Gillings researchers advance in the quest for a dengue vaccine
May 13, 2020 Dengue viruses are estimated to cause ~390 million infections and 100 million cases each year around the globe. Because infection with one of the four unique dengue strains does not provide lasting immunity to the other strains, it has been especially difficult to create an effective vaccine.
How important is therapy for expectant mothers with depression? Researchers found mental and financial benefits seven years later.
April 30, 2020 When pregnant women are depressed, how important is it that they receive therapy? A first-of-its-kind study found outsize positive effects on mothers’ mental health, financial status and parenting skills even seven years after the birth of their child — and the results could lead to big changes in global public policy. (Photo by Jake Brewer)
Remdesivir, developed through a UNC-Chapel Hill partnership, proves effective against COVID-19 in NIAID human clinical trials
April 29, 2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reported that data from an international clinical trial testing the broad-spectrum antiviral drug remdesivir showed “quite good news” and should result in a new standard of care for COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir was co-developed by researchers in the Baric Lab at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
A new antiviral drug heading into clinical trials offers hope for COVID-19 treatment — in part because it can be taken as a pill
April 6, 2020 Scientists are hopeful that a new drug — called EIDD-2801 — could change the way doctors treat COVID-19. The antiviral shows promise in reducing lung damage, has finished testing in mice and will soon move to human clinical trials.
These basic public health measures can slow the spread of COVID-19
March 30, 2020 Since the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was identified in December 2019, it has been transmitted around the globe. Currently, the World Health Organization reports 634,835 confirmed cases and 29,891 deaths worldwide.
Can social media help track the spread of disease?
March 30, 2020 Disease surveillance means monitoring the spread of disease through populations in order to establish patterns and minimize harm caused by outbreaks. In a recent article, UNC researchers explored how to effectively and ethically include social media and broader Internet tracking as part of public health surveillance.
5-year survival rates have improved — for some cancers — in adolescents and young adults
March 5, 2020 The 5-year survival rate for adolescents and young adults with cancer significantly improved from 1975 to 2005 in the United States overall, but this was not the case for all cancers.
Study in more than 165,000 participants supports connection between particulate matter air pollution and inflammation
January 21, 2020 A new study indicates that mid- to long-duration exposure to ambient particulate matter in air pollution is associated with increased inflammatory responses in diverse U.S. populations. This research supports an already established connection between exposure to particulate matter and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
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.
Hair dye, chemical straighteners linked with breast cancer in large study
December 19, 2019 Women who routinely use permanent hair dye may have a higher risk of breast cancer, according to research conducted by Carolyn Eberle, a doctoral student of epidemiology at the Gillings School.
