Research

The University at Albany School of Public Health conducts cutting-edge research that leads to improvements in population health locally, nationally, and internationally. The breadth of our research is wide, ranging from basic research in cancer genetics to applied obesity prevention using the principles of community-based participatory research. As new public health concerns arise - such as new infectious diseases and epidemics - our researchers analyze the problem from multiple angles (biomedical, environmental, epidemiological, social, political) to help guide the development of policy and programmatic solutions that will optimize the health of the population.

Areas of Research Expertise
  • COVID-19 and emerging diseases
  • Health disparities and health equity
  • Cancer epidemiology and cancer genomics
  • Evidence-based healthcare
  • Food systems and childhood obesity
  • Health effects of climate change and the environment
  • HIV policy and prevention
  • Infectious disease epidemiology
  • Maternal and child health
  • Social epidemiology and social determinants of health
  • Violence and addiction
A brunette young woman stares through a microscope.
Research Centers and Institutes
Other Centers and Institutes at the School

Recent Research:

Research is conducted within our four academic departments, the labs of our New York State Department of Health partners (including the Wadsworth Center Labs), and several of our research centers and institutes. Our commitment to engaging students in our research projects is one of the key ways in which we provide defining experiences in public health.  

A blond haired woman wearing a white lab coat sits at a desk. She is wearing purple lab gloves and holds a pen in her right hand, about to write something on a white paper in front of her.
Racial/Ethnic disparities & COVID-19 fatality
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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
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New Yorkers infected by SARS-COV-2
Close up of a digital rendering of the Coronavirus. The sphere is grey with red triangles across it, and it hovers on a black background.
Observational study of hydroxychloroquine & azithromycin
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Epidemiological report of COVID-19 in NY
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Face mask guidance
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Sexual minorities & eating disorders
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Pet ownership & health
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Depression in early adulthood
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Functional capacity among older Japanese
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Enhancing nutrition in individuals with food insecurity
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Influenza vaccination & air pollution
450+
unique faculty publications in 2019
3
faculty assisting the state with their research expertise on governor's working groups
82.3
million dollars in total extramural funding generated by faculty in 2019
Featured Projects
The Welsh Lab

The Welsh Lab conducts research directed at understanding the health effects of vitamins D and K. Researchers use basic cell and molecular biology techniques with human cells as well as animal models to mechanistically investigate the actions of vitamin D and K. The current focus is on breast cancer.

Coalition for Applied Modeling for Prevention (CAMP)

CAMP develops epidemic and economic models to predict the answers to important public health questions in the areas of HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and adolescent health.

The PFAS Multi-Site Health Study

Researchers at the University at Albany and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) received funding from ATSDR to study PFAS and its possible relationship to health among those exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water in Newburgh, New York and Hoosick Falls, New York.

Upstate KIDS Study

The Upstate KIDS Study tracked the growth, motor, and social development of children to examine associations with parental medical conditions and characteristics, including infertility treatments, environmental, and other exposures. From 2008 to 2010, over 5,034 mothers and their 6,171 children born from the 57 counties of New York State (exclusive of New York City) joined this important study.