Oberlander in NEJM: Opposition to ‘Obamacare’ has resulted in promises to repeal, but no proposals to improve policy
July 31, 2018 Dr. Jonathan Oberlander has written about the Affordable Care Act for nearly a decade. His new article in The New England Journal of Medicine describes the Act as being 'in purgatory' -- impossible to destroy as a result of its popularity and the purpose it serves, but made less effective through partisan dismemberment and defunding. Photo by Max Englund.
Researchers conduct most diverse genetic study of female reproductive milestones to date
July 25, 2018 A new study is the first to examine multiple genes that influence the age at which a woman starts her period and experiences menopause among a large sample of United States women of diverse ancestries. The findings highlight the benefits of including diverse populations in studies of the genetics of female growth and development.
HPV screening found more effective than Pap test at identifying cervical cancer
July 25, 2018 Cervical cancer screening with cytology – commonly known as a Pap test – is one of the most widely used cancer control interventions in high-income settings. A recent study demonstrated, however, that HPV testing detects cervical dysplasia earlier and more accurately than cytology.
Former inmates at high risk for opioid overdose following prison release
July 19, 2018 A recent study in North Carolina found that, in the first two weeks after being released from prison, former inmates were 40 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose than someone in the general population.
By sending tests in the mail, researchers boost colorectal cancer screening
July 19, 2018 Recent research found that mailing colorectal cancer screening tests to people insured by Medicaid increased the likelihood that they would undergo the cancer screening. Dr. Stephanie Wheeler is senior author of the study.
Researchers determine some prenatal predictors of contact with child protective services
July 8, 2018 Doctoral student Anna Austin led a study predicting which children are at risk for intervention by child protective services agencies. Risk factors include the mother's marital status, educational and socio-economic levels, and whether she had experienced initimate partner violence in the year prior to the child's birth. Photo by Petras Gagilas.
Study finds policy changes increase access to drug that reverses opioid overdoses
July 6, 2018 A new study found that laws to improve naloxone access increase access to naloxone among Medicaid beneficiaries, a group that experiences a risk of overdose death several times higher than the general population. Naloxone is a life-saving prescription medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Photo by Tom Wolf.
Gillings researchers fight emerging diseases
July 5, 2018 Utilizing the expertise of the Baric Lab at the UNC Gillings School, Gilead Sciences is making breakthroughs in developing drugs to fight some of the world’s deadliest viruses. The Gilead broad-spectrum treatment that was tested and proven in the Baric Lab, now known as Remdesivir, was deployed for use in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Study clarifies how genetic variants linked with African ancestry impact heart disease
July 3, 2018 A recent study co-authored by researchers in the Gillings School examined APOL1 genotypes, which are associated with chronic kidney disease in African-Americans. The goal was to clarify earlier, inconsistent findings that the gene’s variants also could influence cardiovascular disease and mortality risk.
UNC, RTI International researchers assess US travelers’ knowledge of Zika virus, willingness to take hypothetical vaccine
July 2, 2018 A collaboration between researchers at the Gillings School, RTI International and UNC's School of Medicine has resulted in the first study to assess and compare United States travelers’ knowledge levels about the Zika virus across three regions, as well as their willingness to take a prophylactic Zika vaccine that currently is in development.
