North Carolina Policy Collaboratory distributes $29 million for COVID-19 research
July 22, 2020 The North Carolina Policy Collaboratory funded 85 projects across 14 UNC System schools, including $6.1 million for COVID-19 research at the Gillings School and $1 million allocated to each of the six historically minority-serving institutions.
New study supports remdesivir as COVID-19 treatment
July 9, 2020 Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Gilead Sciences report that remdesivir greatly inhibited SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in human lung cell cultures and also improved lung function in mice infected with the virus.
Gillings researchers identify potential strategy for rapid scale-up of COVID-19 testing
June 29, 2020 Researchers at the Gillings School have identified a possible testing model for SARS-CoV-2 that could rapidly and efficiently screen 2 to 20 times as many people as an individual molecular-based test could.
North Carolina sees highest estimates to-date in prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in 8-year-olds
June 25, 2020 The 2020 Community Report on Autism from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which includes research from Dr. Julie Daniels, has found that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder detected in 8-year-olds in North Carolina was significantly higher than the national average. It also found that the prevalence detected in 4-year-olds was lower.
UNC-Chapel Hill researchers create new type of COVID-19 antibody test
June 15, 2020 Scientists have created a test that pinpoints human antibodies specific to a unique part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The test can help document COVID-19 infections, identify asymptomatic virus infection and measure the level of immunity in individuals.
Researchers map how coronavirus infection travels through cells of nasal cavity and respiratory tract
June 2, 2020 A major study of novel coronavirus infection in human airways adds to evidence that wearing a mask is an important step toward limiting transmission of COVID-19. The lead authors of the study in the journal Cell are UNC-Chapel Hill virology expert Dr. Ralph Baric and pulmonary expert Dr. Richard Boucher.
‘Landmark’ study finds long-acting injectable drug highly effective in preventing HIV
June 1, 2020 A large-scale HIV study funded by NIAID and ViiV Healthcare halted early after cabotegravir, dosed every two months, showed higher efficacy than a daily oral pill.
UNC researchers say COVID-19 treatment tocilizumab should be used with caution
May 26, 2020 In the first COVID-19 case series study of tocilizumab in the United States, UNC researchers report sobering results. They say the drug should be used judiciously until randomized clinical trials determine tocilizumab’s true efficacy.
Gillings scientists study most potent neutralizing antibody against novel coronavirus to date
May 21, 2020 By “fishing” in a pool of more than one hundred billion potential antibodies — using a piece of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as bait — infectious disease scientists have isolated human monoclonal antibodies that completely neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
The Gillings Community Responds to COVID-19: Tracking the Spread
May 18, 2020 The asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 has created a significant challenge for public health experts. Learn how faculty and alumni in epidemiology, health behavior and biostatistics are working to track the spread of the disease through studies, contact tracing, modeling and more.
