UNC researchers examine better treatment delivery options as opioid use disorders continue to increase
June 1, 2022 The number of people dying from opioid use disorder has skyrocketed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex Gertner, a recent UNC MD-PhD Program graduate, is focused on finding better ways to provide treatment in order to save lives.
Gaps in screening leave many NC children at risk of lead exposure
June 1, 2022 Exposure to lead can be harmful to a child's development. A new study led by Gillings School alumna Dr. Elizabeth Kamai suggests that North Carolina's current high-risk screening practices may fail to identify thousands of children with elevated blood lead levels.
The Abstract: May 31, 2022
May 31, 2022 Dr. Tanya Garcia receives a mentorship award, Dr. Eileen Barrett is named chair-elect of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians, and maternal and child health researchers publish a new report on workforce training.
Sanitation innovation holds promise but must consider risks to users
May 27, 2022 In an invited perspective written earlier this year, UNC Gillings faculty member Dr. Joe Brown weighs innovative strategies for more productive use of human and animal waste with potential negative side effects.
UNC research identifies genetic variations linked to brain activity, mental health
May 27, 2022 Researchers have uncovered 45 common genetic variations that could help health care providers better understand the genetic factors that impact behavioral and mental health and identify those who may be at higher risk for neurological disorders.
Cooperation rewards water utilities
May 25, 2022 Mark Twain is attributed with the quote, “Whisky is for drinking, and water is for fighting over!” But what if, when it comes to urban water utilities, cooperation yields more benefits than going it alone?
How would electric school bus charging benefit the power grid and environment?
May 25, 2022 In a recent study, faculty member Dr. Noah Kittner contributed to an innovative model that demonstrates how electric school bus charging schedules could aid in energy storage.
Floor waxing could be an important source of PFAS contamination, with increased occupational health risks for workers
May 25, 2022 There’s a special satisfaction that comes from walking on perfectly shined floors — but is it worth the potential risk to floor waxing workers? A study published earlier this year measured per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dust and airborne particulate matter during professional floor stripping and waxing. Researchers concluded that significantly higher levels of PFAS were present during floor waxing.
Researchers evaluate diagnostic testing landscape for tick-borne disease in the Southeast
May 25, 2022 Tick-borne disease and Lyme are not synonymous, especially in North Carolina. If anything, other pathogens like rickettsia and ehrlichia are much more common, and testing should reflect that, researchers say.
UNC-Chapel Hill receives $65M from NIH for antiviral drug development center
May 20, 2022 Building on the work of READDI, the NIH-funded center will develop oral antivirals to combat pandemic-level viruses like COVID-19.
