Professor Jim Neaton and the school’s Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research are running a trial to test a COVID-19 treatment that combines a highly concentrated solution of antibodies with the drug remdesivir.
Faculty
Study to evaluate genetic underpinnings of smoking and nicotine dependence in American Indians and Alaska Natives
Assistant Professor Dana Carroll is studying how quickly American Indians and Alaska Natives metabolize nicotine, how it relates to their genetic makeup, and barriers that exist to using that information to improve health.
25th Heinz Awards honor Kozhimannil for research on healthcare inequities and maternal mortality among women of color
Professor Katy Kozhimannil’s work is driving policy change to reduce rising maternal mortality rates in rural populations and address structural racism in healthcare.
Switching to a plant-centered diet linked to reduced diabetes risk for young adults as they age
PhD student Yuni Choi found that study participants with the greatest increase in plant-centered diet quality scores had a 48% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes compared to those who did not alter their diet.
U of MN School of Public Health Dean John Finnegan Jr. to retire
Finnegan has served as dean for 16 years and maintained SPH’s top 10 national school ranking, increased student enrolled by 65 percent, and led initiatives to prevent sexual misconduct and gun deaths.
Female primary care physicians spending more time with patients may contribute to gender pay gap
The study, co-led by senior author and Assistant Professor Hannah Neprash, found that female primary care physicians earn less revenue for the care they provide, but spend more time with patients than their male colleagues.
School of Public Health launches Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation
The center is led by Professor Joseph Gaugler and seeks to foster interdisciplinary, community-engaged approaches to support students, researchers, and the community when addressing critical issues related to aging.
School of Public Health to establish the Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving
The center is led by Professor Joseph Gaugler and will focus on identifying and disseminating promising research findings and best practices for addressing social determinants of health to support family members, friends, and other unpaid individuals who care for people living with dementia.
Nguyen creates distance public health course for people in prison
Associate Professor Ruby Nguyen created an introductory public health class for the Minnesota state prison system that will teach incarcerated residents how to understand the issues of today, and possibly, open the door to a future career in the field.
Black newborns die less when cared for by Black doctors
A study co-authored by Associate Professor Rachel Hardeman found that the in-hospital death rate of Black newborns is a third lower when they are cared for by Black physicians rather than white physicians.
Gum disease raises the risk of developing dementia
Associate Professor Ryan Demmer studied a large group of people with varying levels of gum disease and found 19% of them developed dementia.
Children eat healthier school meals following Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
The study by recent graduate Aaron Berger (PhD ’20) found that kids ate a regular amount of the improved meals, which sets them up for healthier lives.
