health research projects

Research Topics & Ideas: Healthcare

F inding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a healthcare-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of healthcare-related research ideas and topic thought-starters across a range of healthcare fields, including allopathic and alternative medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacology and public health.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the healthcare domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic.

Overview: Healthcare Research Topics

• Allopathic medicine
• Alternative /complementary medicine
• Veterinary medicine
• Physical therapy/ rehab
• Optometry and ophthalmology
• Pharmacy and pharmacology
• Public health
• Examples of healthcare-related dissertations

Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine

• The effectiveness of telemedicine in remote elderly patient care
• The impact of stress on the immune system of cancer patients
• The effects of a plant-based diet on chronic diseases such as diabetes
• The use of AI in early cancer diagnosis and treatment
• The role of the gut microbiome in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• The efficacy of mindfulness meditation in reducing chronic pain: A systematic review
• The benefits and drawbacks of electronic health records in a developing country
• The effects of environmental pollution on breast milk quality
• The use of personalized medicine in treating genetic disorders
• The impact of social determinants of health on chronic diseases in Asia
• The role of high-intensity interval training in improving cardiovascular health
• The efficacy of using probiotics for gut health in pregnant women
• The impact of poor sleep on the treatment of chronic illnesses
• The role of inflammation in the development of chronic diseases such as lupus
• The effectiveness of physiotherapy in pain control post-surgery

Topics & Ideas: Alternative Medicine

• The benefits of herbal medicine in treating young asthma patients
• The use of acupuncture in treating infertility in women over 40 years of age
• The effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating mental health disorders: A systematic review
• The role of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety post-surgery
• The impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing high blood pressure
• The use of chiropractic therapy in treating back pain of pregnant women
• The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine such as Shun-Qi-Tong-Xie (SQTX) in treating digestive disorders in China
• The impact of yoga on physical and mental health in adolescents
• The benefits of hydrotherapy in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis
• The role of Reiki in promoting healing and relaxation post birth
• The effectiveness of naturopathy in treating skin conditions such as eczema
• The use of deep tissue massage therapy in reducing chronic pain in amputees
• The impact of tai chi on the treatment of anxiety and depression
• The benefits of reflexology in treating stress, anxiety and chronic fatigue
• The role of acupuncture in the prophylactic management of headaches and migraines

Topics & Ideas: Dentistry

• The impact of sugar consumption on the oral health of infants
• The use of digital dentistry in improving patient care: A systematic review
• The efficacy of orthodontic treatments in correcting bite problems in adults
• The role of dental hygiene in preventing gum disease in patients with dental bridges
• The impact of smoking on oral health and tobacco cessation support from UK dentists
• The benefits of dental implants in restoring missing teeth in adolescents
• The use of lasers in dental procedures such as root canals
• The efficacy of root canal treatment using high-frequency electric pulses in saving infected teeth
• The role of fluoride in promoting remineralization and slowing down demineralization
• The impact of stress-induced reflux on oral health
• The benefits of dental crowns in restoring damaged teeth in elderly patients
• The use of sedation dentistry in managing dental anxiety in children
• The efficacy of teeth whitening treatments in improving dental aesthetics in patients with braces
• The role of orthodontic appliances in improving well-being
• The impact of periodontal disease on overall health and chronic illnesses

Topics & Ideas: Veterinary Medicine

• The impact of nutrition on broiler chicken production
• The role of vaccines in disease prevention in horses
• The importance of parasite control in animal health in piggeries
• The impact of animal behaviour on welfare in the dairy industry
• The effects of environmental pollution on the health of cattle
• The role of veterinary technology such as MRI in animal care
• The importance of pain management in post-surgery health outcomes
• The impact of genetics on animal health and disease in layer chickens
• The effectiveness of alternative therapies in veterinary medicine: A systematic review
• The role of veterinary medicine in public health: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of climate change on animal health and infectious diseases in animals
• The importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine and sustainable agriculture
• The effects of the human-animal bond on canine health
• The role of veterinary medicine in conservation efforts: A case study of Rhinoceros poaching in Africa
• The impact of veterinary research of new vaccines on animal health

Topics & Ideas: Physical Therapy/Rehab

• The efficacy of aquatic therapy in improving joint mobility and strength in polio patients
• The impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes in Germany
• The effect of kinesiotaping on reducing knee pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain
• A comparison of manual therapy and yoga exercise therapy in the management of low back pain
• The use of wearable technology in physical rehabilitation and the impact on patient adherence to a rehabilitation plan
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions in physical therapy in adolescents
• The effects of resistance training on individuals with Parkinson’s disease
• The role of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia
• The impact of cognitive-behavioural therapy in physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain
• The use of virtual reality in physical rehabilitation of sports injuries
• The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle function and strength in athletes
• The role of physical therapy in the management of stroke recovery: A systematic review
• The impact of pilates on mental health in individuals with depression
• The use of thermal modalities in physical therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation
• The effect of strength training on balance and gait in elderly patients

Need a helping hand?

Topics & Ideas: Optometry & Opthalmology

• The impact of screen time on the vision and ocular health of children under the age of 5
• The effects of blue light exposure from digital devices on ocular health
• The role of dietary interventions, such as the intake of whole grains, in the management of age-related macular degeneration
• The use of telemedicine in optometry and ophthalmology in the UK
• The impact of myopia control interventions on African American children’s vision
• The use of contact lenses in the management of dry eye syndrome: different treatment options
• The effects of visual rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury
• The role of low vision rehabilitation in individuals with age-related vision loss: challenges and solutions
• The impact of environmental air pollution on ocular health
• The effectiveness of orthokeratology in myopia control compared to contact lenses
• The role of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in ocular health
• The effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds on ocular health
• The impact of computer vision syndrome on long-term visual function
• The use of novel diagnostic tools in optometry and ophthalmology in developing countries
• The effects of virtual reality on visual perception and ocular health: an examination of dry eye syndrome and neurologic symptoms

Topics & Ideas: Pharmacy & Pharmacology

• The impact of medication adherence on patient outcomes in cystic fibrosis
• The use of personalized medicine in the management of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
• The effects of pharmacogenomics on drug response and toxicity in cancer patients
• The role of pharmacists in the management of chronic pain in primary care
• The impact of drug-drug interactions on patient mental health outcomes
• The use of telepharmacy in healthcare: Present status and future potential
• The effects of herbal and dietary supplements on drug efficacy and toxicity
• The role of pharmacists in the management of type 1 diabetes
• The impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• The use of technology in medication management in the USA
• The effects of smoking on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: A case study of clozapine
• Leveraging the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing opioid use disorder
• The impact of the opioid epidemic on public health in a developing country
• The use of biosimilars in the management of the skin condition psoriasis
• The effects of the Affordable Care Act on medication utilization and patient outcomes in African Americans

Topics & Ideas: Public Health

• The impact of the built environment and urbanisation on physical activity and obesity
• The effects of food insecurity on health outcomes in Zimbabwe
• The role of community-based participatory research in addressing health disparities
• The impact of social determinants of health, such as racism, on population health
• The effects of heat waves on public health
• The role of telehealth in addressing healthcare access and equity in South America
• The impact of gun violence on public health in South Africa
• The effects of chlorofluorocarbons air pollution on respiratory health
• The role of public health interventions in reducing health disparities in the USA
• The impact of the United States Affordable Care Act on access to healthcare and health outcomes
• The effects of water insecurity on health outcomes in the Middle East
• The role of community health workers in addressing healthcare access and equity in low-income countries
• The impact of mass incarceration on public health and behavioural health of a community
• The effects of floods on public health and healthcare systems
• The role of social media in public health communication and behaviour change in adolescents

Examples: Healthcare Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a healthcare-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various healthcare-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Improving Follow-Up Care for Homeless Populations in North County San Diego (Sanchez, 2021)
• On the Incentives of Medicare’s Hospital Reimbursement and an Examination of Exchangeability (Elzinga, 2016)
• Managing the healthcare crisis: the career narratives of nurses (Krueger, 2021)
• Methods for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric haematology-oncology patients: A systematic literature review (Balkan, 2020)
• Farms in Healthcare: Enhancing Knowledge, Sharing, and Collaboration (Garramone, 2019)
• When machine learning meets healthcare: towards knowledge incorporation in multimodal healthcare analytics (Yuan, 2020)
• Integrated behavioural healthcare: The future of rural mental health (Fox, 2019)
• Healthcare service use patterns among autistic adults: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (Gilmore, 2021)
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Combatting Burnout and Compassionate Fatigue among Mental Health Caregivers (Lundquist, 2022)
• Transgender and gender-diverse people’s perceptions of gender-inclusive healthcare access and associated hope for the future (Wille, 2021)
• Efficient Neural Network Synthesis and Its Application in Smart Healthcare (Hassantabar, 2022)
• The Experience of Female Veterans and Health-Seeking Behaviors (Switzer, 2022)
• Machine learning applications towards risk prediction and cost forecasting in healthcare (Singh, 2022)
• Does Variation in the Nursing Home Inspection Process Explain Disparity in Regulatory Outcomes? (Fox, 2020)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

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18 Comments

I need topics that will match the Msc program am running in healthcare research please

Hello Mabel,

I can help you with a good topic, kindly provide your email let’s have a good discussion on this.

Can you provide some research topics and ideas on Immunology?

Thank you to create new knowledge on research problem verse research topic

Help on problem statement on teen pregnancy

This post might be useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-problem-statement/

can you give me research titles that i can conduct as a school nurse

can you provide me with a research topic on healthcare related topics to a qqi level 5 student

Please can someone help me with research topics in public health ?

Hello I have requirement of Health related latest research issue/topics for my social media speeches. If possible pls share health issues , diagnosis, treatment.

I would like a topic thought around first-line support for Gender-Based Violence for survivors or one related to prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Please can I be helped with a master’s research topic in either chemical pathology or hematology or immunology? thanks

Can u please provide me with a research topic on occupational health and safety at the health sector

Good day kindly help provide me with Ph.D. Public health topics on Reproductive and Maternal Health, interventional studies on Health Education

may you assist me with a good easy healthcare administration study topic

May you assist me in finding a research topic on nutrition,physical activity and obesity. On the impact on children

I have been racking my brain for a while on what topic will be suitable for my PhD in health informatics. I want a qualitative topic as this is my strong area.

Hi, may I please be assisted with research topics in the medical laboratory sciences

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• Read more about GPH Courses: 1) Protecting the World’s Health: Triumphs and Challenges and 2) Tackling Global Health Disparities through Implementation Science Research

GPH Emerging Leaders Program

Emerging Leaders Program Leads Brittany Edghill and Christopher Whitehead took a group of undergraduates from the GPH Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) on an exciting trip to the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Their goal for the trip was to hone in on how the program's themes of Innovation and Storytelling, impact public health at the domestic and global level.

• Read more about GPH Emerging Leaders Program

Hawai'i Budget and Policy Center

A coalition of class action litigation to improve the health of low income households and increase economic and educational opportunities. Outreach also includes service projects that go beyond the law such as campaigns around the social determinants of health.

• Read more about Hawai'i Budget and Policy Center

HEAL International

Education and training for Community health facilitators when it comes to sexual health in the community. HEAL International also operates in Arizona providing resources for youth who have experienced sex trafficking.

• Read more about HEAL International

Health Right International and Partners for Health & Development in Africa (PHDA)

Addressing mental health issues and adherence to ARV medications among clients at SWOP clinics in Nairobi. The organization also does extensive work in maternal health care for women by constructing maternity waiting rooms and providing more educational resources in the region.

• Read more about Health Right International and Partners for Health & Development in Africa (PHDA)

HealthRight Global Network Retreat

• Read more about HealthRight Global Network Retreat

HealthRight International: Providing Psychological Support to Children through Barnahus Centers

• Read more about HealthRight International: Providing Psychological Support to Children through Barnahus Centers

HealthRight Summer Internship Program Kenya Trip

• Read more about HealthRight Summer Internship Program Kenya Trip

HEART Women & Girls

A program to ensure that Muslim women on college campuses have access to sexual health resources. HEART aims to ensure that muslim students have the language to confront sexual violence and the resources to move forward if it happens.

• Read more about HEART Women & Girls

Heroin Cessation and HIV Risk: A Case-Control Study (NIH)

The purpose of this case-control study is to characterize the prognostic indicators, including HIV infection, for the positive outcome of sustained heroin cessation among persons with a prior history of chronic heroin use within economically disadvantaged, predominantly racial/ethnic minority neighborhoods in New York City (NYC). With drug use as a major risk factor for HIV and a chronic relapsing condition, identifying factors that promote sustained cessation can be key to enhancing HIV prevention and treatment efforts.

• Read more about Heroin Cessation and HIV Risk: A Case-Control Study (NIH)

Hurricane Disaster Management Plan during COVID-19 Pandemic

A disaster plan to prepare the public for emergency procedures in case of natural disaster during hurricane season while also in the midst of a pandemic.

• Read more about Hurricane Disaster Management Plan during COVID-19 Pandemic

Identifying Barriers and Opportunities to Essential Medical and Psychosocial Services Among Women Who Inject Drugs in Ukraine

Research focusing on the barriers to medical and psychosocial services for women. More specifically, looking at sexual and reproductive health services in Ukraine. Students and faculty worked to inform future grant applications and create models to increase access to services for WWID in Ukraine.

• Read more about Identifying Barriers and Opportunities to Essential Medical and Psychosocial Services Among Women Who Inject Drugs in Ukraine

Impact of Health Department Worker Safety Training on Health Impacts After Sandy (Columbia)(CDC)

The objective of the research is to identify data gaps, build on existing approaches and methodologies, and increase knowledge about exposures to hazardous pollutants, chemicals and other related physical and mental health impacts during response and recovery activities following Hurricane Sandy.

• Read more about Impact of Health Department Worker Safety Training on Health Impacts After Sandy (Columbia)(CDC)

Impact of Health Reform on Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Programs (Rhode Island Hospital)(NIH)

This study will examine how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 affected the nation's outpatient substance abuse treatment system - a health services sector with important effects on the public health. It will thus contribute to our understanding of the impact of the PPACA and related policy changes on health service delivery in substance abuse treatment programs. Such information will enable policy makers and stakeholders to determine the effect of the PPACA in improving the accessibility and quality of substance abuse treatment.

• Read more about Impact of Health Reform on Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Programs (Rhode Island Hospital)(NIH)

Impact of Neighborhoods and Networks on HIV Risk and Care Behaviors Among Black MSM in the Deep South

• Read more about Impact of Neighborhoods and Networks on HIV Risk and Care Behaviors Among Black MSM in the Deep South

Impact of Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 on the Physical and Mental Health of an Essential Workgroup: New York City Transit Workers

Since early March 2020, Drs. Robyn Gershon, Alexis Merdjanoff, and Rachael Piltch-Loeb met with the leadership of the Transport Workers Union, Local 100 (TWU) to collaborate on research that was a first step toward determining risk factors for COVID-19 exposure in this essential workforce.

• Read more about Impact of Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 on the Physical and Mental Health of an Essential Workgroup: New York City Transit Workers

Implementing tobacco use treatment in HIV clinics in Vietnam

A program of translational, population-based, and policy-relevant research. The goal of the project is to optimize implementation of tobacco use treatment in health care delivery systems aw erll as accelerate implementation of tobacco control policies. Innovation was key to developing an approach to making treatment of nicotine addiction more accessible. 

• Read more about Implementing tobacco use treatment in HIV clinics in Vietnam

Independent Drivers Guild NYC COVID-19 Driver Safety Training

• Read more about Independent Drivers Guild NYC COVID-19 Driver Safety Training

Integrated Community-Clinical linkage model to promote weight loss among South Asians with pre-diabetes

This project includes a series of tests intended to test the efficacy of an integrated EHR-CHW intervention among South Asians at risk for diabetes. The project took place over a five month time period documenting group sessions, action plans, and follow-up phone calls.

• Read more about Integrated Community-Clinical linkage model to promote weight loss among South Asians with pre-diabetes

Ivory Coast Mothers and Children

GPH worked with Ivory Coast mothers and Children on their vaccine initiative in Braffoueby. The effort included vaccinating children, distributing prenatal vitamins and vitamin A to the community.

• Read more about Ivory Coast Mothers and Children

Keeping Pace: Dynamic Assessment of Environment and Exercise Using Personal Health Data

An agile research proposal from the Health Data Exploration Project, this project will use data from RunKeeper to understand how relationships between the built environment and exercise change over time.

• Read more about Keeping Pace: Dynamic Assessment of Environment and Exercise Using Personal Health Data

LABOR MANAGEMENT PROJECT WORKSITE WELLNESS PROGRAM (United Healthcare Workers East)

The 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes are working together to strengthen worksite wellness activities to improve health outcomes for 1199SEIU members. 1) Two key activities are proposed to support the LMP Worksite Wellness Program: Technical assistance will be provided to support worksite wellness projects funded by the LMP. 2) A strategic plan will be developed to maximize the effectiveness of the LMP Worksite Wellness Program. Key questions and issues to be addressed include Dr.

• Read more about LABOR MANAGEMENT PROJECT WORKSITE WELLNESS PROGRAM (United Healthcare Workers East)

Li Ka Shing Foundation Initiative for Global Mental Health and Wellness

• Read more about Li Ka Shing Foundation Initiative for Global Mental Health and Wellness

Management of Flooding in Karachi, Pakistan

A team effort to create a disaster plan to aid in the creation of a cost effective sewage system and an evacuation plan for flooding and future natural disasters by collaborating with the NDMA. The plan was also created to work with the Orangi Pilot Project to address the threat to low income families during disasters.

• Read more about Management of Flooding in Karachi, Pakistan

Measuring Playground Utilization in New York City (New Yorkers for Parks)

Playgrounds are assumed to be an important resource for physical activity. This study investigates seasonal utilization, user preferences, and perceptions of safety and upkeep of public playgrounds in New York City. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2010 to January 2011 across 10 playgrounds in low/middle income neighborhoods in each of the five boroughs in New York City. A total of 1,396 adults accompanying children were surveyed. Outcomes included playground as main place of outdoor play, and perceptions of playground upkeep and safety.

• Read more about Measuring Playground Utilization in New York City (New Yorkers for Parks)

Mental Health and PrEP Adherence among Male Sex Workers in Malindi, Kenya

• Read more about Mental Health and PrEP Adherence among Male Sex Workers in Malindi, Kenya

Mental Health in PrEP Adherence Among Male Sex Workers in Malindi, Kenya

• Read more about Mental Health in PrEP Adherence Among Male Sex Workers in Malindi, Kenya

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF FILARIAL ENDOSYMBIOSIS (New York Blood Center) (NIH)

Nematodes cause the most common parasitic infections of humans, and the tissue-dwelling filarial worms produce the most severe pathology associated with these infections. Current control programs, however, which are universally based upon the mass distribution of a small arsenal of drugs are exceptionally vulnerable to failure in the event resistance develops. What is lacking is a method to kill or permanently sterilize the adult female parasites, making it critically important to support additional research leading to the discovery of novel drug targets.

• Read more about MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF FILARIAL ENDOSYMBIOSIS (New York Blood Center) (NIH)

MPH Students' Internship at UNICEF Working with Rohingya Refugees

• Read more about MPH Students' Internship at UNICEF Working with Rohingya Refugees

Mycetoma Reduction and Prevention in Sudan

A student project designing a patient support system for mycetoma patients. The project is supported by the SAMU-MSF and Mediforum Mediclinic Hospital, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Mycetoma Research Center.

• Read more about Mycetoma Reduction and Prevention in Sudan

NATIONAL EVALUATION OF THE ROBERT WOOD JONHSON FOUNDATION'S URBAN HEALTH INITIATIVE

Diana served as the project director for the evaluation, a twelve-year study of multi-million dollar study.

• Read more about NATIONAL EVALUATION OF THE ROBERT WOOD JONHSON FOUNDATION'S URBAN HEALTH INITIATIVE

National Nutrition Policy and World Food Programme Interventions

The United Nations World Food Program led this initiative to find cost-effective options for better nutritional habits in Madagascar. The project included a bottleneck analysis of national nutrition policy and WFP nutrition programming.

• Read more about National Nutrition Policy and World Food Programme Interventions

Neighbourhood Old Age Homes (NOAH)

An effort to provide a better quality of life for social pensioners in South Africa. NOAH provides assistant living communities, health care and community facilities. Their initiative also addresses the mental stresses of the community by working to provide counseling and support services.

• Read more about Neighbourhood Old Age Homes (NOAH)

Neurology Mission

A neurology mission to evaluate neurological concerns of patients in the Napo Province. During the mission, physicians provide free medical resources alongside 500 volunteers.

• Read more about Neurology Mission

NEW JERSEY SANDY CHILD AND FAMILY STUDY (Rutgers) (NJ-S-CAFH)

The Program on Population Recovery and Resiliency at NYU GPH will provide Rutgers University with research services related to their proposed contract with the State of New Jersey to conduct an assessment of populations affected by the October 2012 Superstorm Sandy.

• Read more about NEW JERSEY SANDY CHILD AND FAMILY STUDY (Rutgers) (NJ-S-CAFH)

Observing Individual Behaviors Outside of COVID-19 Hotspots

• Read more about Observing Individual Behaviors Outside of COVID-19 Hotspots

Omics-Based Predictive Modeling of Age-Dependent Outcome to Influenza Infection (NIH)

The focus of this project is to integrate multi-scale data collected over the course of influenza infections-including system-wide transcriptomics and meta- transcriptomics, immunological response and physiological markers, along with viral diversity-in order to perform network analyses and develop computational models that predict severe disease outcome.

• Read more about Omics-Based Predictive Modeling of Age-Dependent Outcome to Influenza Infection (NIH)

One World Health

A series of sustainable efforts to provide more affordable healthcare services and facilities to improve the quality of life in those communities. The ultimate goal of One World Health is for those facilities to become self-sufficient within 18 to 24 months.

• Read more about One World Health

OneWorld Health Internship

• Read more about OneWorld Health Internship

Optimizing the implementation of tobacco use treatment in the context of lung cancer screening

Working with the Lung Cancer Alliance, 18 heterogeneous lung cancer screening sites were observed to To estimate the cost and incremental cost-effectiveness of evidence based tobacco treatment components and creating effective models for smoking cessation treatment in lung cancer screening settings.

• Read more about Optimizing the implementation of tobacco use treatment in the context of lung cancer screening

PAN Foundation

PAN Foundation works with federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening chronic and rare diseases with out-of-pocket costs for prescribed medicines to come up with initiatives to improve the quality of life for patients.

• Read more about PAN Foundation

PATHOGENESIS OF OBSTRUCTION/EMPHYSEMA AND THE MICROBIOME (POEM) IN HIV (U of Pittsburgh)(NIH)

Application of metagenomic techniques will allow us to determine patterns and changes in the population of microbes that play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of emphysema in this population. The overall goals of this proposal are to determine the respiratory microbial flora (or microbiota) in HIV-I- and HIV- subjects and to establish its role in pathogenesis and progression of HIV-associated COPD using our ongoing cohorts. Specific aims of the proposal are: 1. To compare the microbial community structure in the respiratory tract in subjects with and without HIV infection. 2.

• Read more about PATHOGENESIS OF OBSTRUCTION/EMPHYSEMA AND THE MICROBIOME (POEM) IN HIV (U of Pittsburgh)(NIH)

PCOS Challenge

A non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of women with PCOS by improving communication tools used with patients to learn about their treatment options and increase patient education in evidence based treatment options.

• Read more about PCOS Challenge

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Access and Uptake Among Marginalized Women Who Use Drugs in Paris, France

• Read more about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Access and Uptake Among Marginalized Women Who Use Drugs in Paris, France

PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS UPTAKE AND ADHERENCE AMONG MALE SEX WORKERS IN MOMBASSAM, KENYA

HealthRight International and the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) will evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infections in a population of male sex workers (MSW) in eastern Kenya. This project aims to be among the first to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on HIV risk among male sex workers (MSW) in Malindi, Kenya.

• Read more about PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS UPTAKE AND ADHERENCE AMONG MALE SEX WORKERS IN MOMBASSAM, KENYA

Project 18 (P18) Neighborhood Study

• Read more about Project 18 (P18) Neighborhood Study

Project HEED (Help Educate to Eliminate Diabetes)

Project HEED provides workshops to help those looking for lifestyle changes to reduce the impact of diabetes in adults who are of Caribbean descent. The program utilizes community-based research methods in a peer-led environment.

• Read more about Project HEED (Help Educate to Eliminate Diabetes)

A project focused on continuous quality improvement and scale-up methods to reduce heterosexual acquisition of HIV through volunteer medical male circumcision programming in East and South Africa. Another aim of this project is to optimize existing voluntary male medical circumcision clinics and scaling up sustainable models for maintaining early infant male circumcision coverage.

• Read more about Project IQ

Project P-18 Viral

This ancillary study of HPV and HSV-1 and -2 infection as part of the P18 Cohort Study of racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse YMSM seek to (1) to detect cases of oral and anal HPV infection through site-specific PCR testing and clinically significant HPV subtype through serotyping and to estimate HPV persistence and clearance rates; (2) to identify uptake and completion of HPV vaccination via a combination of self-reported vaccination history in addition to New York State HPV vaccine registry verification; (3) to determine the prevalence and

• Read more about Project P-18 Viral

Project UPLIFT (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts)

A program that teaches skills to treat and prevent depression in English-speaking PWE via telephone. Activities included in the program were focus groups for Spanish-speaking adults with epilepsy. 

• Read more about Project UPLIFT (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts)

Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study

• Read more about Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study

Reducing Stigma and Improve Adherence in HIV+ Pregnant Women in Botswana

• Read more about Reducing Stigma and Improve Adherence in HIV+ Pregnant Women in Botswana

Researching Short- and Long-Term Dangers of Chemical Contaminants to Early Childhood Development

• Read more about Researching Short- and Long-Term Dangers of Chemical Contaminants to Early Childhood Development

Roots of Health

An organization working to provide reproductive health services in the Philippines such as reproductive health classes and clinical services that focus on educating the next generation of women and girls on their bodies and resources to get help and stay protected.

• Read more about Roots of Health

SHOREline (Columbia) (Baton Rouge Area Foundation)

The project has the following objectives:

1. Analyze the GCPI survey data and develop a journal article in collaboration with NCDP;

2. Provide overall strategic direction for the SHOREline youth development program, which includes the development of foundational documents, provision of guidance to the chapters and field coordinators, and development of a long-term sustainability plan;

3. Development and dissemination of a standardized didactic and project-based learning curriculum to participating SHOREline high schools;   

• Read more about SHOREline (Columbia) (Baton Rouge Area Foundation)

T.E.A.L (Tell Every Amazing Lady) about Ovarian Cancer is a national movement dedicated to informing more women about the signs to look for and treatment options for ovarian cancer.

• Read more about T.E.A.L

TAILOR PEER-BASED SLEEP HEALTH EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN BLACKS WITH OSA (NYU SoM)(NIH)

This collaborative research project will build capacity to support evaluation and referral of black men and women at risk for sleep apnea at the community level. It will examine whether a culturally and linguistically tailored peer-based sleep health intervention will increase adherence to recommended sleep apnea screening and treatment among blacks in barbershops, beauty salons and churches. Three hundred and ninety eight blacks will be enrolled in the study and followed for a year to evaluate intervention responses and examine environmental drivers of health disparities.

• Read more about TAILOR PEER-BASED SLEEP HEALTH EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN BLACKS WITH OSA (NYU SoM)(NIH)

The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness provides community through safe spaces and support groups for individuals working through illness. Their postdoctoral fellowship puts students alongside a clinical team that treats uninsured patients.

• Read more about The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Interfaith Public Health Network

IPHN partners with other organizations to draw attention to the issues surrounding the social determinants of health and mobilize faith communities to take action with barriers to health as a result of racism, income, employment and poverty to name a few.

• Read more about The Interfaith Public Health Network

The Restore Cup: Developing a Theory of Change

The study of an inexpensive medical device for women with obstetric fibula in Sub-Saharan South Africa. The NYU Global Health team is apart of the group conducting clinical trials for women who may be preparing for surgery or cannot access a successful surgery.

• Read more about The Restore Cup: Developing a Theory of Change

THE ZIKA WOMEN'S PANEL STUDY

The study is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, examines intra-individual change in risk perception of the Zika virus among a panel of 200 women of child-bearing age as the science and the epidemiology evolve.

• Read more about THE ZIKA WOMEN'S PANEL STUDY

Themes of Residual Colonization in Migration and Health Research in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Fieldwork focusing on how residual colonization impacts migration and health research in South Africa today. A team asks questions that gets to the core of how migration impacts economic policy and institutions.

• Read more about Themes of Residual Colonization in Migration and Health Research in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Thrive London

An initiative from the Mayor of London in collaboration with Greater London Authority to improve mental health in the city. The initiative includes funding for youth organizations and student societies to improve the awareness and well-being of young people when it comes to their mental health.

• Read more about Thrive London

Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium

A program focusing on the predictors of evaluation in child contacts of TB patients.

• Read more about Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium

Ukraine PrEP Use

Ukraine has the second highest HIV epidemic in Europe. Researchers are looking to assess the the use of PrEP in a pilot program led by The Alliance for Public Health in Ukraine. The project also aims to study the feasibility and costs of two PrEP program models for MSM in Ukraine.

• Read more about Ukraine PrEP Use

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFUSION AND IMPACT OF STATE ALCOHOL AND TRAFFIC POLICIES (NIH)

Traffic fatalities are the second largest contributor to years of life lost before age 75 and are the leading cause of death among youth aged 15-24 years. Alcohol involvement in these crashes has remained relatively steady despite overall declines in traffic fatality rates. Public policies (laws, regulations, penalties) concerning alcohol and car safety have contributed to these declines, but there is enormous variation in policies among states. To date, little scholarship has systematically investigated the impact of such a diverse regulatory environment on health outcomes.

• Read more about UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFUSION AND IMPACT OF STATE ALCOHOL AND TRAFFIC POLICIES (NIH)

Using Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to Optimize a Cost-effective, Sustainable and Scalable Smoking Cessation Package for Smokers in HIV Clinical Care

• Read more about Using Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to Optimize a Cost-effective, Sustainable and Scalable Smoking Cessation Package for Smokers in HIV Clinical Care

Using SMS Data To Improve Ebola Models and Estimate the Impact of Ebola on Healthcare Seeking Behavior in Liberia

Awarded to Dr. Chunara (GIPH) and Dr. Karen Grepin (Wagner), in this project, this study will crowdsource information about Ebola incidence and related-health behaviors in Liberia using SMS.

• Read more about Using SMS Data To Improve Ebola Models and Estimate the Impact of Ebola on Healthcare Seeking Behavior in Liberia

Voices and Perspectives on Migrant Health in Milan, Italy

This qualitative research project focuses on migrant health in the Lombardi region of Italy. The project documented the perceptions of migrant patients and healthcare providers.

• Read more about Voices and Perspectives on Migrant Health in Milan, Italy

WATCH (LSU)(NIH)

Employing a multi-disciplinary team, this project will analyze data provided by the LSU WaTCH investigators using an ecological bio-behavioral stress model that explores the complex paths from exposure to dysfunction among Gulf Coast children exposed to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The overall goals of this project are to: (1) understand the short- and longer-term impacts of the oil spill on children’s development and well-being; and (2) examine how parental and social forces, and alternative treatment models can mediate or modify the spill’s effects on children.

• Read more about WATCH (LSU)(NIH)

Wellness Tips for Alaskan Parents: Applying the CDC Clear Communication Index

Hosted by the Rede Group, a joint effort between the Alaska Public Health Division Obesity Prevention and Control Program to assess changes needed to make to marketing materials for parents of young children using the CDC Clear Communication Index.

• Read more about Wellness Tips for Alaskan Parents: Applying the CDC Clear Communication Index

WIC's Farmer's Market Initiative

This project aimed to develop a strategic approach to provide education around the utilization of WIC checks at farmers’ markets, with the goal of improving redemption rates throughout the season.

• Read more about WIC's Farmer's Market Initiative

William N. Rom Climate Fellowship

• Read more about William N. Rom Climate Fellowship

Women in Leadership

Students focus on the state of sexual reproductive health for women in Uganda. This includes creating educational sessions for women and girls at health centers and within education facilities. Students complete their own research and fieldwork as well on reproductive health and family planning.

• Read more about Women in Leadership

Zika Contraception Access Network

A program dedicated to providing contraception for women who want to delay pregnancy during Zika outbreak in Puerto Rico by increasing provider and staff education regarding contraceptive counseling by designing new educational tools.

• Read more about Zika Contraception Access Network

ZIKA RISK SALIENCE AND EVOLVING RISK COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE

This study is funded by the Decision, Risk and Management Sciences/National Science Foundation. This research involves a series of representative national panel surveys to examine how various social, scientific, and policy cues influence the US public’s appreciation of the risk of the Zika virus over time, as well as the public’s receptivity to various clinical, environmental, and behavioral interventions.

• Read more about ZIKA RISK SALIENCE AND EVOLVING RISK COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE

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Healthcare research & technology advancements

Our team of clinicians, researchers, and engineers are all working together to create new AI and discover opportunities to increase the availability and accuracy of healthcare technologies globally, to realize long-term health technology potential.

Meet Med-PaLM 2, our large language model designed for the medical domain

Developing AI that can answer medical questions accurately has been a challenge for several decades. With Med-PaLM 2 , a version of PaLM 2 fine-tuned for the medical domain, we showed state-of-the-art performance in answering medical licensing exam questions. With thorough human evaluation, we’re exploring how Med-PaLM 2 can help healthcare organizations by drafting responses, summarizing documents, and providing insights. Learn more .

Expanding the power of AI in medicine

We are building and testing AI models with the goal of helping alleviate the global shortages of physicians, as well as the low access to modern imaging and diagnostic tools in certain parts of the world. With improved tech, we hope to increase accessibility and help more patients receive timely and accurate diagnoses and care.

How DeepVariant is improving the accuracy of genomic analysis

Sequencing genomes enables us to identify variants in a person’s DNA that indicate genetic disorders such as an elevated risk for breast cancer. DeepVariant is an open-source variant caller that uses a deep neural network to call genetic variants from next-generation DNA sequencing data.

Healthcare research led by scientists, enhanced by Google

Google Health is providing secure technology to partners that helps doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals conduct research and help improve our understanding of health. If you are a researcher interested in working with Google Health to conduct health research, enter your details to be notified when Google Health is available for research partnerships.

Using AI to give doctors a 48-hour head start on life-threatening illness

In this research in Nature , we demonstrated how artificial intelligence could accurately predict acute kidney injuries (AKI) in patients up to 48 hours earlier than it is currently diagnosed. Notoriously difficult to spot, AKI affects up to one in five hospitalized patients in the US and UK, and deterioration can happen quickly. Read the article

Deep Learning

Protecting patients, deep learning for electronic health records.

In a paper published in npj Digital Medicine , we used deep learning models to make a broad set of predictions relevant to hospitalized patients using de-identified electronic health records, and showed how that model could be used to render an accurate prediction 24 hours after a patient was admitted to the hospital. Read the article

Protecting patients from medication errors

Research shows that 2% of hospitalized patients experience serious preventable medication-related incidents that can be life-threatening, cause permanent harm, or result in death. Published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics , our best-performing AI model was able to anticipate physician’s actual prescribing decisions 75% of the time, based on de-identified electronic health records and the doctor’s prescribing records. This is an early step towards testing the hypothesis that machine learning can support clinicians in ways that prevent mistakes and help to keep patients safe. Read the article

Discover the latest

Learn more about our most recent developments from Google’s health-related research and initiatives.

Detecting Signs of Disease from External Images of the Eye

Detecting abnormal chest x-rays using deep learning, improving genomic discovery with machine learning, how ai is advancing science and medicine.

Google researchers have been exploring ways technologies could help advance the fields of medicine and science, working with scientists, doctors, and others in the field. In this video, we share a few research projects that have big potential.

We are continuously publishing new research in health

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Global Health Research Topics

Subscribe to Fogarty's Global Health Matters newsletter , and weekly funding news for global health researchers .

The Fogarty International Center and its NIH partners invest in research on a variety of topics vital to global health. For each of these global health research topics, find an in-depth collection of news, resources and funding from Fogarty, the NIH, other U.S. government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and others.

• Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)
• Climate change
• Deafness and other communication disorders
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Eye disease, vision health and blindness
• Global health security
• Household air pollution
• Implementation science
• Infectious diseases
• Coronaviruses
• Ebola virus disease
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue, Zika, etc.)
• Maternal and child health
• Mentoring and mentorship training
• Mobile health (mHealth)
• Neurological and mental disorders and diseases
• Oral and dental health
• Trauma and injury
• Tobacco control
• Women’s leadership in global health research

Health Topic Information

• NIH Health Topics
• MedlinePlus Health Topics
• Diseases and Conditions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Updated January 3, 2024

Research Projects

Our faculty are involved in research projects in in Infectious Disease, Maternal & Child Health, Adolescent Health and Food Systems & Planetary Health. Click on the boxes below to read about their individual research projects!

News from the School

Red meat and diabetes

How for-profit medicine is harming health care

A tradition of mentoring

Promising HIV treatment

Grading the Rubric

Pharmacy Standing Order for Narcan Distribution Linked to Reduction in Overdose Deaths

Global health research projects ..

Global Health research spans a wide range of interrelated and complex public health topics. Please explore our current projects by their primary theme listed below. Be sure to investigate more detailed descriptions of projects that have hyperlinked project titles .  Many project areas overlap, so please explore them all.

Academic Interests of the DGH Faculty

If you are looking for a particular faculty member, research area, or location, please use Ctrl + F or command F to scan the list.

Point of Care Diagnostics

Technology to improve decision making and neonatal outcomes in special neonatal care units (sncus) in india.

There have been major improvements in childhood mortality around the world over the last 20 years, but it has been more difficult to reduce mortality of babies in the first month of life. The study is evaluating how to optimize design and use of medical equipment and point of care diagnostics to improve care of newborns in India.

Patricia Hibberd

Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Bacterial Infection in Pediatric Clinical Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is one of the leading causes of childhood mortality, particularly in resource-limited countries. The disease burden can be partially attributed to the lack of an accurate and reliable diagnostic test to allow promptly starting antibiotic therapy. Lack of a diagnostic test also results in accelerated resistance to available antibiotics. Previously, we identified a combination of blood inflammatory proteins that could accurately diagnose bacterial infection in Mozambican children with clinical pneumonia. We are currently validating and improving upon this combinations in Gambian children with clinical pneumonia to further start development of a point-of-care diagnostic test with partners.

Clarissa Valim

Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance and Research

Geosentinel – the global research and surveillance network of the international society of travel medicine in partnership with the cdc.

This is an emerging infectious global surveillance and research network consisting of 72 sites in 30 countries, which uses travelers, immigrants, and refugees as sentinel indicators of disease outbreaks worldwide. GeoSentinel research major projects include studies of fever etiology and outcomes among travelers, artemisinin resistance, mpox, neurocognitive impact of malaria, and COVID-19.

Davidson Hamer

BU-UL Partnership to Enhance Emerging Epidemic Virus Research in Liberia (BULEEVR)

This grant supports a training program is for Liberian Researchers to combat emerging infectious disease outbreaks, such as Ebola. Faculty at BUMC/BUSPH and the University of Liberia co-mentor trainees.

Andrew Henderson

Global Health Research Training

Fogarty global health training fellowship.

This program provides mentored research opportunities to train and prepare a new cadre of health professionals in the US and LMICs in global health research by enhancing the trainees’ ability to independently plan, implement, and assess innovative clinical or operations research focused on reducing mortality and morbidity associated with HIV/AIDS and associated co-infections, NCDs including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, mental health, and MCHN. Academic partners include Harvard University (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Global Health Institute), Boston University (Schools of Public Health and Medicine), Northwestern University (Center for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine) and the University of New Mexico (School of Medicine, Center for Global Health).

Bangladesh, Botswana, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia

Health Services Research

Indlela: a nudge unit to build capacity in behavioral economics and increase hiv program effectiveness in south africa.

Indlela is the first-of-its-kind unit focused specifically on improving the effectiveness of the public sector in delivering health care and achieving better health outcomes in South Africa. In the unit’s first 3 years it will focus specifically on building capacity to expand the use of behavioral economics within HIV prevention and treatment programs in South Africa and strengthen the ability of health service delivery providers and key research institutions to develop and test contextually appropriate interventions that are informed by behavioral insights. In future years, the scope will expand beyond HIV to include other public health issues in South Africa.

Lawrence Long

South Africa

Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)

The major goals of this project are to foster HIV Research and collaborations between Brown and Boston University Developing young investigators.

Matthew Fox

US, Ukraine, Kenya, South Africa, the Philippines

Dartmouth-Boston University HIV-TB Research Training for the Infectious Disease Institute at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)

The major goals of this project are to train Tanzanian citizens in clinical HIV/AIDS research and to estaqblish san Infectious Dsieases Institute at MUHAS.

Robert Horsburgh

Boston University’s Contributions to the Enhanced Mentor Mother Program (EMMA) Study for USG FY2021-22.

During 2014-2019, BU collaborated with the Walter Reed Project and the Kenya Medical Research Institute to complete a study titled: “Evaluating the effectiveness of implementing Option B+ under routine conditions with and without the PMTCT Patient Coordinator Program: A site-randomized impact evaluation among maternal and child health centers supported by the South Rift Valley PEPFAR program in Kenya.” The focus of this additional grant is to complete final data extraction and analysis for infant HIV testing outcomes (testing and HIV status at 18 months of age).

Bruce Larson

AMBIT: Alternative Models of ART Delivery: Optimizing the Benefits 

Many high HIV-prevalence countries are scaling up differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for providing antiretroviral treatment for HIV. DSD models adjust the location, frequency, provider cadre, and other aspects of service delivery to make HIV treatment more patient-centric and more efficient. Little is known about the true impact of DSD models on the health system or patients, however. AMBIT is a research project in sub-Saharan Africa comprising synthesis of existing data, new data collection, data analysis, and modeling activities aimed at generating information for near- and long-term decision making for scaling up DSD models in Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa.

Sydney Rosen

Malawi, Zambia, South Africa

Evaluating the Cost of Scaling PrEP Access through Novel Delivery (EXPAND). 

Blurb: This is an economic evaluation of three demonstration projects that are testing different service delivery approaches for PrEP in South Africa. Each of the demonstration projects uses a different delivery model to reach populations at increased risk for HIV acquisition to offer them oral PrEP. These models will also be adapted for the delivery of long-acting injectable PrEP as soon as this becomes available in South Africa. The economic evaluation includes qualitative work, baseline assessment, patient costs, and the cost of delivery PrEP from the provider perspective. We also include a cross-cutting component focused on local capacity building in costing and economic evaluations.

Retain6: Models of care for the first 6 months of lo treatment

For HIV-positive patients in sub-Saharan Africa and globally, the first six months after initiating lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) pose the greatest risk of loss to follow up. Patients who make it through the first six months have a good chance of being retained on ART for the long term, but many drop out before reaching the six-month point. The Retain6 project aims to develop new models of differentiated service delivery for patients in their first six months on ART, in an effort to improve retention in care during this period.

Zambia, South Africa

CAB-RPV LA Implementation Strategies for High-Risk Populations.

This will be an evaluation of a new injectable antiretroviral treatment for HIV-positive individuals receiving care at the Boston University Medical Center and its associated community-based outreach clinics. It includes qualitative research on preferences of patients and providers and a randomized controlled trial to assess feasibility and impact.

Mari-Lynn Drainoni (BMC)

The SUpporting Sustained HIV Treatment Adherence after INitiation ( SUSTAIN study)

Early detection of poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and linkage to support for new patients is critical. The objective of this study is to improve ART adherence, retention and viral outcomes in people commencing ART in the South African public sector, a low-resource setting, over 24 months using five evidence-based adherence strategies to enable rapid identification and management of people with poor adherence. We will test the combinations of these components using a Multiphase Optimization STrategy (MOST) design, which allows us to explore the benefit of various combinations of these five effective and feasible ART adherence monitoring or support components.

Faculty/PI: Lora Sabin (PI), Nafisa Halim (Co-I), Bill MacLeod (Co-I), Allen Gifford (Co-I)

Location: South Africa

Zambia Infant Cohort Study

The ZICS study will determine if antiretroviral regimens used to successfully prevent mother to child transmission of HIV have also decreased morbidity and mortality among the children born to these mothers but who, themselves, have escaped infection with HIV. If not, then further investigation of the cause of poor outcomes in these children will be necessary. We will also determine if the mother’s immune status is a determinant of poor health outcome in their uninfected children, and in their infants early immune status.

Donald Thea

Zambia Infant Cohort Study: Brain Optimized to Survive and Thrive (ZICS-BOOST)

Children exposed to HIV in-utero but uninfected (CHEUs) number 14.8 million globally. In Zambia, an estimated 56,000 CHEUs are born annually, a staggering fraction of the national birth cohort. Multiple studies establish that CHEUs are more neurodevelopmentally vulnerable than HIV-unexposed peers. In Zambia, there are existing effective early childhood developmental (ECD) interventions that target other vulnerable populations, but never trialed specifically for CHEUs. GAP: Research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of a scalable early childhood development (ECD) intervention for CHEUs. Zambia is scaling up ECD as part of its national strategy, but CHEUs are not currently targeted. There is need to better understand the scope and mechanism of HEU-related neurodevelopmental differences and what interventions are most effective. HYPOTHESIS #1: An ECD intervention delivered by community health workers via bi-weekly home visits will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in CHEUs. HYPOTHESIS #2: CHEUs have significantly worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than unexposed peers at 24 months, mediated by preterm birth, disease stage or ARV exposure. METHODS: In order to observe differences in neurodevelopment between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed children, we will build upon an existing Zambian birth cohort by extending follow-up from 6 months to 2 years (n=450). Neurodevelopmental assessments will be measured by multiple context-validated tools at 12 and 24 months. In addition, a randomized control trial of a bi-weekly community health worker-delivered ECD intervention for CHEUs will be conducted to assess its impact on CHEU neurodevelopment. RESULTS: Pending. IMPACT: Despite growing evidence, HIV-exposure is not currently prioritized as a risk factor for poor development by policy makers or ECD programs. By capitalizing on the wealth of prenatal and infant data collected in our ‘parent’ study, we can investigate the mechanism that links HEU to neurodevelopment and test a potential therapy. Addressing developmental vulnerability in CHEUs is paramount to ensuring that future generations of children are school ready, and able to reach their full developmental potential.

Julie Herlihy

EVIDENCE: Evaluation to Inform Decisions using Economics and Epidemiology

EVIDENCE is a 5-year HIV/AIDS project funded by PEPFAR through USAID. With the project lead in South Africa, the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO), we conduct health economics and epidemiology evaluations and provide technical assistance in support of the goals of the South African National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (NSP) and the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan. BU faculty and staff work closely with HE2RO on project evaluations, cost modeling, outcomes research, and financial management to improve guidelines, policies, programs, and resource allocation.

Economic Impact of HIV Policy Briefs

This project synthesises the evidence on the economic impact of HIV into a series of 17 policy briefs that can help decision-makers in ministries of finance and health in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) decide on the future financing of their country’s HIV programme. The project incorporates a series of seminars with an academic and LMIC government staff audience aimed at refining the content and presentation of the briefs, the presentation of the evidence base to LMIC decision makers during a comprehensive workshop, and the publication of the briefs on a website and in peer-reviewed journals.

Gesine Meyer-Rath

infectious disease

Vaccine impact modelling consortium (vimc) 2.0  .

VIMC   is an international community of modelers providing high-quality estimates of the public health impact of vaccination to inform and improve decision making. This project contributes to the estimation of cervical cancer disease burden and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine impact in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, this project examines policy-relevant research questions for HPV vaccines in order to advance the research agenda in the field of vaccine impact modeling.

 Allison Portnoy

Low- and middle-income countries worldwide

INSECT: Implementing Novel Strategies for Education and Chagas Testing  

This project, funded by a CDC cooperative agreement, aims to increase Chagas knowledge in the medical community and to roll out screening programs for high-risk populations (such as women of childbearing age from endemic areas) nationwide.

Boston, Massachusetts

Chagas disease biorepository

We have developed a biorepository using biological samples from a cohort of Chagas disease patients at Boston Medical Center. The primary goal of the biorepository is to develop and maintain a large, geographically diverse collection of well-characterized samples to be used as a resource for future Chagas diagnostics research.

Incorporating Behavioral Feedback in the Infectious Disease Transmission Modeling

Transmission dynamic modeling is a powerful tool to understand the epidemiology of infectious diseases and evaluate the impact of control measures. However, the lack of empirical data on human behavior and its temporal variation has hindered the progress and application of these models. Therefore, this project aims to 1) understand how people experiencing acute infections change their social contact patterns over the course of their illness and 2) develop mechanistic models that incorporate these data to generate more reliable estimates of key transmission parameters and intervention impacts. Our project aims to provide policy makers and public health officials with more informed decision-making tools to develop interventions, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.

Kayoko Shioda

United States

EPISTORM: Real-time Evaluation of Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety

Real-time monitoring of the effectiveness and safety of vaccines is essential for controlling infectious diseases. However, there are both practical and methodological hurdles. Our project aims to address two key challenges: 1) issues with linking public health data from different sources, and 2) analytic challenges associated with evaluating multi-dose vaccines, using causal inference techniques. Boston University has been selected to be part of the national network for outbreak and disease modeling led ( CDC Insight Net ), and this project will be conducted through this network.

Cryptococcal Meningitis Screening in South Africa

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a fungal infection that causes infection in the brain and spinal cord. CM is a leading cause of AIDS-related deaths globally, mainly among patients with low CD4 cell counts. Through screening HIV patients with low CD4 cells counts for cryptococcal antigen (CrAg), it is possible to identify CrAg-positive patients before they develop meningitis. Treating these patients with antifungal medications can then substantially reduce risks of progression to CM and death. Through support from the CDC Foundation (May 2015 – June 2021), the purpose of this program of research has been to evaluate costs and effectiveness of alternative CrAg screening strategies and CM treatment regimens.

Using Behavioral Economics to Improve the Uptake of and Persistence on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Men Who Have Sex With Men to Prevent HIV Infection

South Africa’s HIV incidence remains high, in particular amongst populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) who may be at increased risk. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is considered key to reducing incidence in these populations, yet pilot studies show sub optimal uptake and poor persistence amongst those most at risk. This research will focus on understanding why PrEP uptake and persistence amongst MSM in South Africa is low and how the delivery of PrEP to this population could be altered to encourage those most at risk to start treatment using behavioral insights.

Impact of Undernutrition on Immunity Elicited by Vaccines in the Gambia

Moderate and severe undernutrition are highly prevalent in several resource-limited countries. There is conflicting evidence on the impact of undernutrition on the immunity elicited by childhood vaccines, as well as the specific supplements that could be used to overcome vaccine hypo-responses associated with undernutrition. In a pilot project in The Gambia, we are comparing antibody vaccine responses against a panel of EPI vaccines of children with severe wasting and stunting with well-nourished children. Furthermore, through a metabolomics assay, we will assess whether specific amino acid deficiencies are associated with decreased responses in undernourished children.

IPV (intimate partner violence)

Testing the effectiveness of an evidence-based transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy approach for improving hiv treatment outcomes among violence-affected and virally unsuppressed women in south africa.

This study will evaluate the impact of the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), an evidence-based intervention comprised of cognitive-behavioral therapy elements, at improving HIV treatment outcomes among women with HIV who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and have an unsuppressed viral load on HIV treatment. To evaluate CETA, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial of HIV-infected women, with or without their partners, who have experienced IPV and have an unsuppressed viral load to test the effect of CETA in increasing viral suppression and reducing violence.

The Intransigence of Malaria in Malawi: Understanding Hidden Reservoirs, Successful Vectors and Prevention Failures

Under the aegis of the Malawi International Center of Excellence of Malaria Research (ICEMR) program, several cohort studies have been conducted focused on studying malaria control measures and understanding why measures such as bed nets have failed to control malaria in Malawi. Examples of these studies are the one led by Dr. Valim aiming to identify the transmission reservoir group(s) for malaria in Malawi and to assess the impact of current interventions on these human reservoirs. Another study conducted under the aegis of ICEMR aims to assess the effectiveness of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in conjunction with other malaria prophylactic measures.

Maternal and Child Health

Global network for women’s and children’s health research.

The Global Network conducts observational studies and clinical trials in 8 locations in low and middle income countries in Asia, Africa and Central America. The goals of the research are (1) to evaluate whether low-cost, sustainable interventions improve maternal and child health; and (2) build local research capacity and infrastructure. Whenever possible common protocols are implemented in all 8 locations. The Boston University site works with the Lata Medical Research Foundation in Nagpur, India. The grant funds several studies.

Synbiotics for the Early Prevention of Severe Infections in Infants (SEPSIS)

SEPSIS, a collaboration between icddrb (Dhaka), Hospital for Sick Kids (Toronto), and BU consists of a few related studies including an observational cohort of severe infections and the intestinal microbiome in young infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh and a phase II randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of neonatal administration of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 202195 with or without fructooligosaccharide for one or seven days

Antimicrobial Resistance

A-plus trial: multi-site efficacy and safety trial of intrapartum azithromycin in lmics – amr sub-study and effect of azithromycin on the developing microbiome ..

The Global Network is conducting a trial to evaluate whether Azithromycin given during labor reduces maternal and neonatal infections and mortality. This grant supports studying the effect of azithromycin on development of antimicrobial resistance and the gut and airway microbiome.

Sequencing of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Zambia

Bloodstream isolates (K. pneumoniae and E. coli) from the Sepsis Prevention in Neonates in Zambia study are being sequenced to determine serotypes and antibiotic resistance characteristics.

Non-communicable Diseases

World health organization. global ncd reporting mechanism..

Veronika Wirtz & Peter Rockers

In 2021, the World Health Organization introduced the Global Diabetes Compact, targeting equitable and affordable access to diabetes care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Acknowledging the support from the private sector, WHO formulated a list of 31 asks to prioritize expansion of access to essential insulin and related health technologies. Boston University is now supporting WHO in developing a Global Reporting Mechanism (GRM) to encourage the reporting and tracking of industry commitments aligned with the 31 WHO Asks.

Noncommunicable Disease Management in South Africa: Insights from the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) Multi-morbidity Cohort.

The K01 Award (K01DK116929) addresses the growing challenge of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), focusing on care disparities and treatment efficacy, particularly among populations living with and without HIV in low- and middle-income countries. Central to this project is the innovative application of a probabilistic record-linking algorithm to develop a patient cohort from the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) database in South Africa, which contains over 68 million laboratory records from more than 30 million individuals and covers conditions like HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disorders from April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2017.

The creation of the NHLS Multi-morbidity Cohort has facilitated in-depth analysis of data including anonymized patient identifiers, demographics, test specifics, and geographic information. This cohort is instrumental for the project’s aims to examine examining the T2DM care cascade in populations with and without HIV, evaluate the Integrated Chronic Disease Management (ICDM) model’s impact on diabetes care using quasi-experimental methods, studying chronic kidney disease progression , and evaluating compliance with national diabetes guidelines . These efforts aim to enhance understanding and improve management of noncommunicable diseases in South Africa.

Alana Brennan

World Bank Global compendium of primary care service delivery models for non-communicable diseases

(link to report should be available in June 2024)

Addressing the challenges within non-communicable disease programs and primary healthcare centers, the World Bank embarked on a project to gather a comprehensive collection of primary care service delivery models for non-communicable diseases. This initiative highlighted the critical need for a cohesive approach to primary healthcare, which includes the promotion, prevention, and management of non-communicable diseases, aiming to improve care across the entire spectrum, from reducing risk factors to managing chronic conditions at the primary care level effectively. The project’s goal was to develop an online, action-oriented collection for the World Bank, filled with innovative design solutions and digital enhancements to boost access, efficiency, effectiveness, and the quality of care for non-communicable diseases. This collection intended to present a wide array of primary healthcare models designed for chronic conditions, supporting countries in their shift towards integrated, chronic care services and moving away from a reliance on acute, episodic care.

The project culminated in a comprehensive matrix featuring 158 models, alongside 60 concise two-page case reports and 15 detailed five-page case reports. These documents collectively highlight a diverse range of primary care service delivery models for non-communicable diseases, spanning various geographic regions and income categories. Sub-Saharan Africa was prominently featured, accounting for 26.6% of the models, with East Asia and the Pacific at 22.8%, and South Asia at 20.2%. Most of these models were found in upper-middle-income and lower-middle-income countries, making up 45.6% and 42.4% of the implementations, respectively. Diabetes stood out as the most common focus, being the target of 50.0% of the models, followed by hypertension at 41.8% and mental health disorders at 38.0%. The main strategies highlighted in these models were task-shifting/task-sharing (40.5%), the integration of new services or conditions (35.4%), and educational or training initiatives (33.5%). The implementation settings varied, with mixed areas being the most common at 41.8%, and rural and urban areas following at 24.7% and 22.1%, respectively. The scale of implementation predominantly ranged from small to medium, accounting for 55.1% of the models, but there were also notable instances of large-scale and national-scale projects at 20.2% and 10.1%, respectively, highlighting the extensive reach and potential impact of these initiatives.

Alana Brennan, Nancy Scott , Sydney Rosen

low-and middle-income countries

Opportunistic screening for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus using COVID-19 infrastructure

South Africa continues to grapple with a substantial burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and hypertension. However, these conditions are often underdiagnosed and poorly managed, further exacerbated by the strained primary healthcare system and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrating non-communicable disease screening with large-scale healthcare initiatives, such as COVID-19 testing and vaccination campaigns, offers a potential solution, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of this integration in two separate cohorts.

Study 1: Integration of point-of-care screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension with COVID-19 rapid antigen screening in Johannesburg, South Africa

In a prospective cohort study at the Germiston taxi rank in Johannesburg, South Africa, we assessed the integration of screenings for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension with rapid antigen tests for COVID-19. The study involved 1,169 participants and included measurements of blood glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference, smoking status, height, and weight. Participants showing elevated blood glucose levels (fasting levels equal to or greater than 7.0 or random levels equal to or greater than 11.1 millimoles per liter) and/or elevated blood pressure readings (diastolic pressure equal to or greater than 90 and systolic pressure equal to or greater than 140 millimeters of mercury) were directed to receive clinical follow-up. Our results indicated an overall diabetes prevalence of 7.1%, incorporating both previously diagnosed individuals and those newly identified with elevated blood glucose measurements. We also observed a hypertension prevalence of 27.9%, which included both known cases and new detections of elevated blood pressure during the study. However, the rates of connecting these individuals to subsequent medical care were low, with only 30.0% of those with elevated blood glucose and 16.3% with elevated blood pressure engaging in follow-up care. This opportunistic approach to screening helped identify potential new diagnoses in 22% of participants, yet it also underscored the necessity for better strategies to ensure these individuals receive the necessary ongoing care, highlighting the critical need for additional research to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of such integrated screening programs on a larger scale.

Study 2: Integration of point-of-care screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension into the COVID-19 vaccine programme in Johannesburg, South Africa

In a prospective cohort study at four health facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa, we screened 1,376 participants for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus during COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. This integration aimed to address the significant problem of undiagnosed conditions in a strained healthcare system. We measured blood glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference, smoking status, height, and weight, referring individuals with elevated blood glucose (fasting levels equal to or greater than 7.0 or random levels equal to or greater than 11.1 millimoles per liter) and/or blood pressure (diastolic pressure equal to or greater than 90 and systolic pressure equal to or greater than 140 millimeters of mercury) for further medical evaluation. Our findings showed a 4.1% prevalence of diabetes, combining known cases and new detections of elevated blood glucose levels. The hypertension prevalence was 19.4%, including both existing and newly identified cases of elevated blood pressure. Notably, 46.1% of participants exhibited waist circumferences indicative of metabolic syndrome, more frequently observed in females. Additionally, 7.8% of the screened individuals were potentially newly diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension, emphasizing the importance of integrated screening initiatives. Approximately half of the individuals with newly identified risk factors successfully sought follow-up care within a month, highlighting the effectiveness of using routine healthcare interactions for extensive screenings, particularly vital in settings with limited resources, and underscoring the need to improve linkage to care for efficient management of non-communicable diseases.

Alana Brennan, Gesine Myer-Rath

Assessing the effects of HIV disease on dysglycemia in a cohort of tuberculosis patients in South Africa’s Western Cape

Our planned research will focus on compare rates of dysglycemia (both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia) in people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-uninfected persons receiving tuberculosis (TB) treatment using pilot data from the The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on TB Treatment Outcomes (TRUST) Study . HbA1c’s were only collected at enrollment the TRUST. As such, we will collect blood samples to measure HbA1c and blood glucose levels at patients 18-month study visit. This will allow us to assess changes in blood glucose levels from study enrollment by HIV status. Second, we will assess the role stress and inflammation play in relation to blood sugar levels in PLWH and HIV-uninfected individuals. Research suggests that the hosts immune response to active TB and/or HIV disease results in a prolonged state of systemic inflammation which can have negative metabolic effects. We will collect samples to measure markers of stress and inflammation at the 18-month study visit when all patients will be one year post TB treatment completion and when transient hyperglycemia due to TB infection should be resolved. This will be preliminary data to assess if there are differences in these specific stress and inflammatory markers post TB treatment amongst PLWH and HIV-uninfected individuals and potentially identify underlying mechanism(s) causing abnormal blood sugar levels.

Programme Evaluation of Timor-Leste PEN-HEARTS Intervention

This project will evaluate early implementation in Timor-Leste of PEN-HEARTS, a community-based intervention supported by the WHO designed to improve health outcomes among individuals with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. Building on a similar evaluation in Bhutan, a BU team of faculty and students will design and implement the evaluation with WHO and Ministry of Health officials in Timor-Leste. The evaluation will use mixed methods and involve data collection in both intervention and comparison sites in four districts of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste

Pharmaceutical Policy

Medicines, technologies, and pharmaceutical services.

The Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) project aims to strengthen pharmaceutical systems in low and middle income countries. Boston University is a core partner of the USAID funded MTaPS project led by Management Sciences for Health. The objectives are (1) to generate evidence on the development, implementation and strengthening of data management that can support decision-making in pharmaceutical systems; (2) to develop, implement and evaluation accountability mechanisms in pharmaceutical systems.

Veronika Wirtz

Tuberculosis

Methods to estimate the impact of interventions on the transmission and incidence of tuberculosis.

The major goals of this project are to develop models that can be used to monitor the success of TB interventions. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Helen Jenkins and Dr. Leo Martinez and is led by Dr. Laura White of the BUSPH Department of Biostatistics

Intensified patient-finding intervention to increase the detection of children with tuberculosis

Children with tuberculosis are vastly under detected and under diagnosed. An intensified patient-finding intervention using systematic verbal screening at health facilities was undertaken in two locations to increase the detection of children who may be at high risk for tuberculosis disease. These projects aim to identify gaps along the pediatric tuberculosis care cascade; understand age-specific clinical presentation and risk factors for tuberculosis disease, extrapulmonary presentations, and poor treatment outcomes; refine clinical algorithms to expedite decision-making for treatment initiation; and explore other topics related to pediatric tuberculosis epidemiology.

Meredith Brooks

Pakistan and Bangladesh

SAIA-TB: Using the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach to Prevent TB in rural South Africa

Description: South Africa estimates 80% of their population has TB infection, and 14% of the population lives with HIV, with an estimated 5-15% of South Africans at high risk of developing TB disease from recent infection or immunocompromised status. Therefore, utilization of routinely collected data to optimize the comprehensive TB care cascade – screening, evaluation, diagnosing, linkage to care, treatment, and TB-free survival – is important to assess at the clinic level to improve clinic flow and patient outcomes. This study—funded by NINR/NIH—will leverage an evidence-based implementation science strategy, the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA), and recent TB cascade analyses piloted in the proposed site, to adapt and evaluate the effectiveness of SAIA-TB using a stepped wedge crossover cluster randomized trial across 12 clinics in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Improving Childhood Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes and Post-TB Lung Functioning and Quality of Life in Rural South Africa

Description: We will assess the TB care cascade in children, expanding it to include a child-specific definition of post-TB lung disease (PTLD), among children in a high TB/HIV burden setting in Eastern Cape South Africa, and identify risk-factors for completing each step of the newly expanded TB care cascade. Additionally, we will collect rich data regarding nutritional status, air pollutant exposure, lung capacity, and quality of life to estimate their effect on TB disease outcomes and PTLD in children. Funded by the Charles H. Hood Foundation.

Household Contact Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy Programs in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa (KWIT-TB)

Description: We will assess the geospatial components, including access to care and population-level characteristics to gaps in the TB preventive therapy care cascade.

Adaptive Design to Aid in the Planning of community-based Tuberculosis screening services (ADAPT-TB)

Description: Community-based screening via mobile units can close gaps in missed diagnoses by bringing screening services into communities, making screening more convenient for individuals with limited access to appropriate services. Questions remain, however, about how to efficiently operate these mobile units. Leveraging longstanding relationships in Lima, Peru, including existing collaborations involving mobile screening units, I will collect data from health facilities and mobile screening units to [Aim 1] establish spatial and temporal trends of the local tuberculosis burden and [Aim 2] build neighborhood-level models reflecting local risk of tuberculosis. I will then [Aim 3] develop a baseline decision model via a restless multi-armed bandit framework to make data-driven decisions about where, when, and how long to place the mobile units in the community. The overall goal is to optimize the real-time movement of these units throughout a community to increase the detection of individuals with TB and allocate resources more efficiently. Funded by a Carlin Foundation Award for Public Health Innovation and a Population Health Data Science (PHDS) Seed Funding Award.

Optimizing tuberculosis elimination initiatives for high-risk populations

Certain populations are at increased risk of tuberculosis infection and progression to tuberculosis disease. In Mexicali, Mexico, we are assessing the impact of novel diagnostics for tuberculosis infection testing in three high-risk populations–people who use drugs, household contacts of people with tuberculosis, and people confined to a penitentiary setting–to inform tailored algorithms for tuberculosis testing and initiation of tuberculosis preventive treatment. We also assess gaps identified along the tuberculosis comprehensive care cascade to guide local tuberculosis prevention and management guidelines.

Tuberculosis in teens: a geospatial approach to predict community transmission

Description: Adolescents are a unique population that have been routinely neglected from tuberculosis guidelines. However, due to their ability to spread tuberculosis and their high number of social contacts, adolescents may be a key node fueling cycles of local community tuberculosis transmission in high incidence settings. Through a K01 Award from NIAID, NIH, we use geospatial and genotypic analyses to complete the following objectives: (1) To characterize the spatial heterogeneity of tuberculosis transmission events in adolescents. (2) To predict the spatial distribution of tuberculosis transmission events in adolescents. (3) To estimate and compare, through simulation, the impact of adolescent-tailored screening and treatment interventions on reducing community tuberculosis transmission.

Predictors of Resistance Emergence Evaluation in MDR-TB Patients on Treatment.

Dr. Horsburgh and Dr. Tim Sterling of Vanderbilt are leading a prospective cohort study of patients with MDR-TB. The aims of the study are to determine if decreased TB drug levels predispose to the development of additional drug resistance on treatment and to develop early indicators of such emergence of resistance.

US, India, Brazil

RePORT India Consortium

The major goal of this project is to collaborate with partners in India in clinical studies of tuberculosis infection and disease.

Akshay Gupte

Transmission of Tuberculosis among illicit drug use linkages

The goal of this project is to assess the risk for TB transmission between persons who smoke drugs. This is a prospective cohort study of persons with and without drug use in South Africa.

Karen Jacobson

US, South Africa

Prevention Policy Modeling Lab

The Goal of this Project is to develop cost-effectiveness models for TB prevention. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Nick Menzies at Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. Josh Solomon at Stanford School of Medicine.

DRAMATIC Phase 2 Duration Randomized MDR-TB Treatment Trial

The major goal of this project is to identify a shorter, less toxic treatment for MDR-TB.  This project is a collaboration with Dr. Payam Nahid at University of California, San Francisco. It is randomizing patients with fluoroquinolone-susceptible MDR-TB in Vietnam and the Philippines to four different durations of a 5-drug regimen.

US, Vietnam, the Philippines

Phenotype, Progression and Immune Correlates of Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is associated with lung injury which can persist despite successful therapy. Lung sequelae of treated PTB are increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, an important contributor of excess morbidity and mortality. This project aims to: 1) characterize the early natural history of post-TB lung disease (PTLD) and provide rationale for long-term monitoring and bronchodilator therapy in affected cases, 2) characterize the functional and morphological phenotype of PTLD by serial pulmonary function testing and multi-detector computed tomography, 3) identify immune profiles measured during early, late and post-therapy associated with PTLD.

RePORT-India Lung Health Study

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is the most common form of TB disease and is characterized by granuloma formation, necrosis, and cavitation in the lung tissue. This lung injury in PTB may affect tuberculosis treatment outcomes. Granulomatous lesions, fibrosis, and cavitation impair drug penetration in affected lung tissue and may lead to persistent foci of bacterial replication and drug resistance. The overall goal of this project is to identify clinical and imaging markers of lung injury that are associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes in PTB.

Multiomic signatures of Lung Injury in Tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is associated with lung injury which can persist despite successful therapy. Lung sequelae of treated PTB are increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, an important contributor of excess morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, PTB is characterized by granuloma formation, necrosis, and cavitation in the lung tissue which can impair drug penetration in affected lung tissue leading to persistent foci of bacterial replication, drug resistance and poor treatment outcomes. The overall goal of this study is to explore host metabolomic and genetic signatures associated with lung injury in PTB patients with and without diabetes and HIV.

Point-of-care Questionnaire and mHealth Assisted Diagnosis of Post-TB Lung Disease

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is associated with lung injury which can persist despite successful therapy. Lung sequelae of treated PTB are increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, an important contributor of excess morbidity and mortality. Spirometry is the gold standard for diagnosing lung function defects, however it is technically challenging and expensive to perform, and may not be available at the point-of-care in many TB-endemic settings. The overall goal of this project is to develop and validate a questionnaire-based screening algorithm, assisted by machine learning analysis of cough sounds and lung auscultation data, to identify individuals with a high probability of having Post-TB Lung Disease for referral and confirmatory testing.

Effectiveness of Anti-Fibrotic Therapy for Preventing Pulmonary Impairment in COVID-19

COVID-19 is associated with persistent pulmonary impairment despite successful management of acute disease. Of particular interest is pulmonary fibrosis, with several studies reporting reduced FVC, DLCO and anterior reticulation on chest CT. The overall goal of this project is to conduct a retrospective analysis of medical records to measure the association between receipt of antifibrotic therapy (Pirfenidone and/or Nintedanib) and lung impairment following hospital discharge among adults with COVID-19.

Veterans health

Bridging the care continuum for vulnerable veterans across va and community care (bridgecc) queri program.

Led by investigators at the Bedford VA, this project is implementing three evidence-based practices (EBPs) that aim to improve coordinated care between VA and non-VA providers to improve the health of veterans. The EBPs focus on 1) homeless overdose prevention expansion; 2) maintaining independence and sobriety through systems integration and outreach; and 3) post-incarceration engagement to increase social support. Dr. Sabin is guiding the costing components for each EBP.

151+ Public Health Research Topics [Updated 2024]

The important area of public health research is essential to forming laws, influencing medical procedures, and eventually enhancing community well-being. As we delve into the vast landscape of public health research topics, it’s essential to understand the profound impact they have on society.

This blog aims to provide a comprehensive guide to selecting and understanding the diverse array of public health research topics.

Overview of Public Health Research Topics

Table of Contents

Public health research encompasses a wide range of subjects, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. From epidemiology and health policy to environmental health and infectious diseases, researchers navigate through various dimensions to address complex health challenges.

Each category holds its own significance, contributing to the overall understanding of public health dynamics.

Key Considerations in Selecting Public Health Research Topics

• Current Relevance: Assess the timeliness of potential topics by considering recent health trends, emerging issues, and societal concerns.
• Impact on Public Health: Evaluate the potential impact of the research on improving health outcomes, addressing disparities, or influencing policy and interventions.
• Feasibility and Resources: Gauge the practicality of conducting research on a particular topic, considering available resources, data accessibility, and research infrastructure.
• Ethical Considerations: Scrutinize the ethical implications of the research, ensuring it aligns with ethical standards and guidelines, especially when dealing with vulnerable populations or sensitive topics.

Top 151+ Public Health Research Topics

Epidemiology.

• The Impact of Social Determinants on Disease Outcomes
• Patterns and Trends in Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Investigating Health Disparities among Different Ethnic Groups
• Childhood Obesity and its Long-Term Health Consequences
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Contact Tracing in Disease Control

Health Policy

• Universal Healthcare: Comparative Analysis of Global Models
• The Role of Telemedicine in Improving Healthcare Access
• Evaluating Mental Health Policies and Their Impact on Communities
• Assessing the Impact of Affordable Care Act on Public Health
• Vaccine Policies and Public Perception: A Comprehensive Study

Environmental Health

• Climate Change and Health: Adapting to the Challenges
• Air Quality and Respiratory Health in Urban Environments
• Waterborne Diseases and Strategies for Safe Water Supply
• Occupational Health Hazards: A Comprehensive Workplace Analysis
• The Impact of Green Spaces on Mental Health in Urban Areas

Infectious Diseases

• Antimicrobial Resistance: Strategies for Mitigation
• Vaccination Strategies and Herd Immunity
• Global Health Security: Preparedness for Pandemics
• The Impact of Vector-Borne Diseases on Public Health
• Emerging Trends in Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

Chronic Diseases

• Lifestyle Interventions for Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases
• Genetic Factors in the Development of Cancer: A Comprehensive Study
• Aging and Health: Addressing the Healthcare Needs of the Elderly
• Diabetes Prevention Programs: Efficacy and Implementation
• Mental Health in Chronic Disease Patients: Bridging the Gap

Maternal and Child Health

• Maternal Mortality: Understanding Causes and Prevention
• The Impact of Breastfeeding on Infant Health and Development
• Childhood Immunization: Barriers and Strategies for Improvement
• Teenage Pregnancy and Its Long-Term Health Consequences
• Mental Health Support for Postpartum Women: Current Gaps and Solutions

Health Behavior and Promotion

• Smoking Cessation Programs: Effectiveness and Challenges
• Physical Activity Promotion in Schools: Strategies for Success
• Nutrition Education and Its Impact on Healthy Eating Habits
• Mental Health Awareness Campaigns: Assessing Public Perceptions
• The Role of Social Media in Health Promotion

Global Health

• Assessing the Impact of International Aid on Global Health
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs in Developing Countries
• The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Global Health
• Communicable Disease Control in Refugee Populations
• Global Access to Essential Medicines: Challenges and Solutions

Community Health

• Community-Based Participatory Research: Best Practices and Challenges
• The Impact of Community Health Workers on Health Outcomes
• Health Literacy and its Relationship to Health Disparities
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Mobile Health (mHealth) Interventions
• Community Resilience in the Face of Public Health Crises

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

• Hospital-Acquired Infections: Strategies for Prevention
• Patient Safety Culture in Healthcare Organizations
• Quality Improvement Initiatives in Primary Care Settings
• Healthcare Accreditation: Impact on Patient Outcomes
• Implementing Electronic Health Records: Challenges and Benefits

Mental Health

• Stigma Reduction Programs for Mental Health Disorders
• Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care Settings
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: Long-Term Implications
• Mental Health in the Workplace: Strategies for Employee Well-being
• Suicide Prevention Programs: Effectiveness and Outreach

Health Disparities

• Racial Disparities in Healthcare: Addressing Systemic Inequities
• LGBTQ+ Health Disparities and Inclusive Healthcare Practices
• Socioeconomic Status and Access to Healthcare Services
• Geographical Disparities in Health: Rural vs. Urban
• The Impact of Gender on Health Outcomes and Access to Care

Public Health Education

• Evaluation of Public Health Education Programs
• Innovative Approaches to Teaching Public Health Concepts
• Online Health Education Platforms: Opportunities and Challenges
• Interdisciplinary Training in Public Health: Bridging Gaps
• Continuing Education for Public Health Professionals: Current Landscape

Digital Health

• The Role of Wearable Devices in Health Monitoring
• Telehealth Adoption: Barriers and Opportunities
• Health Apps for Chronic Disease Management: User Perspectives
• Blockchain Technology in Healthcare: Privacy and Security Implications
• Artificial Intelligence in Disease Diagnosis and Prediction

Health Economics

• Cost-Effectiveness of Preventive Health Interventions
• The Impact of Healthcare Financing Models on Access to Care
• Pharmaceutical Pricing and Access to Essential Medicines
• Economic Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs
• Health Insurance Coverage and Health Outcomes: A Global Perspective

Innovations in Public Health

• 3D Printing in Healthcare: Applications and Future Prospects
• Gene Editing Technologies and their Ethical Implications
• Smart Cities and Public Health: Integrating Technology for Well-being
• Nanotechnology in Medicine: Potential for Disease Treatment
• The Role of Drones in Public Health: Surveillance and Intervention

Food Safety and Nutrition

• Foodborne Illness Outbreaks: Investigating Causes and Prevention
• Sustainable Food Systems: Implications for Public Health
• Nutritional Interventions for Malnutrition in Developing Countries
• Food Labeling and Consumer Understanding: A Critical Review
• The Impact of Fast Food Consumption on Public Health

Substance Abuse

• Opioid Epidemic: Strategies for Prevention and Treatment
• Harm Reduction Approaches in Substance Abuse Programs
• Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Public Health Outcomes
• Smoking and Mental Health: Exploring the Connection
• Novel Psychoactive Substances: Emerging Threats and Strategies

Occupational Health

• Workplace Stress and Mental Health: Intervention Strategies
• Occupational Hazards in Healthcare Professions: A Comparative Analysis
• Ergonomics in the Workplace: Improving Worker Health and Productivity
• Night Shift Work and Health Consequences: Addressing Challenges
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations: A Global Overview

Disaster Preparedness and Response

• Pandemic Preparedness and Lessons from COVID-19
• Natural Disasters and Mental Health: Post-Traumatic Stress
• Emergency Response Systems: Improving Timeliness and Efficiency
• Communicating Health Risks During Emergencies: Public Perception
• Collaborative Approaches to Disaster Response in Global Health

Cancer Research

• Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Current Advancements
• Cancer Screening Programs: Efficacy and Challenges
• Environmental Factors and Cancer Risk: Exploring Connections
• Survivorship Care Plans: Enhancing Quality of Life after Cancer
• Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: Complementary Approaches

Sexual and Reproductive Health

• Access to Contraception in Developing Countries: Challenges and Solutions
• Comprehensive Sex Education Programs: Impact on Teen Pregnancy
• Reproductive Health Rights: Global Perspectives and Challenges
• Infertility Treatment: Ethical Considerations and Societal Impact
• Maternal and Child Health in Conflict Zones: Addressing Challenges

Cardiovascular Health

• Hypertension Prevention Programs: Strategies and Effectiveness
• Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Gender-Specific Risk Factors
• Innovations in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
• Artificial Heart Technology: Advancements and Ethical Implications
• Impact of Air Pollution on Cardiovascular Health: A Global Concern

Social Determinants of Health

• Educational Attainment and Health Outcomes: Exploring Links
• Income Inequality and its Impact on Population Health
• Social Support Networks and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Study
• Neighborhood Environments and Health Disparities
• Employment and Health: The Interplay of Work and Well-being

Genomics and Public Health

• Population Genomics and its Implications for Public Health
• Genetic Counseling and Education: Empowering Individuals and Families
• Ethical Issues in Genetic Research: Privacy and Informed Consent
• Pharmacogenomics: Tailoring Drug Therapies to Individual Genotypes
• Gene-Environment Interactions in Disease Risk: Unraveling Complexities

Public Health Ethics

• Informed Consent in Public Health Research: Current Practices
• Ethical Challenges in Global Health Research: Balancing Priorities
• Confidentiality in Public Health Reporting: Striking the Right Balance
• Research with Vulnerable Populations: Ethical Considerations
• Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies in Healthcare

Health Communication

• The Role of Media in Shaping Public Health Perceptions
• Health Literacy Interventions: Improving Understanding of Health Information
• Social Media Campaigns for Public Health Promotion: Best Practices
• Tailoring Health Messages for Diverse Audiences: Cultural Competency
• Risk Communication in Public Health Emergencies: Lessons Learned

Nutrigenomics

• Personalized Nutrition Plans based on Genetic Makeup
• Impact of Nutrigenomics on Chronic Disease Prevention
• Ethical Considerations in Nutrigenomics Research
• Public Perceptions of Nutrigenomic Testing: A Qualitative Study
• Integrating Nutrigenomics into Public Health Policies

Public Health and Artificial Intelligence

• Predictive Analytics in Disease Surveillance: Harnessing AI for Early Detection
• Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Health Decision Support Systems
• Machine Learning in Epidemiology: Predicting Disease Outbreaks
• Natural Language Processing in Public Health: Text Mining for Insights
• Bias in AI Algorithms: Implications for Health Equity

Health Disparities in Aging

• Geriatric Health Disparities: Bridging the Gap in Elderly Care
• Ageism in Healthcare: Addressing Stereotypes and Discrimination
• Social Isolation and Health Consequences in Aging Populations
• Access to Palliative Care for Older Adults: A Global Perspective
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Ethnic Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment
• Loneliness and Mental Health in the Elderly: Interventions and Support

Research Methodologies in Public Health

Public health research employs various methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Each method brings its own strengths to the research process, allowing researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues they investigate. 

Community-based participatory research is another valuable approach, emphasizing collaboration with communities to address their specific health concerns.

Challenges and Opportunities in Public Health Research

While public health research is immensely rewarding, it comes with its own set of challenges. Funding constraints, ethical dilemmas, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the integration of technology pose both obstacles and opportunities. 

Researchers must navigate these challenges to ensure their work has a meaningful impact on public health.

In conclusion, public health research topics are diverse and dynamic, reflecting the complex nature of the field. As researchers embark on their journeys, they must carefully consider the relevance, impact, and ethical implications of their chosen topics. 

The collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of public health research positions it as a powerful tool in addressing the health challenges of our time. By exploring the depths of these topics, researchers contribute to the collective effort to build healthier and more equitable communities. 

As we move forward, a continued exploration of relevant public health research topics is essential for shaping the future of healthcare and improving the well-being of populations worldwide.

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Top 100 Public Health Project Topics [Revised]

• Post author By admin
• May 15, 2024

Public health is all about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life. It’s not just about treating diseases but preventing them and promoting well-being across communities. Public health projects are really important because they help make people healthier. They look at different parts of health and come up with ways to make sure everyone stays well. In this blog, we’ll delve into some fascinating public health project topics that are making a real difference in communities around the world.

Table of Contents

What Is An Example Of Public Health Research?

An example of public health research could be a study investigating the effectiveness of a community-based intervention program aimed at reducing childhood obesity rates through dietary education and increased physical activity. This research would involve collecting data on participants’ eating habits, physical activity levels, and weight changes over time to assess the program’s impact on improving overall health outcomes within the community.

What Are The Biggest Public Health Issues?

The biggest public health issues can vary depending on factors like geographic location, socioeconomic status, and cultural influences. However, some global public health issues that consistently rank among the most significant include:

• Infectious Diseases: Sicknesses like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as new diseases, are big problems for everyone’s health.
• Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs): Health issues like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are causing many deaths worldwide and are hard on healthcare systems.
• Mental Health: Feeling sad, worried, or using drugs affects a lot of people around the world. Sometimes, people have a hard time getting help because they’re embarrassed or can’t find it.
• Access to Healthcare: Some people have a tough time getting medical help when they need it, especially in places where there isn’t much money or where certain groups of people are left out.
• Environmental Health: Pollution, climate change, and not having clean water or good bathrooms make people sick with breathing problems, diseases, and not getting enough to eat.
• Maternal and Child Health: Pregnancy-related complications, neonatal disorders, and preventable childhood diseases continue to affect maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings.

100 Public Health Project Topics: Category Wise

Epidemiology and disease control.

• Surveillance and control of infectious diseases in urban areas.
• Outbreak investigation of foodborne illnesses.
• Mapping the spread of vector-borne diseases like Zika virus.
• Infectious Diseases: Checking how well vaccination programs help lower how many people get sick.
• Antibiotic Resistance: Studying why some germs become stronger against medicine in places like hospitals.
• Health Disparities: Looking at why some groups of people get sicker than others and what causes it.
• Disease Outbreaks: Seeing if tracing who sick people were in contact with helps stop diseases from spreading.
• Aging and Diseases: Understanding why older people get certain illnesses more often.
• Wildlife Diseases: Keeping an eye on new sicknesses that animals might pass on to people.
• Social Distancing: Checking if staying far apart helps stop diseases from spreading during big outbreaks.
• Assessing the effectiveness of contactless health screening methods in preventing infectious disease spread.
• Analyzing the prevalence and risk factors of vaccine hesitancy in diverse communities.
• Studying the role of animal reservoirs in the transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans.
• Implementing targeted interventions to reduce healthcare-associated infections in hospitals.

Health Promotion and Education

• Developing a community-based smoking cessation program.
• Promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles among adolescents.
• Educating pregnant women about the importance of prenatal care.
• Implementing nutrition education programs in schools.
• Designing workplace wellness initiatives to reduce stress.
• Creating mental health awareness campaigns for college students.
• Promoting safe driving habits and preventing accidents.
• Educating communities about the dangers of substance abuse.
• Implementing HIV/AIDS prevention programs in high-risk populations.
• Training community health workers to deliver health education in rural areas.
• Developing culturally tailored nutrition education programs for immigrant and refugee communities.
• Promoting mental health literacy and self-care practices among college students.
• Implementing peer-led sexual health education programs for adolescents.
• Designing multimedia campaigns to promote healthy behaviors during public health emergencies.
• Evaluating the impact of social media influencers on health-related attitudes and behaviors among youth.

Environmental Health

• Assessing air quality and its impact on respiratory health in urban neighborhoods.
• Implementing water purification systems in rural communities.
• Investigating the health effects of exposure to indoor air pollution.
• Monitoring and controlling lead exposure in drinking water.
• Promoting waste reduction and recycling programs in urban areas.
• Evaluating the health impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.
• Implementing food safety regulations in local restaurants.
• Assessing the health risks of pesticide exposure in agricultural communities.
• Promoting sustainable transportation options to reduce air pollution.
• Investigating the health effects of noise pollution in urban environments.

Maternal and Child Health

• Implementing breastfeeding support programs in hospitals and communities.
• Improving access to prenatal care for underserved populations.
• Assessing the impact of early childhood education programs on health outcomes.
• Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
• Implementing childhood immunization campaigns in rural areas.
• Promoting safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Investigating disparities in access to pediatric healthcare services.
• Addressing adolescent reproductive health issues through comprehensive education programs.
• Developing interventions to reduce infant mortality rates in developing countries.
• Promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity in schools to prevent childhood obesity.

Mental Health

• Setting up tests for mental health in doctors’ offices.
• Helping people with mental illness move from jail back to regular life.
• Spreading the word about mental health and making it okay to talk about at work.
• Starting programs to stop people from hurting themselves in schools and neighborhoods.
• Giving advice and help to people who have been through tough times.
• Addressing mental health needs among veterans and active-duty military personnel.
• Promoting resilience and coping skills in adolescents.
• Providing culturally sensitive mental health services for immigrant and refugee populations.
• Implementing peer support programs for individuals living with mental illness.
• Integrating mental health services into primary care settings to improve access and reduce disparities.

Occupational Health

• Assessing workplace hazards and implementing safety protocols.
• Promoting ergonomic workplace design to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
• Investigating the health effects of shift work and irregular schedules.
• Implementing workplace wellness programs to reduce stress and promote healthy lifestyles.
• Addressing occupational health disparities among migrant workers.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of workplace smoking cessation programs.
• Promoting mental health awareness and resilience in high-stress occupations.
• Assessing the impact of technology on workplace health and safety.
• Investigating the health effects of exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
• Implementing workplace violence prevention programs in healthcare settings.

Healthcare Access and Equity

• Assessing barriers to healthcare access among underserved populations.
• Implementing telehealth services to improve access to care in rural areas.
• Promoting culturally competent care for diverse patient populations.
• Addressing healthcare disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.
• Evaluating the impact of health insurance coverage expansion on healthcare access.
• Implementing community health worker programs to improve access to care.
• Assessing the impact of transportation barriers on healthcare access.
• Promoting language access services for individuals with limited English proficiency.
• Addressing healthcare disparities among LGBTQ+ populations.
• Implementing mobile healthcare clinics to reach underserved communities.

Global Health

• Implementing vaccination campaigns to eradicate polio in endemic countries.
• Helping people in poor countries get enough food and avoid hunger.
• Making sure everyone has clean water and bathrooms in areas that don’t have them.
• Doing things to stop malaria in places where it’s common.
• Giving support to communities hit by big problems like floods or wars.
• Dealing with sicknesses that aren’t talked about much but affect a lot of people.
• Making sure moms and kids in places with few resources get good healthcare.
• Doing things to stop HIV and help people who have it in countries in Africa below the Sahara Desert.
• Addressing the global tobacco epidemic through tobacco control policies.
• Promoting access to essential medicines and vaccines in low-income countries.

Emerging Health Issues

• Developing pandemic preparedness plans for novel infectious diseases.
• Assessing the health impacts of climate change and implementing adaptation strategies.
• Investigating the health effects of emerging technologies, such as e-cigarettes.
• Addressing the opioid epidemic through prevention and treatment initiatives.
• Promoting antimicrobial stewardship to combat antibiotic resistance.
• Addressing the health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in aging populations.
• Investigating the health effects of screen time and digital media use.
• Promoting sleep health and addressing sleep disorders.
• Implementing interventions to address the health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure.
• Addressing the health impacts of emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.

Public health projects cover a wide range of topics, all aimed at improving health outcomes and promoting well-being in communities.

From epidemiology to environmental health to mental health, these public health project topics are making a real difference in the lives of people around the world.

By addressing the root causes of health problems and implementing evidence-based interventions, public health practitioners are helping to create healthier, happier communities for everyone.

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Data Collections, Research Projects, and Funding Opportunities

Discover data collections, research projects, and funding opportunities related to nutrition, food insecurity, and physical inactivity in tribal communities. 

Data Collections

Centers for disease control and prevention (cdc): adult physical inactivity outside of work interactive maps.

CDC developed  interactive maps  showing differences in physical activity among U.S. adults by race and ethnicity and location in 2022. 27 states had a physical inactivity prevalence of 30 percent or higher among non-Hispanic AI/AN adults.

National Cancer Institute (NCI): Cancer Resources 

For information on AI/AN specific cancer surveillance and tumor registries, as well as the programs that support these efforts, visit this National Cancer Institute (NCI) webpage . 

Learn about AI colorectal screening programs and review cancer literature searches specific for Native American populations on NCI’s Native American Health webpage .

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Aids Research (OAR): Data Hub

To learn about funding opportunities and ongoing research on HIV/AIDS within AI/AN populations, visit NIH’s  Office of Aids Research (OAR) Data Hub . 

Research Projects and Resources

Centers for diabetes translation research (cdtr).

The   Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research , funded under the Centers for Diabetes Translation Research (CDTR) program , has a mission to translate research of proven efficacy into practice in both clinical and community settings, with the goal of improving the diabetes-related health of Native people.  Learn more about this grant award .

CDC: Keys to Success Tip Sheet: Enrolling and Retaining American Indian Participants in the National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Change Program

Including traditional foods in type 2 diabetes prevention programs serving AI/AN communities can help program participants achieve their goals. This tip sheet provides lessons learned and insights on how staff can include traditional foods and make their program more culturally relevant for AI/AN participants. 

NIH: ADVANCE: Advancing Prevention Research for Health Equity

NIH provides funding support for a variety of research, training, infrastructure development, and outreach and information dissemination projects. The NIH Office of Disease Prevention is coordinating the NIH-wide research effort, ADVANCE: Advancing Prevention Research for Health Equity . As part of this initiative, this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) focuses specifically on preventive interventions to address cardiometabolic risk factors in populations that experience health disparities, including AI/AN people. In the United States, AI/AN children experience disproportionate health disparities, including high rates of diabetes, obesity, and dental caries when compared to all other groups. Youth from AI/AN populations also face socio-cultural barriers in school and community settings that undermine the importance of their Native identity.

NIH: Exploring Food Insecurity as a Social Determinant of Health Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents at Risk for Gestational Diabetes

Exploring Food Insecurity as a Social Determinant of Health Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents at Risk for Gestational Diabetes   aims to explore how food insecurity impacts AI/AN females prior to pregnancy and will identify solutions to decrease food insecurity and diabetes health disparities in AI/AN communities. 

NIH: Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) 

The NIH supported program   Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) supports Tribes and Native American Serving Organizations (T/NASOs). T/NASOs participating in the program conduct research to address overdose, substance use, and pain, including related factors such as mental health and wellness. Phase I completed in November 2023 with the goal to support T/NASOs to plan, develop, pilot, and implement research and data improvement projects. Projects have received an initial review, and the process to award the projects has been initiated.

NIH: Osage Community Supported Agriculture Study (OCSA) 

The Osage Community Supported Agriculture Study (OCSA)   will test the efficacy of a CSA program combined with culturally tailored nutrition and cooking education among Osage adults, evaluate its cost-effectiveness, and develop a multimedia toolkit for disseminating findings .

NIH: Promoting Linguistic and Cultural Identity through Bilingual Children’s Stories to Address Nutrition and Health in Indigenous Communities

The Promoting Linguistic and Cultural Identity through Bilingual Children’s Stories to Address Nutrition and Health in Indigenous Communities project will develop a platform for the creation, distribution, and consumption of Native-authored, bilingual resources. The resources, tailored to AI/AN families, will relate to health, nutrition, and traditional foods. The goal is to create a library of dynamic, bilingual children’s eBooks in AI/AN languages and English, with accompanying interactive activities to promote parent-child dialogue and co-reading.

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Nih: intervention research to improve native american health (irinah) program.

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• Research on dissemination and implementation that develops and tests strategies to overcome barriers to the adoption, integration, scale-up, and sustainability of effective interventions

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Women’s Health Research at Yale Announces 2024 Pilot Project Program Awards

2024 women's health research at yale pilot project announcement.

2024 Women's Health Research at Yale Pilot Project Program Investigators W. Mark Saltzman, PhD, (left) and Sandra Springer, MD, (right).

Women’s Health Research at Yale today announced two research awards, one aimed at more effectively treating endometriosis and the second designed to help women who have been incarcerated improve their health outcomes. The research awards, “Long-Acting Degradable Implants for Endometriosis Treatment” and “Mobile Care for Women with a History of Justice Involvement,” are part of Women’s Health Research at Yale’s Pilot Project Program, initiated in 1998.

“Both of this year’s pilot projects have the potential to greatly improve the lives of women,” said Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD, Norma Weinberg Spungen and Joan Lebson Bildner Professor in Women’s Health Research, professor of psychiatry and psychology, and Director of Women’s Health Research at Yale. “I look forward to the progress our impressive investigators will make on two critical areas of women’s health through these year-long awards.”

Long-Acting Degradable Implants for Endometriosis Treatment

This year’s Wendy U. & Thomas C. Naratil Pioneer Award will provide W. Mark Saltzman, PhD, Goizueta Foundation Professor for Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, the opportunity to develop and test long-acting degradable implants designed to treat endometriosis – a painful condition that also can affect the capacity to become pregnant. This approach offers the novel delivery of an FDA-approved drug to treat this common disorder, affecting more than 6.5 million women in America alone.

Saltzman’s research team includes Hugh Taylor, MD, Anita O’Keeffe Young Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, who has long studied endometriosis. Together, they will determine if a specific estrogen-blocking drug can treat endometriosis with delivery through a manufactured, degradable implantable device. The three phases of this pilot study include determining the proper dose of the estrogen blocker; discovering the optimum placement in the body for a degradable implant; and examining the intervention’s efficacy and safety.

“Funding from Women’s Health Research at Yale is a proven method to bring new technology, new solutions, and new innovation forward,” said Saltzman. “The goal of the program is to get you enough of a research runway so that you can prove to other funders the potential impact of your work, enabling you to continue to develop an intervention, with the ultimate goal of getting it to the women who need it most. This Pilot Project Program award gives me a tremendous advantage.”

Mobile Care for Women with a History of Justice Involvement

Sandra Springer, MD, Professor of Medicine, and Sheela Shenoi, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, received this year’s second Pilot Project Program award. Leveraging Springer’s mobile medical unit and mobile retail pharmacy InMOTION, investigators will explore how a mobile model of healthcare can lead to improved outcomes as women rejoin the community from correctional institutions. Springer was awarded an Avant Garde Award by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in June 2022 that resulted in the development of the first legalized mobile retail pharmacy/mobile clinic combination in the United States. The goal of InMOTION is to increase healthcare access and remove barriers by bringing healthcare and medications directly to individuals.

The time of release from incarceration to transitional housing is a particularly difficult adjustment period, and obtaining medical care and medications is often overwhelming. Consequently, women returning to the community often forgo the care they need, despite having a significantly higher prevalence of chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, addictive behaviors, and mental health conditions. Working closely with the Connecticut Department of Correction, InMOTION will offer primary and holistic care along with prescription fulfillment where women are living to test the feasibility of mobile medical care to prevent disruptions in care for this population and thus a better outcome.

“We hope this mobile retail pharmacy and clinic will improve access to whole person healthcare for women as they reenter the community after incarceration by overcoming barriers that they often face including lack of transportation and substantial stigma,” said Springer.

“Community-based approaches are important strategies to reach vulnerable women. With the support of the Women’s Health Research at Yale pilot program grant, we hope to demonstrate the feasibility of this model of care to reach at risk women during a tumultuous transition to improve their health outcomes,” said Shenoi.

To learn more about Women’s Health Research at Yale, visit medicine.yale.edu/whr .

About Women’s Health Research at Yale

Women’s Health Research at Yale is an interdisciplinary research center within Yale School of Medicine. Its mission is to improve the health and well-being of everyone. The center studies a wide breadth of topics from cardiovascular disease to cancers and the health of women, examining health differences between and among women and men. Since its inception in 1998, Women’s Health Research at Yale has been recognized as a national model for launching research, translating findings, sharing health information with the public and policymakers, and providing mentored training in interdisciplinary team science. Follow Women’s Health Research at Yale on LinkedIn , X , Facebook , and Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter, Innovations in Women’s Health.

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Featured in this article

• Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD Norma Weinberg Spungen and Joan Lebson Bildner Professor in Women's Health Research and Professor of Psychiatry and of Psychology; Director, Women's Health Research at Yale, Yale Medical School
• W. Mark Saltzman, PhD Goizueta Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of Chemical Engineering; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering
• Hugh Taylor, MD Anita O'Keeffe Young Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; Chair, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Chief , Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale New Haven Hospital
• Sandra Ann Springer, MD Professor of Medicine (AIDS) and Associate Clinical Professor of Nursing; Director, Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic, Veterans Administration Healthcare Services, Newington
• Sheela Shenoi, MD, MPH, FIDSA Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases); Core Faculty, Connecticut AIDS Education & Training Center; Associate Director, Office of Global Health, Yale Medicine; Co-Director, Global Health & Equity Distinction Pathway, Medicine; South Africa Site Director, Global Health Scholars Program, Yale Medicine; Affiliated Faculty, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale School of Public Health; Affiliated Faculty, Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Co-Lead, Medicine; Associate Professor on Term, Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases

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Northwestern receives $55 million to advance health research.

The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute has received $55 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to accelerate development, evaluation and implementation of improved healthcare interventions.

The seven-year award is the largest active research grant at Northwestern and extends a legacy of NIH funding that began when the institute launched in 2008.

“Clinical and translational research does not happen in a bubble, it requires dedicated investigators and members of the public to advance human health,” said Richard D’Aquila, MD , the Howard Taylor Ricketts, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research. “With generous support from the NIH and Northwestern, we will continue to work alongside our exceptional coalition of community and health system partners to help build a better framework for innovating and implementing discoveries in ever more inclusive ways.”

Co-led by principal investigators D’Aquila; Sara Becker, PhD , the Alice Hamilton Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , and Clyde Yancy, MD, MSc , chief and Magerstadt Professor of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine, the Institute maintains its place as an anchor for Northwestern’s research enterprise.

“The collection of extraordinary faculty and staff who will manage this iteration of NUCATS are a testament to the transformational mindsets held by the institute’s leadership,” said  Eric G. Neilson, MD , vice president for Medical Affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean. “This funding allows us to further advance our mission of improving human health by investigating the mechanisms that drive the translation of discoveries toward real-world treatments.”

Awarded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science, the grant will fund activities that cultivate a culture of inclusive excellence to better capitalize on the full range of existing talent while enabling effective translation of discoveries for diverse populations. The Institute is also positioned to infuse implementation science methods into work across the translational continuum to improve public health and meet the needs of all.

“Implementation science can help us to accelerate and catalyze the uptake of evidence-based practice into routine clinical care,” said Becker, also director of Northwestern’s Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science (CTSA). “Northwestern is a national leader in this space. The NUCATS Institute will become a model CTSA hub that advances inclusive, innovative and implementable solutions to the evolving challenges that impede scalable public health progress.”

Yancy’s research in cardiology and health disparities addresses optimal treatment of heart failure. A seminal contribution was revealing that the predominant cause of heart failure among Black people is hypertension rather than the ischemic heart disease that is most often the putative cause in non-Black patients. His groundbreaking work informed how to optimize treatment strategies for Black patients including the first ever FDA-approved therapy for Black patients.

“Diversity in the biomedical workforce is more than representativeness; it is rather about excellence, diverse ideas and unique strategies that will enrich our ability to provide care for the entire population,” said Yancy, who is also vice dean for Diversity and Inclusion. “By addressing inequities with intentionality, we are positioned to understand and then overcome persistent systemic limitations that hurt those underrepresented and underserved and in turn impair best health for everyone. We commit to responsibly and courageously leading the path to inclusive excellence and belongingness.”

As one of more than 60 NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award-funded hubs, the NUCATS Institute is now charged with adding to generalizable knowledge about how to best accelerate new ideas and interventions into impact that improves health for all. The NIH calls this new charge conducting clinical and translational science, distinguishing it from an earlier charge to provide resources for all clinical and translational research.

“A core principle of translational science is to understand common causes of inefficiency and failure in translational research projects. One of the additional areas we will focus on — in collaboration with Northwestern’s Innovation and New Ventures Office and other partners — is better helping academic innovators to move discoveries from the laboratory through clinical trials and toward commercialization,” D’Aquila said.

Northwestern University and its affiliates the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute , Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Northwestern Medicine comprise the NUCATS Institute. Clinicians and investigators at each affiliate are Northwestern faculty members and the partnering entities share a jointly operated, markedly grown academic medical center campus where faculty and trainees’ education, care and research activities cultivate a learning health system. The affiliates also have broad regional networks of sites/providers, facilitating community outreach. The NUCATS Institute will continue to serve as the glue that collaboratively aligns translational research and advances translational science across the four hub components.

The new CTSA activities are funded by NCATS grant UM1TR005121.

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Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities Awarded Major NIH Center Grant

By SONHSNews 08-23-2024

The Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO) at the University of Miami (UM) School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) has been awarded a $3,324,993M National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant that renews CLaRO's funding to continue its work for another five years. The grant was awarded by the NIH’s National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) under the highly competitive P50 Specialized Center funding mechanism Centers of Excellence in Investigator Development and Community Engagement . CLaRO brings together SONHS and Florida International University (FIU) faculty to train and mentor a new generation of outstanding Latino health disparities researchers.

CLaRO will fund at least three new pilot studies per year, granting a total of $300,000 in direct costs annually for the next five years to support early career investigators in implementing innovative, evidence-based interventions tailored to South Florida’s diverse Latino communities. This is double the annual total CLaRO has been able to award for pilot projects in past years.

“This momentous award will enable CLaRO’s leadership to ignite and advance the research careers of our most talented emerging investigators, providing them with the mentoring, training and resources they need to flourish,” said SONHS dean and professor Hudson Santos, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.B.M.R., F.A.A.N. “The grant builds on our long-standing partnership with FIU to ensure we identify an exceptional cohort of promising scholars across the diverse South Florida region.”

“We helped our initial pilot study awardees generate programs of research based on the pilots we funded, which led to their securing $28 million in NIH funding as new investigators,” added Guillermo “Willy” Prado, Ph.D., SONHS professor and UM’s Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, who will serve as CLaRO’s principal investigator. “That track record is our recipe for success, our secret sauce: bringing very promising and stellar early career faculty together with really committed and motivated senior scholars, who are going to do everything to help them succeed.”

CLaRO will encourage scholars to collaborate across the two universities to explore complex, interdisciplinary research questions that address the collection of conditions related to substance abuse, violence, and HIV/AIDS – known as the SAVA syndemic – as well as mental health issues. The grant further requires every pilot study to use an equitable implementation science approach. “Implementation science is a methodology that takes evidence-based interventions and scales them up so they can reach more people,” explained Prado, who will co-lead CLaRO with FIU professor Mario De La Rosa, Ph.D. “But it also scales these interventions out by taking them into new settings—for example, taking an intervention that’s been integrated into a school setting and implementing it at a primary healthcare clinic.”

The studies must be developed through a lens of health equity for all populations. “Equity is achieved when systems are in place for everyone to have the best possible health outcomes,” said Prado. “We ensure everyone has equitable opportunity because they're starting at the same baseline.”

CLaRO’s senior faculty members will provide the investigators with a year or more of intensive mentoring and training to ensure each scholars’ success. Through a Research Enhancement Program offered by CLaRO’s Investigator Development (ID) Core, they’ll learn more about SAVA, mental health, and equitable implementation science, and will participate in networking opportunities. The ID Core also will provide activities to deepen and expand research skills among a broader cohort of SONHS and FIU students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty.

“This approach will help us support the pilot grantees to develop scientific programs addressing health disparities,” said Victoria Behar-Zusman, Ph.D., who will lead the ID Core in partnership with FIU assistant professor Mariana Sánchez, Ph.D., M.S.W. “We’ll support their research and give them guidance and a network of belonging with other early career investigators.”  

CLaRO’s Community Engagement and Dissemination (CED) Core will work closely with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprised of representatives from social services and health care agencies to guide the scholars through every stage of the research process—from conceptualizing their research questions to recruiting participants and conducting their studies in real-world settings.

“It’s important to train early career investigators on how to work with the community,” said SONHS research assistant professor Yannine Estrada, Ph.D., who will co-direct the CED Core along with FIU associate professor Patria Rojas, Ph.D. “In line with an equitable, social justice perspective, we need to represent the voice of the community in the work we're doing.

“Nobody has the insights the community does,” agreed Prado. “The best science happens in a team approach where scholars come together with community leaders and with the populations we serve to develop the very best interventions.”

About the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies:  The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) transforms lives and health care through education, research, innovation, and service across the hemisphere. Established in 1948 as South Florida’s first collegiate nursing program, SONHS is a world-class, prestigiously accredited, research-driven school conferring undergraduate nursing, public health, and health science degrees, and advanced nursing degrees. SONHS values its diverse faculty, students, and 250+ clinical and community health partners. Its research core includes the Biobehavioral Research Laboratory, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre, Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO), Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Program, and 41,000-square-foot Simulation Hospital Advancing Research and Education (S.H.A.R.E. ® ). For more information, visit  sonhs.miami.edu .

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NIH Women's Health Roundtable: Maternal Mental Health Research

Elevating Women's Voices to Improve Maternal Mental Health

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Elevating Women's Voices to Improve Maternal Mental Health is the third event in the NIH Women’s Health Roundtable Series  , which focuses on important women’s health topics, such as maternal mental health, as part of the  White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research  . This series was developed as a recommended action in response to the Presidential Memorandum  to bring attention to priority topics within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to disseminate information on federally supported research areas.

The roundtable is also featured in the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Office of Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity Webinar Series , which focuses on mental health equity research topics. The event is co-hosted by the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH)  and NIMH.

The goals of this roundtable are to:

• Spotlight high-priority research areas related to women's mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period, up to one year following childbirth.
• Share information on how NIMH-supported research advances the development of and access to screening, diagnostics, and preventive and treatment interventions to improve women’s mental health during the perinatal period.
• Explain how maternal mental health research can reduce the burden of mental illnesses that contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality.
• Identify and explore gaps in areas critical to women’s research outlined within the Executive Order on Advancing Women's Health Research and Innovation (EO 14120)  and the 2024-2028 NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Research on the Health of Women   .

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This webinar is free, but registration is required   .

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NIMH’s Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health

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AI-enabled device revolutionizes pregnancy care

Handheld ultrasound allows novices to expertly estimate gestational age, a UNC School of Medicine study shows.

A groundbreaking study published in the  Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrates that artificial intelligence can enable novice users to estimate gestational age as accurately as expert sonographers. The technology has the potential to transform pregnancy care in low-resource settings.

Researchers at the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and the University of Zambia have shown that an  AI-enabled, low-cost handheld ultrasound device  can provide accurate gestational age estimates when used by healthcare workers with minimal training. This innovation could significantly improve pregnancy care in areas where access to expert sonographers and high-end ultrasound machines is limited.

(Dr. Jeffrey S. A. Stringer)

“This study represents a major step forward in our ability to provide quality prenatal care globally,” said Dr. Jeffrey S. A. Stringer , lead author and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine. “By combining AI with portable ultrasound technology, we’re bringing expert-level diagnostics to regions that have long lacked access to such resources.”

Key findings of the study include:

• The AI-enabled device produced gestational age estimates equivalent to those of expert sonographers using high-end machines between 14 and 37 weeks of pregnancy.
• Novice users could operate the device effectively after just one day of training.
• The technology performed well across diverse populations in Zambia and North Carolina, including in patients with high body mass index.

The study enrolled 400 pregnant individuals across sites in Zambia and North Carolina. The AI tool was integrated into the Butterfly iQ+ handheld ultrasound device, allowing for real-time, on-device analysis without the need for internet connectivity.

Margaret P. Kasaro , senior author and country director at UNC Global Projects Zambia, emphasized the potential impact: “In many low- and middle-income countries, women often don’t receive an ultrasound during pregnancy. This technology could change that, helping to identify high-risk pregnancies and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.”

The researchers note that while the tool performs well up to 37 weeks’ gestation, it is not recommended for use after that point. Future studies will explore its effectiveness in high-risk pregnancies and additional geographic locations.

This research was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Ari Moskowitz, deputy director for medical devices & AI at the foundation, called the study “a significant step forward in our mission to improve maternal and newborn health globally.”

Butterfly Network Inc.  provided the Butterfly iQ+ ultrasound devices used in the study and collaborated closely with the researchers to integrate the AI model into the device software.

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