Gillings student and alumni played crucial role in NBA's COVID-19 “bubble”

January 5, 2021
According to Dr. Christina Mack, the National Basketball Association (NBA) made a call in the name of public health when it suspended the 2019-2020 season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan to restart its season — and hold playoffs in a controlled environment, or “bubble” — was ambitious. Mack notes that the NBA’s history of relying on scientific expertise and data to drive decisions greatly contributed to the success of this novel approach.

Study proves cost-effectiveness of strategies to increase rates of HPV vaccination

December 21, 2020
Recent research published in Pediatrics by a team of faculty and alumnae of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health shows that existing interventions to increase human papillomavirus vaccinations are cost-effective.

UNC road safety research explores strengthening Vision Zero plans to support injury reductions and health improvements

December 16, 2020
Local leaders now have a comprehensive guide for enacting Vision Zero plans to increase safe, healthy and equitable mobility in their own communities thanks to research from UNC and the Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety.

ACS/Pfizer grant funds research into racial disparities in breast cancer care quality in North Carolina

December 3, 2020
The grant is part of a national campaign focused on optimizing cancer outcomes for people of color by identifying and eliminating systemic race-related barriers and disparities in the delivery of care that impact outcomes across all cancer types.

Antibody cocktails at low doses could be more effective at treating COVID-19

November 20, 2020
Pairs of antibodies may be more effective than single antibodies at preventing and treating COVID-19, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Rockefeller University in New York.

The pandemic is impacting continuity of care for cancer survivors — especially women

November 20, 2020
By early June 2020, 34% of cancer survivors surveyed had canceled at least one doctor's appointment due to COVID-19. These cancellations are concerning, says Dr. Jessica Islam, who points out that female cancer survivors have been impacted the most, likely due to school and daycare closures.

New CDC tool aims to help communities promote more physical activity

November 18, 2020
The new Active Communities Tool, developed by a team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that included Dr. Kelly Evenson, is now available for use by communities seeking to improve the built environment to promote access to safe and convenient places for physical activity for people of all ages and abilities.

PCORI funds UNC research to assess representativeness of COVID-19 treatment trials

November 16, 2020
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute is funding research at the Gillings School to compare how participants in COVID-19 clinical trials differ from real-world patients infected with the virus.

Common SARS-CoV-2 mutation may be more susceptible to vaccine

November 12, 2020
A new study published in Science confirms that the D614G spike mutation allows the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to replicate faster, outcompete and transmit more easily between hosts compared to the original virus. However, the mutation that enabled this strain to spread so quickly around the globe may also make it more susceptible to a vaccine.

Adimora receives UNC’s most prestigious faculty award

November 6, 2020
Dr. Adaora Adimora, professor of epidemiology in the Gillings School and Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of medicine with UNC’s Division of Infectious Diseases, has been honored by her peers with the 2020 Thomas Jefferson Award.