Jill Pease

This fall researchers at the University of Florida will begin a study examining a weight-gain prevention program for college freshmen.

Quitting smoking is difficult for anyone, but it may be especially challenging for people with disabilities, says Jamie Pomeranz, Ph.D., a disability researcher and an assistant professor in the department of behavioral science and community health.

For 60 million Americans, a good night’s sleep is little more than an impossible dream. One of the most frequently prescribed treatments for insomnia is sleep medications, but they don’t work well over the long haul, says sleep researcher Christina McCrae, Ph.D.

Biomedical engineering has revolutionized medical research and practice in many ways, from providing sophisticated automated instrumentation and computation needed to sequence the human genome to developing devices that mimic normal delivery of insulin by the pancreas.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy research at the University of Florida got a major boost with the award of $7.5 million in National Institutes of Health funding to study the use of magnetic resonance imaging in determining the natural progression of the disease.

Pointing to the images on her computer screen, Terese Chmielewski, P.T., Ph.D., identifies a problem with the football player’s movement. As he performs vertical jumps and single leg jumps, it’s clear the player is putting too much force on his right leg.

Krista Vandenborne, Ph.D., P.T., has been named the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ associate dean for research and planning.

UF is the latest school to establish a chapter of Delta Omega, the honorary society for graduate studies in public health. UF’s chapter joins 60 other chapters at public health-accredited schools and programs.

Dr. Hall is interested in issues related to access to care for vulnerable populations including Medicaid, the health care safety net, and primary care delivery systems.

Energy drinks, favored among young people for the beverages’ caffeine jolt, also play a lead role in several popular alcoholic drinks, such as Red Bull and vodka. But combining alcohol and energy drinks may create a dangerous mix, according to University of Florida research.