute thesis presentation for $250.

All three undergraduate researchers study the benefits of botanical extracts in treating cancers including breast cancer, glioblastoma, and neuroblastoma.  

Drew says Pandey’s lab is in a unique situation for natural health product research.

“We study natural health products for cancer research for undergraduates, graduate students, and post docs,” says Drew.

The 2023 conference theme was “new frontiers” and featured plenary speakers from around the world as well as panel discussions addressing advances and challenges in research, industry, and regulation of natural health products.

—Sara Elliott

The Special Appointments Committee of the University Senate welcomes nominations and applications for the title of Distinguished University Professor, recognizing faculty at the rank of professor who have distinguished achievements in teaching and an international reputation for scholarship or creative or professional accomplishment.

Applications for eligible candidates must be submitted to Senate governance officer Danny Anger in the University Secretariat by Nov. 30. Find the criteria and process here.

The annual health research conference hosted by WE-Spark Health Institute is an opportunity to learn from renowned experts, stay up-to-date with the latest advancements, and to present, share, and discuss research projects.

The program is designed to provide maximum opportunity to learn, network, present, and address key issues and advancements across Windsor-Essex.

All health researchers, clinicians, students, and trainees are welcome to attend, Nov. 4 at Caesars Windsor. People at all stages in their careers and training are invited to submit abstracts for poster or oral presentations.

Early bird registration rates are available until Sept. 15:

• Students $85, early bird $50
• General admission $225, early bird $170

Find details and registration information on the conference website.

The campus community mourns the recent passings of Michael Kenney, IT Services, Jean Chenier, Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Catherine Hundleby, professor in the Departments of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary and Critical Studies (Women's and Gender Studies) and Director of the Ph.D. in Argumentation Studies. In memory of our colleagues, the University of Windsor lowered on-campus flags on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.