Research

A firefighter putting out a fire with foam

Protecting populations from dangers of PFAS exposure

Jackie Goodrich, a research associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, studies PFAS chemicals in firefighting gear and their health risks like cancer. PFAS alter gene expression and persist in the environment. New EPA rules aim to mitigate exposure and protect public health.

A plant illustration growing and blossoming

Living fuller lives

Finding innovative ways to foster purposeful living and positive social connections

Americans of all ages face increasing loneliness and mental health issues. Michigan Public Health is addressing this crisis through research by faculty such as Victor Strecher promoting purposeful living, Lindsay Kobayashi studying health impacts of loneliness, and John Piette’s SPEAK! program fostering social connections.

A teen driving simulator

A biostatistics breakthrough: Using data to improve teen driving

In Michael Elliott’s line of work, numbers save lives. Elliott, professor of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, is an expert in the art and science of collecting, interpreting and analyzing data. One of his most recent projects could help save lives of a particularly accident-prone population: young drivers.

From left to right, Justin Heinze, April Zeoli and Marc Zimmerman

Stopping the gun violence epidemic

Michigan Public Health has marshaled its resources to respond to this public health crisis

Michigan Public Health has marshaled its resources to respond to this public health crisis. Faculty with diverse research interests are studying the causes of gun violence, exploring various interventions to address the problem, and helping to shape public policies and programs designed to make Michigan schools and communities safer.

Map of the stet of Michigan with the words

The state of research

The commitment to public health begins right here in Michigan

The University of Michigan stands out as a premier public research institution and, within it, the School of Public Health is recognized as an epicenter of innovative research and excellence in education. Last year, Michigan Public Health topped $100 million in research expenditures, boasting the highest research expenditure per faculty member across the university.

Dean F. DuBois Bowman

Uplifting residents, neighborhoods and communities throughout Michigan

Dean F. DuBois Bowman

The University of Michigan School of Public Health is working to uplift residents, neighborhoods and communities throughout Michigan. This takes many shapes, including a project to improve the workplace and living conditions for Michigan’s 96,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers; research to quantify the impact of environmental exposures in our state on cancer risk; a pilot project to provide guaranteed monthly payments to individuals in Ann Arbor who have low incomes; and much more.