Two Gillings undergraduates selected as UNC Phillips Ambassadors
June 29, 2021 Fourteen undergraduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — including two with majors at the Gillings School — have been selected as Phillips Ambassadors for 2021 study abroad programs in Asia.
New universal vaccine effectively targets coronaviruses
June 22, 2021 Scientists at the UNC Gillings School have developed a universal vaccine that could protect against COVID-19, its variants — and the next coronavirus pandemic.
Ancestral diversity affects biomarkers of kidney function, study finds
June 3, 2021 DNA methylation (DNAm) is known to be linked with kidney function, but earlier research had not revealed whether human diversity affects this association. Now, a study has reported several new trans-ethnic and ethnic-specific DNAm associations with kidney function. This is an important finding for public health because it informs future steps to understand and address epigenomic diversity.
Gillings School students on the front lines of humanitarian health
June 1, 2021 The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health launched the Humanitarian Health Initiative to leverage the School’s global health expertise in support of humanitarian efforts around the world. A new series of internships tapped students to contribute to HHI efforts.
In South Africa, a tax on unhealthy beverages is changing what people drink
May 27, 2021 A UNC-Chapel Hill study of beverage consumption in a South African township shows that a country-wide tax on sugary beverages has worked to influence more healthy personal choices, with individuals reporting a reduction in the amount of sugar they drink.
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.
