Two Gillings leaders advance research on innovative solutions to public health challenges
August 24, 2021 Drs. Mark Sobsey and Steven Meshnick were two early recipients of Gillings Innovation Lab awards that proposed public health improvements to global communities and provided instrumental mentorship to students and faculty at UNC and the Gillings School today.
Paving new paths to choline
August 23, 2021
UNC Nutrition Research Institute Assistant Professor Isis Trujillo studies choline, an essential nutrient that is critical for brain development in the womb.
Mother-infant hepatitis B treatment, prevention feasible in sub-Saharan Africa
August 20, 2021 A study in Lancet Global Health, co-authored by a UNC Gillings student, shows the feasibility and acceptance of hepatitis B virus testing, treatment and vaccination programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Chile’s Law of Food Labeling and Advertising encourages notably healthier choices
August 11, 2021 Chile’s package of healthy food policies successfully decreased purchases of unhealthy food and drinks during the initial implementation phase, according to a new study. Researchers say the significant reductions in calories and nutrients of concern (sugar, sodium and saturated fat) underscore the potential for heathy food policies to significantly affect public health — even in the short-term.
SuperSNAP helps food insecure households afford healthy foods
August 11, 2021 Led by UNC-Chapel Hill researchers, a new study showed that an additional $40 per month for SNAP beneficiaries substantially increased the purchase of healthier food options for people who struggle with food insecurity.
PFAS Testing Network releases final report, shares scientific recommendations for NC
August 10, 2021 PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are found in many common products and have been linked to negative health effects in animals, but their health effects in humans are largely unknown. In an effort to shed light on this concerning scientific question, researchers with the PFAS Testing (PFAST) Network have submitted a comprehensive report and accompanying recommendations to the North Carolina General Assembly.
Concern grows over the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in American diets
August 10, 2021 Ultra-processed foods are growing more pervasive in American diets, especially for kids. Drs. Katie Meyer and Lindsey Smith Taillie have co-authored an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association that calls for action to understand the role these foods play in the American food system and develop policies to reduce their consumption.
Drinking among first-year college students decreases during pandemic
August 9, 2021 First-year college students reported drinking less alcohol and having fewer episodes of binge drinking four months into the coronavirus pandemic than they were before the pandemic started, according to a study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Crisis pregnancy centers come up short in providing access to information on pregnancy options
August 9, 2021 New findings from a study co-authored by maternal and child health researchers at the Gillings School and the University of California at San Francisco suggest that crisis pregnancy centers are not meeting the needs of people seeking information on abortion.
Carolina to lead $15 million statewide COVID-19 surveillance program funded by NC Policy Collaboratory
July 26, 2021 A new surveillance program, led by UNC-Chapel Hill's Dirk Dittmer, Amir Barzin and Audrey Pettifor, will collect, sequence and share data on SARS-CoV-2 samples from across the state, providing real-time information on variants circulating in North Carolina.
