Epidemiology Results

New research gauges community immunity to valley fever as fungal infection cases increase

First such study in decades strengthens public health response, informs vaccine design

University of Michigan researchers will determine how much of the population still lacks immunity to valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhalation of spores that can be carried through the air in the dust of dry soils.

On the Heights: October 2026

Stay informed with the latest from the University of Michigan School of Public Health community in our monthly digest. Faculty expertise in action, new research, policy advocacy, and community engagement highlight our continued commitment to advancing public health and creating positive change.

Global Public Health leader: Connection is our greatest protection

Dr. Raj Panjabi, author of ‘Safer,’ discusses trust, resilience and leading through crisis at Global Public Health Futures event

Dr. Raj Panjabi, physician and author of ‘Safer,’ joined Charles B. Holmes, dean of Michigan Public Health, for a conversation on building trust, countering misinformation and leading communities through crisis. Panjabi shared lessons from Ebola, COVID-19, and his White House pandemic work on turning fear into collective action.

Your chances of Alzheimer's disease vary based on where you live. Why is that?

Federally funded University of Michigan research will search for answers—and prevention possibilities—in data from 20 countries

A Michigan Public Health study led by Lindsay Kobayashi will compare memory and thinking data from older adults in 20 countries to learn why dementia risk differs worldwide and which prevention strategies matter most where.

Flu clues: Digging into 15 years of household data

$14.2-million NIH award to University of Michigan funds research to untangle intricacies of person-to-person flu transmission—and reduce illness, deaths, economic losses

A $14.2 million NIH award launches MiCRIT, where Michigan Public Health's Emily Toth Martin and the Medical School's Adam Lauring will mine 15 years of household data to learn how flu spreads person to person and how to stop it.

Neighborhood by neighborhood: Mapping what shapes healthy aging

U-M researchers received an $11 million award to expand the National Neighborhood Data Archive, helping researchers better understand how changing neighborhood conditions affect the health of older adults.