Research for a better future
Faculty members are tackling some of the world’s greatest health challenges, from infectious diseases to chronic conditions, such as diabetes, substance use and obesity.

No. 9 in NIH research funding among schools of public health at public universities
$35 million in total research awards FY20-21
8 NIH-funded training programs
PHHP Office of Research
Find out about resources in the college related to research support.

Research annual reports
Learn how faculty are contributing to their fields with innovative models of research that promote collaboration between faculty in public health and health professions and with many other colleagues across disciplines locally, nationally and internationally.

Training opportunities
The college is committed to providing a supportive training environment for doctoral students, postdoctoral associates/fellows and early-career scientists. We offer several doctoral programs, and house multiple training programs.

Artificial intelligence
PHHP researchers are using AI technology to improve population health and treatment outcomes.

FEATURED RESEARCH AREAS
COVID-19 rehospitalizations
A study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that patients who had a severe case of the disease were more than twice as likely as patients who had mild or moderate COVID-19 to need hospitalization again.

Global approach to emerging COVID-19 variants
A coordinated global response to viral variants that may threaten the protection provided by vaccines is critical, wrote a group of World Health Organization scientists, including UF’s Ira Longini, Ph.D., in a special report published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Negative patient-provider interactions as barrier to care
A new study finds the most commonly cited reason patients with Type 1 diabetes don’t receive optimal care is negative interactions with endocrinologists. The findings appeared in the journal Diabetes Care.

Mental confusion may be early warning sign of severe COVID-19
Patients with COVID-19 who displayed symptoms of disorientation and confusion were three times more likely to go on to develop severe COVID-19 than patients with the virus who did not experience neurological symptoms, according to a study published in Critical Care Explorations.

New grant allows expansion of muscular dystrophy disease progression study
A new five-year, $6.25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health supports UF’s continued efforts to develop MRI biomarkers for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and expand the study to include people with Becker muscular dystrophy.

Testing quarantined students before they return to school helps prevent cases from re-entering classroom
In a study published in March in JAMA, a UF team reported that many high school students on day nine or later of their COVID-19 quarantine period tested positive for the virus. The finding suggests schools should adopt a policy of testing quarantined students if they return to class before the end of a 14-day quarantine period.

Chronic pain and other life experiences may contribute to brain matter loss
A study of non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white adults links chronic knee pain and key demographic factors to differences in areas of the brain tied to memory. Published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, the findings suggest that some individuals with chronic pain who are at increased risk for gray matter loss might benefit from earlier identification and treatment for their pain.

Promising results in study of investigational treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Using innovative methods to measure changes in muscle, a UF team reported in a JAMA Network Open article that after treatment with an investigational gene therapy, three young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy had considerably lower fat infiltration in their muscles than boys receiving standard treatment.

research centers
public health and health professions
Centers and Institutes
The college houses several research centers and institutes focused on a wide array of research topics

get involved
Learn more about opportunities for undergraduate research
- Bachelor of Health Science Honors Program
- University Scholars Program
- Emerging Scholars Program
- Center for Undergraduate Research
Graduate student research
For information on research opportunities for graduate students, please contact the departments or program directors.