Expertscape recognizes several Gillings faculty as top-rated in their fields
May 27, 2021 Expertscape, an online database that assesses and ranks the expertise and contributions of physicians and medical institutions worldwide, rated multiple UNC biomedical researchers as top-rated experts in their fields for its 2021 rankings.
Findings from Kenya: Male circumcision reduces HPV infections
May 10, 2021 It’s well-established that male circumcision reduces the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in men. A recent study from Kenya, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, finds that male circumcision also reduces men’s risk of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Untethering mothers: Soft, comfortable sensors are first to comprehensively monitor pregnant women and their babies without wires
May 10, 2021 The first technology to link a birthing parent’s physical position during labor with vital signs is comprised of three soft, flexible wireless sensors that allow for greater movement. The devices were tested alongside traditional monitoring systems in both high- and low-resource settings, and researchers report, "Our wireless devices actually exceed the capabilities of monitoring systems currently used in top hospitals." The technology also could be used for remote monitoring between in-person appointments.
Researchers develop method for evaluating long-term COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
April 27, 2021 The large-scale deployment of effective vaccines is globally recognized as the best way to end the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the high efficacy reported for vaccines currently in use — like Pfizer and Moderna — is based on an average follow-up time of only about two months after the second dose. The question remains: Will people need booster vaccinations?
South African beverage tax has reduced purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages
April 8, 2021 A new study shows that South Africa’s 2018 tax on sugary beverages led to a reduction in purchases of the beverages, which could mean purchasers are consuming less excess sugar and fewer calories.
New ozone air pollution maps support Global Burden of Disease study
March 8, 2021 New research led by UNC Gillings School students and faculty has mapped global ground-level ozone concentrations by year using a data fusion. This is the first time this method has been applied to ozone observations globally. The findings were used by the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study, which estimated that about 365,000 people around the world died in 2019 from exposure to ozone pollution.
The next generation of public health leaders must focus on human rights
March 4, 2021 Twelve students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill teamed up to publish a perspective in the American Journal of Public Health about why and how they — the next generation of public health leaders — must center human rights in their work.
COVID-19 creates challenges and improvements to care for youth with diabetes around the world
March 2, 2021 For pediatric diabetes clinics worldwide, the pivot to telemedicine during the pandemic has been challenging, but it has also presented opportunities for improved care, according to a new study led by Gillings School nutrition researchers.
Regional variations in gut microbiota could contribute to varying health effects in China
February 18, 2021 Regional factors appear to play a significant role in the diversity of gut microbiota and could predict health effects in certain populations, according to the results of a research collaboration between UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte and the National Institute for Nutrition and Health in Beijing, China.
Broad spectrum antiviral proves highly effective at preventing, treating COVID-19 infection
February 9, 2021 Using a novel in vivo research model containing human lung tissue, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC School of Medicine scientists demonstrated that the experimental drug EIDD-2801 proved dramatically effective at preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection.