Four new Gillings Innovation Labs announced

Dr. Eric Donaldson

Globally, noroviruses cause about 90 percent of epidemic outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis. Hospitals, college campuses, and retirement communities are especially hard-hit, because the virus is easily spread. In vulnerable populations, including older adults, norovirus infections can be fatal. Donaldson’s team will use computer models to design “super antigens” that are tested in a mouse model to accelerate development of a vaccine design strategy to produce an effective norovirus vaccine candidate. Super antigens bring about a strong immune response against pathogens, like noroviruses, that normally evade the immune system. Donaldson and his team also will pioneer a technology that translates into more effective vaccines against many other highly mutagenic RNA viruses, ranging from SARS to the common cold.

“Body on a Chip”
Using human cells to speed toxicity testing
Rebecca Fry, PhD, assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering

Dr. Rebecca Fry

Current testing for toxicity in environmental compounds is expensive, slow and outpaced by the number of new compounds released. Traditionally, these tests rely on animal testing. Fry’s team will develop a high-throughput methodology for predicting whether agents and compounds are toxic. She aims to simultaneously test toxicity responses of seven human cell types from areas of the body particularly susceptible to cancer; miniaturize the scale of testing and develop a “body-on-a-chip” device to increase testing speed; and extend collaborations with other groups working on similar technologies. Her project aligns with the National Institutes of Health’s roadmap for medical research and toxicity testing in the 21st century. Among other features, the roadmap strives to move away from animal testing wherever possible.

What about men?
Assessing impact of microfinance, leadership training on young African men
Suzanne Maman, PhD, assistant professor of health behavior and health education

Dr. Suzanne Maman

Women in developing countries and in other areas where resources are constrained have seen their lives much improved when they were given small loans — known as microfinance – combined with promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Maman wants data on how microfinance and leadership training could affect young men, especially those who are at risk of contracting and/or spreading HIV and being violent with their sex partners. Working with an established microfinance organization and public health partners in the U.S. and Tanzania, she will study at-risk young men in five social camps in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her project will assess whether microfinance and health leadership interventions will be accepted, and whether they actually will reduce HIV risks and partner violence among young men in these camps. Maman has extensive research experience with these communities in Tanzania. Application of this work will be important not only in Tanzania and other African countries, but throughout the world.

Is the solution causing other problems?
Wastes spread to fertilize land may pollute air and water
Jill Stewart, PhD, assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering

Dr. Jill Stewart

Spreading sewage sludge and hog lagoon waters onto land is a common method of waste disposal. However, these wastes have the potential to pollute nearby water and air, causing illness in surrounding communities. These issues are especially important in North Carolina, which currently has more than 9 million hogs. Understanding the sources of pollution is critical to managing the problems and preventing illness. With her GIL, Stewart aims to validate swine-specific microbial markers using North Carolina swine lagoon and other waste samples. She also will validate human-specific microbial markers using N.C. biosolids (organic matter retrieved from waste water, including human excrement) and other waste samples, and field-test swine and human microbial markers in N.C. surface waters.

Innovation laboratories are funded through a generous gift to UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health by Dennis and Joan Gillings. Their gift provides the School with critical resources to accelerate delivery of real-world solutions for some of humankind’s most challenging public health problems. Each innovation lab will engage in one or more of these areas: high-impact research, demonstration projects and teaching practices which anticipate future public health challenges and accelerate sustainable solutions.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.