Professor Nick Vukotic is helping design a novel biodegradable material that could potentially treat one of the deadliest brain cancers, glioblastoma.

Once implanted, the polymeric material would deliver chemotherapy medications. The release rate of the drug would be controlled by how fast that polymer degrades or breaks up.

“Brain cancer is very challenging to treat due to the impermeability of the blood-brain barrier and the sensitivity of the organ, with glioblastoma multiforme being one of the deadliest treatment-resistant cancers,” says Dr. Vukotic, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

“We want to apply the chemistry to chemotherapy agents so that after the surgeons take out the primary tumour, they could place our drug-embedded polymer materials inside the surgical site to slowly release the chemotherapy agent to hopefully prevent tumour regrowth from cancer cells that are still there: preventing tumour regrowth for cancer patients.”

Their technology research contributions generated an April 2024 publication in Chemistry Science Journal, “Therapeutic Coordination Polymers: Tailoring Drug Release through Metal-Ligand Interactions,” in which researchers outline the science behind the patented technology.

“It is good at extending the release over a long time and in a steady way,” he says.

“The development of a new drug release implant that has controlled and consistent drug release of chemotherapy agents would overcome many of the challenges associated with current drug release systems, solving many problems.”

Vukotic says this new approach is a method that has been largely unexplored. He and his research team received a WE-Spark Health Institute Igniting Discovery Grant funded by Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation for their project, called “Improving outcomes in glioblastoma treatment: implantable therapeutic polymer composites for targeted drug delivery.”

This grant has personal meaning to Vukotic, whose mother died in 2012 after receiving treatment for glioblastoma.

“During the course of her treatment she had to take certain medications and she had issues with some dosages so she couldn’t undergo standard therapy, but if there was a better dosage form that was longer lasting, she may have responded better to it,” Vukotic says.

In her first year of post-secondary study, Marissa Rakus says, she was very shy.

“I was a very quiet, anxious student coming into university for sure,” she says. Now a doctoral student of psychology, she says serving as a peer mentor “honestly changed the whole trajectory of my university career and even my life.”

“Marissa was a student in my Introduction to Psychology course. She was an excellent student, but I don’t think she ever talked in class,” recalls Jill Singleton-Jackson, professor of applied social psychology, and associate dean for student experience and inter-faculty programs.

“Toward the end of her first year she really blossomed from a very shy, quiet (but always so bright!) student to becoming active in the department and a mentor for Intro. to Psychology. Then she became a senior mentor for the leadership course.

“Marissa was accepted to the applied social psychology graduate program, and I am so fortunate to be her advisor and have the opportunity to watch her amazing progress as a scholar and researcher.”

Rakus says she has always been interested in women’s health research.

“I know a lot of women in my life, and even myself, struggle with the interactions with health care providers or just formal services in general.”

In the third year of her undergrad, she reached out to Dr. Jackson regarding getting more involved. Her professor started giving jobs helping with various events. Rakus also connected with professor Kendall Soucie, who runs a research program studying the health care experiences of women with reproductive issues, and especially endometriosis diagnostic experiences with polycystic ovary syndrome.

“I reached out to Dr. Soucie saying that I was really interested in learning more about the research, getting involved in research, and doing whatever I can, creating transcripts and working my way into the research,” says Rakus. “I was interested in going to grad school at this point. So, I joined her lab in my third year, and I think that's where my love for women’s health research sparked.”

Rakus started exploring the literature and found she was drawn towards gender-based violence research and women’s health: “I would say that being in Dr. Soucie’s lab and actively participating in different research projects is what brought that about for me.”

From there she did her master’s thesis while working at the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families, and later acquired a job there.

“I did interviews with the women there, and I was very lucky to have two people in my committee, Drs. Patti Fritz and Betty Barrett, who both had a connection to the Welcome Centre,” she says. “It was a full circle moment for me. I found an area of research that I am passionate about.”

Rakus found it “eye-opening” working with this population.

“I realized the research I do is so important,” she says. “To get first-hand stories from these people and be in that environment, because I remember stepping in for those interviews. When I walked into the shelter, I almost felt scared.”

Today, Rakus has completed the first year of her doctorate journey.

Before a doctoral student can start their dissertation, they must do a systematic literature review on a topic that they are interested in, usually this topic will be their dissertation topic. Rakus wants to focus on medical gaslighting.

“Specifically women, because that’s the population that it happens to most often: marginalized, racialized women,” says Rakus. “Their experiences with being invalidated, belittled, and not taken seriously by health-care providers.

“So that's where I’m at right now. In Dr. Soucie’s lab, we’re going to start a project where we do an online study with women about their experiences, just to get some preliminary data, because that’s what I do want to look at for my dissertation, and possibly conducting focus groups with women to hear their experiences.”

The next step would be to come up with some sort of deliverable on results and offer health-care providers information on how to do better.

“When I’m searching for medical gaslighting more generally, I find all these studies that come up about women, women, women, even when I’m not actually searching for that,” says Rakus. “It’s because the medical system is built on and based on male symptomology and their anatomy and built by men as well. I don’t think women were, from what I've seen so far, even involved in medical studies until the 1990s, which is not that long ago.”

Rakus is now the graduate co-ordinator for the interdisciplinary Health Research Centre for the Study of Violence against Women.

“We also are collaborating, and I’m working as a community liaison between the Research Centre. We have a Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee for the City of Windsor and Essex County,” she says. “They work with all of the different organizations within Windsor that focus on intimate partner violence.”

Rakus’s biggest takeaway from her academic journey so far is that you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

“That’s what I had to do to be where I am now,” she says. “I wouldn’t be in grad school if I didn’t have that friend who pushed me, and I stepped out of that comfort zone, and mid panic attack too,” says Rakus. “So yes, more experiences, and there are so many possibilities in university. If you don’t take advantage of them, it’s a personal loss really.”

The atmosphere was brimming with excitement and pride as soon-to-be graduates of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS), along with family, friends, faculty, and staff, gathered on May 30 for the Spring 2024 FAHSS LEAD Medallion Scholars Celebration in Alumni Auditorium.

The event brought together nearly 150 people to recognize the academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement of students. A total of 68 students received the FAHSS LEAD Medallion, the highest number since the program was introduced in 2019 to acknowledge students who have taken part in high-impact student experiences.

LEAD stands for:

• Leadership through mentorship, peer-to-peer interaction and support, and campus involvement.
• Engagement through community service learning, studying abroad, and other planning and outreach activities.
• Application through internship, practicum, or other hands-on activities related to the student’s field of study.
• Discovery through undergraduate research, publications, or creative pursuits.

Participating students can earn a bronze, silver, or gold medal based on the number of LEAD categories they have completed.

Ronnie Haidar, student engagement and outreach co-ordinator for FAHSS, commented on the faculty’s dedication to honouring the hard work and impact of their students on campus and throughout the greater Windsor-Essex community.

“We are incredibly proud of our students,” he said. “Their commitment to excellence within and beyond the classroom is truly inspiring. FAHSS is always thrilled to recognize the amazing work our students do every chance we get.”

Alli Slavik, a grad of psychology and gender studies, was awarded a gold medallion.

“I am beyond grateful for my FAHSS experience, and I would not be the person I am today without it,” she said. “Not only am I invested in my learning, but I also enjoyed my community involvement experience and continue to find ways to work with students on campus.

“Graduating is a bittersweet feeling — my FAHSS experience shaped me, and I feel so comfortable in this space.”

After the award segment, a reception followed, allowing students to capture memories with their loved ones and savour refreshments and graduation-themed treats.

Find more information about the FAHSS Medallion Scholars program, including the complete list of recipients.

The Lancers Alumni Basketball Game, Sept. 27 in the Toldo Lancer Centre, will pit former women’s basketball players against current members of the varsity squad, showcasing their skills and camaraderie on the court.

The contest will celebrate UWindsor roundball and honour the alumni who have contributed to its success.

Former players who wish to take part should email mariahc@uwindsor.ca.