For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 18, 2023 | 9 a.m. | Windsor-Essex County
The University of Windsor and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) are pleased to announce that three (3) new Canada Research Chairs focused on public health will be pursed by the University of Windsor, which will allow for the recruitment of leading public health experts to the Windsor-Essex region.
Since the announcement of a new partnership between the University of Windsor and WECHU on August 25, 2022, both organizations have been active in leveraging their collective strengths to benefit the region. This alliance will be integral in the University’s application to the Canada Research Chairs Program which strives to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development by funding novel research positions in key areas.
“Our partnership with the health unit is already presenting exciting research opportunities on campus and for the region,” said Dr. Chris Houser, University of Windsor Interim VP of Research and Innovation. “This will bring leading experts in health disparities, biostatistics, and environmental genomics to make us leaders in public health in Canada.”
The positions will be embedded in the Faculties of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Human Kinetics; and Science and will contribute to public health efforts in partnership with WECHU locally. “Prioritizing three Canada Research Chairs, to better understand important areas of public health concern, will provide our team of professionals enhanced opportunities to support better health for all,” according to health unit Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ken Blanchette, “The University of Windsor is a valued partner to the WECHU and continues to demonstrate its commitment to the strategic partnership between our organizations.”
The Canada Research Chairs Program invests approximately $311 million per year across the country to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. For more details about Canada Research Chairs, please visit the Government of Canada website.
Once the University of Windsor search committees have recruited for the positions, the community will be introduced to these leading public health research experts at the University of Windsor. This announcement is expected to occur in 2024.