Woods brings science to N.C. communities’ fight against environmental hazards
January 31, 2022 For more than a decade, Dr. Courtney Woods has focused on participatory research – a method that allows her to tap local expertise to support communities experiencing environmental racism. With funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, she created the Environmental Justice Action Research Clinic. It will function like a legal clinic to provide timely technical support to local responses to critical environmental health concerns.
UNC researchers to lead 2 centers for $170M NIH Nutrition for Precision Health Consortium
January 31, 2022 Understanding how people differ in both their metabolism and their bodily response to what they eat and drink is critical to tailoring diets for an individual’s optimal health. To that end, Gillings School researchers will direct both a $13 million Nutrition Precision Health Clinical Center and a $19 million Metabolomics and Clinical Assay Center.
COVID-19’s indirect effects are claiming more lives than we realize
January 26, 2022 Social isolation, economic insecurity, barriers to health care access – Gillings epidemiologists have found that these indirect consequences of the pandemic are claiming lives that are not being reported in COVID-19 surveillance data, especially among populations of color and young people.
Phares appointed chief scientific officer at National Pharmaceutical Council
January 25, 2022 The National Pharmaceutical Council named Dr. Sharon Phares as their new chief scientific officer. In this role, the UNC Gillings alum will direct strategy and oversee research related to policy issues relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
UNC nutrition experts uncover structure of enzyme that could aid in disease treatment, prevention
January 25, 2022 Researchers at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute have uncovered the structure of the ALDH1L1 enzyme, which plays a critical role in predicting whether a person might be susceptible to metabolic diseases or cancer.
Energy inequity is an urgent public health issue, as Bronx fire illustrates
January 19, 2022 A new national analysis of United States household energy spending found that 16% of the country lives in energy poverty — defined as spending more than 6% of household income on energy bills. More than 5.2 million households living above the Federal Poverty Line still face energy poverty, and this struggle disproportionately burdens Black, Hispanic and Native American communities.
Provider recommendations boost likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination
January 14, 2022 People who receive COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from their doctor or health care provider are more likely to get vaccinated, according to a report from the CDC that includes research from Dr. Noel Brewer.
The pills to fight COVID-19
January 12, 2022 There are new weapons in the war against COVID-19: antiviral pills that fight the virus before it multiplies and causes major damage.
Study shows COVID-19 vaccines provide lasting protections
January 12, 2022 A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that, despite breakthrough infections, COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death. The findings support the use of boosters to provide ongoing protection.
