UNC Research

UNC Research is better recycling. Read more about this research here: https://go.unc.edu/t3L8A Chemist Frank Leibfarth tests molecules that can turn plastic waste into useful materials, diversifying options for recycling. Every day, U.S. manufacturers make enough plastics products to fill the Carolina Panthers' stadium, which can hold more than 70,000 people. Plastics make products lighter and more effective, but their disposal is problematic. Of each stadium’s worth of plastics, the U.S. only recycles 8.7%. The rest ends up in landfills and incinerators, or as environmental pollutants. Frank is developing molecules to transform our most-used plastics into materials with different properties that are easier to reuse. Imagine turning a plastic milk jug into a golf ball. Frank's research is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. This funding supports vital research, helping the people of North Carolina and beyond. #UNCResearchIsNC #chemistry #plastics #recycling #UNC #NC . University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill UNC College of Arts and Sciences UNC-CH Chemistry

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is proudly public - serving all 100 counties of our beautiful state through UNC Research. An incredible return on investment of #NCGA and federal research support that saves and improves lives across the state - whether its our close to 6,000 patients actively enrolled in clinical trials, or the more than 11,000 employees from 94 counties employed by our research, or the thousands of undergraduate students engaged in research - our researchers are dedicated to making a difference in North Carolina.

"I think being from this community provides me with a great advantage as a researcher," says Ellie Sellers on her community-led adolescent research. "There’s an awareness of the landscape, the people, the traditions, the folklore of the community, which has been vital [in understanding and being able to connect with] the students. There’s something that exists within me and within all the people that I’ve talked to from my community. It’s a passion for and love of Tarboro, North Carolina, its complicated history and its continued growth." #UNCResearchIsNC #community #NC #mentalhealth #youth . UNC CHER University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC-Chapel Hill’s global and local work in resource-limited settings and with rural populations results in advancements for the care of North Carolinians.

Researchers from #UNCLineberger and the University of Cincinnati developed an art therapy application to help improve quality of life in young adult cancer survivorship patients. UNC Lineberger's Soma Sengupta, MD, PhD, FRCP, FAAN, FANA, will lead a study using a new art therapy application designed for patients ages 18-24 (AYA) brain tumor survivors at UNC Health.

UNC Research is student and teacher support. Read about one of our programs here: https://go.unc.edu/g8X9E In 2024, UNC-Chapel Hill received $23 million from the U.S. Department of Education. This funding puts research into practice in North Carolina's classrooms, providing resources for teachers and improving schools, from kindergarten to college. SCRIPT-NC, a program from the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute prepares current and future teachers to better support children and their families. To date, this program has enhanced the training of 10,000+ community college students studying to become teachers in every N.C. county. The U.S. Department of Education is UNC-Chapel Hill's biggest funder of school-related research, strengthening education for all North Carolinians. #UNCResearchIsNC #research #community #education #students #teachers #UNC #NC . University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill UNC School of Education University of North Carolina System North Carolina Community College System Wake Technical Community College Durham Technical Community College

UNC-Chapel Hill is a place where people can grow their careers. Betsy Sleath began at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy 30 years ago as an assistant professor and is now a regional associate dean: https://go.unc.edu/Ht24F Created in 2021, this new role focuses on expanding partnerships, recruitment, and research in Eastern North Carolina. Sleath collaborates with UNC System schools, community colleges, high schools, health systems, pharmacies, and alumni. “Part of my job is to convince students to consider Carolina’s doctor of pharmacy program," says Sleath, who is also the George H. Cocolas Distinguished Professor. "I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see so many local students in our program at Chapel Hill doing fantastic things.” On average, more than 70% of Carolina’s pharmacy graduates stay and work in N.C. — a number Sleath hopes to increase as she continues to recruit local students. "I am most proud of my former students and postdoctoral fellows," she shares. "Three of them are now Carolina faculty members, and others are doing important research at universities, pharmaceutical companies, health insurers, and contract research organizations." #UNCResearch #Rooted #Carolina #GDTBATH #research #UNC #community . University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina System

UNC Research is sports medicine. Read more about this research here: https://go.unc.edu/By98K Exercise and sport scientist Shelby Baez is using virtual reality (VR) techniques to help people recovering from ACL reconstruction. Fear of reinjury can plague recovering athletes. Those who return to their sport with an elevated fear of reinjury are 13 times more likely to have a second ACL reconstruction within two years, according to Shelby. She and her team use psychological skills to help athletes return to sports, reduce the risk of secondary injury, and improve knee joint health. Her most recent study is assessing how guided mindfulness mediation using a VR headset can improve physical and psychological recovery. Shelby's research is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the largest funder of U.S. clinical trials. This funding supports vital research, helping the people of North Carolina and beyond. #UNCResearchIsNC #sports #medicine #exercise #science #UNC . University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill UNC College of Arts and Sciences Shelby Baez, Ph.D., ATC

Katalia Alexander, a dual-degree MSW/MPH student at UNC, is making waves in global health research! As a second-semester research assistant, Katalia uncovered crucial insights into parental attitudes toward HIV testing and contraception access for adolescents in Tanzania. Her work, born from the VITAA clinical trial, is now the foundation for her first lead author publication 📃📊🔎 Through analyzing interviews with parents in Tanzania and reviewing literature to find data, Alexander found that many parents are supportive of HIV testing for their adolescents despite societal stigma, and recognized the importance for parents of ensuring that adolescents received access to health care while accompanied by a trusted adult. Her journey, backed by mentorship from #UNCSSW Associate Professor Joy Noel Baumgartner and the entire project team, has empowered her with invaluable qualitative research skills that she’s eager to apply in future health projects. Currently in its final year of a five-year grant, the clinical trial has provided various research opportunities for students. Eleven students have worked as research assistants on the project, four students have co-authored journal manuscripts currently under review, three students have used the project as a practicum placement, and one student traveled to Tanzania to lead a training for the research team.    Read more about Alexander’s groundbreaking work and the VITAA trial’s impact ⬇️

By the Numbers: 100 N.C. counties benefit from research at Carolina Learn more about the impact of UNC Research here: https://go.unc.edu/y8KSg #UNCResearchIsNC #research #impact #UNC #NorthCarolina #jobs #health #environment . University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Graduate School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill UNC School of Medicine UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy UNC School of Social Work UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media UNC School of Education UNC School of Data Science and Society UNC School of Government UNC Adams School of Dentistry UNC School of Information and Library Science University of North Carolina School of Law UNC Health North Carolina Collaboratory