Global News

Chilean policies reduce purchases of unhealthy beverages by 24%: the first national evaluation of the impact of a front-of-the-package food label law

February 11, 2020
Chile’s Law of Food Labeling and Advertising, implemented in 2016, was the first national regulation to jointly mandate front-of-package warning labels, restrict child-directed marketing, and ban the sale in schools of all foods and beverages containing added sugars, sodium or saturated fats exceeding set thresholds (also called “high-in” food and beverages).

Kumar invited to join Africa CDC task force on health information exchange systems

February 11, 2020
In order to develop optimal policies and standards for health information systems across the African Union, Manish Kumar, MPH, has been invited to join the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)'s Health Information Exchange Task Force. Along with other subject matter experts, he will provide guidance on the effective collection, analysis and exchange of health data.

Researchers find little progress on alcohol policy globally, call for stronger approach

February 11, 2020
Almost ten years ago, the World Health Organization adopted a voluntary global strategy for reducing harmful use of alcohol. A new survey shows it isn’t working.

Gillings student Daniel Malawsky selected as Churchill Scholar

February 6, 2020
Malawsky is one of 15 American scholars selected for this research-focused award, which provides funding for graduate study at the University of Cambridge in England.

NCI appoints Gopal director of Center for Global Health

February 3, 2020
The National Cancer Institute has named Dr. Satish Gopal director of the Center for Global Health. He assumes his new role today.

UNC and Shanghai collaborate on promising models for the global challenge of diabetes

February 3, 2020
Dr. Edwin Fisher and Peers for Progress have collaborated with colleagues in Shanghai on a paper showing the contributions of peer support to diabetes management as part of a special section of Translational Behavioral Medicine devoted to prevention and management of diabetes in varied international settings.

Correcting vaccine misinformation is a difficult process, UNC study shows

January 14, 2020
UNC-Chapel Hill researchers examined how negative media coverage of the HPV vaccine impacted vaccination rates in Denmark to better understand the damage misinformation causes.

Gillings research on broad-spectrum antiviral could aid public health response to coronavirus outbreaks

January 10, 2020
New research from scientists at the Gillings School reveals that, in mice, remdesivir is more therapeutically effective against the Middle East respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) than comparative antiviral treatments. This broad-spectrum antiviral drug could help public health workers respond more rapidly to coronavirus outbreaks.

Twin presence of obesity and undernutrition reflects shifts in global food systems

December 15, 2019
Being undernourished or overweight are no longer separate public health issues.

Sustainability is key for long-term success of Nigerian family planning initiatives

December 13, 2019
Family planning programs in Nigeria are successful in influencing the population to incorporate the practice of family planning and increase the use of contraception, but a plan to address the sustainability of these effects is necessary for long-term success, according to research from Dr. Ilene Speizer.