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.

Centers & Institutes:

Research Projects

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.

450+

unique faculty publications in 2019

82.3

million dollars in total extramural funding generated by faculty in 2019

faculty assisting the state with their research expertise on governor's working groups

Areas of Research Expertise

Cancer epidemiology and cancer genomics, evidence-based healthcare, food systems and childhood obesity, health disparities and health equity, 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, and violence and addiction.

Featured Faculty Research Projects:

Food insecurity & the environment

UAlbany's Cancer Research Center exterior

Vitamin D & Cancer

Climate change & heart defects

Growth, Motor, & Social Development of Children

Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers

Dramatic red and blue sunset with clouds

Impact of Poor Air Quality

Student Research Examples:

Student standing in front of academic poster, smiling

ROSEMARY M., MPH

During her time as an MPH student, Rosemary completed an international research internship with the Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute in Guangzhou, China. She worked on multiple studies looking at environmental risk factors and the incidence of congenital heart defects and gained experience conducting literature reviews, analyzing data, and drafting scientific manuscripts for publication.

For the School of Public Health's annual Poster Day, Rosemary presented a poster entitled "PFASs in maternal peripheral blood and cord blood and possible association with CHD". This poster was developed from her work abroad in China.

Although previous research on per - and poly - fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) shows that many PFASs are able to cross the placenta and have an association with adverse birth outcomes, little research has been conducted on the association of PFASs and congenital heart defects (CHDs).

CAMERON D., MPH

Under the mentorship of Victoria Wagner, Cameron worked on a study to determine the perceived beliefs and barriers that New York State Medicaid Managed Care enrollees had regarding colorectal cancer screening.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer develops from abnormal growths in the colon or rectum, and screening tests enable early detection of these growths so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer.

During the School of Public Health's annual Poster Day, Cameron presented his poster entitled "Medicaid Managed Care Enrollees' Barriers to Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening: Results from a Consumer Survey" and won a departmental award for his presentation.

STEVEN T., MS

Steven completed his thesis project in Dr. Magdia De Jesus’ lab, assisting her on a project to determine how to safely work with Candida auris in a lab setting without the risk of accidental exposure. A second part to Steven's project in Dr. De Jesus' lab included the development of models to study the progression of Candida auris infections - a study of high significance due to the recent outbreaks of Candida auris.

“It is quite the experience learning from Dr. De Jesus,” says Steven. “Her passion for science is what fuels me to work hard. She is very ambitious and is always thinking about the next step we need to take for the project.”

GABBY G., MPH

Gabby completed a research internship with the New York State Department of Health Campus Sexual Assault Prevention Unit in the Bureau of Women, Infant, and Adolescent Health. She assisted with the development of a Student Outreach and Engagement Toolkit for the NYSDOH Enough is Enough-funded rape crisis and sexual violence programs to use on campuses in their work to assist colleges and universities with preventing and responding to sexual violence.

“My internship was so much fun and I learned so much from everyone around me,” Gabby says. “Right from day one, I was in group meetings, conference calls, and even getting asked my opinion. They really made me feel like a part of the team rather than an intern.”