New study explores unique ethical challenges of early-phase HIV cure research
October 17, 2017 A new study from the Public Health Leadership Program examines the ethics of early-phase HIV cure research, which presents unique ethical challenges because it poses high risks for research participants in the hopes of achieving a great reward.
TB still major public health threat in China due to knowledge-practice gap, study finds
October 17, 2017 Although the prevalence of tuberculosis has more than halved in China since 1990, early diagnosis remains a challenge. A new study led by Dr. Sean Y. Sylvia provides, for the first time, data on the quality of TB care found at three different levels of the Chinese rural health system.
Study examines characteristics of deaths from drug overdose in North Carolina
October 17, 2017 According to study findings by maternal and child health doctoral student Anna Austin, death by drug overdose is an important and continuing public health concern in the U.S. The average self-inflicted drug overdose victim was 50 years old, female and white. In contrast, the average unintentional drug overdose victim was a 43-year-old male. Austin's findings were published Oct. 10 in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Allocation of public health research investments may disadvantage black Americans, study finds
October 10, 2017 “Do black lives matter in public health research and training?” This was the question posed in a recent study co-led by three alumni of the Gillings School, including Department of Epidemiology faculty member Dr. Shabbar Ranapurwala.
Five new Gillings Innovation Labs awarded
October 5, 2017 Five teams of Gillings School researchers and their collaborators have been awarded new funding for Gillings Innovation Laboratory awards (GILs), beginning this fall. Researchers include Drs. Orlando Coronell, Stephanie Engel, Emily Gower, Stephen Marshall, and Kristen Hassmiller Lich, PhD, and Steven Meshnick. The awards are administered by Research, Innovation and Global Solutions, the Gillings School unit that manages programs funded by the $50 million Gillings gift.
UNC researchers receive $61M grant to identify effective treatments for asthma
October 2, 2017 Dr. Anastasia Ivanova will lead a five-year, $61 million study to identify more effective treatments for asthma attacks and will do so by combining two important tools -- precision medicine and 'big data' analysis. The work is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Lancet report charts path toward health for sub-Saharan countries
September 26, 2017 Dr. Irene Agyepong, Gillings School alumna, is lead author of a new, comprehensive report that charts a roadmap for improved health among sub-Saharan Africans. Published in The Lancet, the report was co-authored by a number of public health researchers and policy makers around the world.
NIAID renews 5-year grant for research on emerging viruses
September 19, 2017 Dr. Ralph Baric is co-principal investigator on a grant that will develop new mouse models that replicate the genetic diversity found in humans and validate precision medicine models that predict human gene function following infection by emerging pathogens.
More treatment options needed for HIV-positive women with cervical dysplasia, study finds
September 18, 2017 Three researchers from the Gillings School are co-authors of an article that compares two treatments for cervical dysplasia, concluding that altogether different protocols are needed to optimally treat cervical dysplasia in women living with HIV.
Online calculator estimates the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health
September 15, 2017 Dr. Alison Stuebe led a group of researchers who developed an online calculator to estimate the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health. The research was published online Sept. 15 in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine.
