Global Research

Gillings faculty, students, and alumni have and continue to conduct research addressing some of the most challenging global public health issues of our time. We have over 80 faculty working across our eight departments who are conducting global health research which impacts public health practice and policy across more than 45 countries. In FY 21-22, our funding for research that included global components was $118 million, making up about 42% of total funding to the Gillings School.

We demonstrate leadership in global research through high-impact publications, leading technical consultations based on results of our research, working with funding agencies to establish research agenda, and providing expertise in the review of research grants for NIH, CDC, and other research foundations. The collaborative nature of our research is a hallmark of the global research at Gillings. This is reflected in the partnerships that faculty form with each other across disciplines, with students, and with international research partners. Gillings faculty place a high value on equity, fairness, and mentorship in the research relationships that we form for our global research through long-term collaborations that involve bidirectional learning. Building the next generation of global health research leaders is an important aspect of our research collaboration on and off campus.

Global Research Strengths

Our global research related to international nutrition, infectious disease epidemiology, water, sanitation and hygiene, health behavior, sexual and reproductive health, and environmental sciences led to major advances in reducing risks to human health, treatment, and care across the globe. . Current research strengths for the school are identified below highlighting those where Gillings has global expertise. These priorities leverage our existing strengths and take into account where the field of global health is moving in the future.

Strengths

Data science, design and implementation

Implementation and improvement science, evaluation and practice
Innovative analytical and intervention methods

Using research and policy to improve public health across NC and around the world

Lifecycle and families
Health equity
Emergent humanitarian crises

Preventing and reducing cancer, infectious and chronic diseases

Infectious and emerging infectious diseases
Cancer discovery, prevention, detection, and survivorship

Improving health from molecules and behaviors to communities and environment

Opioids, substance abuse, and mental health
Nutrition, behavior, and the environment
Drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene

Key Research Sites and Long-standing Partnerships

In partnership with The Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID), our faculty and students work in five international sites including Malawi, Zambia, Vietnam, China, and Liberia. The research support at these sites have grown from $12million in 2007 to $70,000,000 in 2020 (exclusive of grants and contracts in other departments dependent on IGHID). These sites were created in response to specific health needs at the sites and to address critical questions that effect the species and have grown over the years to incorporate a focus on many other health topics.

The sites have strengths in public health and biomedical research that includes focus on HIV/AIDS, cancer, maternal and child health, mental health, substance use, tuberculosis, burns, trauma surgery, water and sanitation, nutrition and emerging infectious diseases and far more. Gillings faculty are heavily engaged with and lead research conducted at these sites and Gillings has had had many bachelors, masters and doctoral students who have worked with faculty on projects at these sites.

IGHID Sites

Spotlight

Faculty
Student

Professor of Health Behavior

Vivian Go, PhD

“To me, global-local means that global can be right at your doorstep; that the exchange of ideas and research experiences can flow in all directions from local to international, international to local, local to local and international to international. It’s not a division of local versus global but rather a holistic approach.”

Gillings Around The Globe

Click a pin to see a project!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Global Health Team
globalsolutions@unc.edu

135 Dauer Drive
104 Rosenau Hall, CB #7415
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7415
(919) 843-3945

Combining food taxes and subsidies can lead to healthier grocery purchases for low-income households

READ

April 9, 2024
Households buy fewer sugary drinks and more fruits and vegetables under simulated tax policies — without losing money or feeling unsatisfied.

Research finds temperature disproportionately affects U.S. energy burdens

Researchers demonstrate how vital conditions enable perinatal well-being

New research highlights inequities in treatment of postpartum depressive symptoms

Researchers explore protective strategies in young adult alcohol use

See All Latest News