Epidemiology News

Pitts­burgh’s po­lio pre-pi­o­neers

A trib­ute to the school­chil­dren who showed the Salk vac­cine was safe

Building reproductive health equity upstream

The duo’s work focuses on tackling social determinants of health upstream at the policy level, which will help to dismantle structural racism and improve health inequities quicker and more completely.

Pittsburgh Days, Havana Nights

Staff member combines data management career with a passion for visual arts

By day, Rafael Migoyo wields Health Studies Research Center data, seeking order from a chaos of information collected in aging studies conducted by Pitt Public Health faculty in the Department of Epidemiology. When the workday ends, Migoyo’s mind is on a different kind of collection—paintings, sculptures, textiles and photography created by artists in his native Cuba.

The connection between menopause and cardiovascular disease risks

"As women transition through menopause, they experience a lot of changes," said Samar El Khoudary, a professor of epidemiology. 

Pitt lands $14.3 million for research linking dementia and cardiovascular disease

A team led by professor of Epidemiology, Anne Newman, will launch a first-ever clinical trial to see if an immune regulator can reduce the deleterious aspects of aging in older but otherwise healthy adults.

The Ohio measles outbreak and the danger of losing herd immunity

Though measles was eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, outbreaks have occurred since, including a recent one in Columbus, Ohio.

Replacing sedentary time with light activity tied to less adiposity in Black Caribbean men

"Our findings illustrate the potential importance of also promoting light-intensity physical activity,” Megan M. Marron, PhD, and Iva Miljkovic, MD, PhD, FAHA.

Pitt’s $1B in research funding puts it among ‘elite group of American universities'

Many of these research-based programs benefit local communities. Dara Mendez leads a team that will assess whether health and social systems address the health and well-being of Black women in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

Advancement and Academe

Successful transition to independence higher among postdocs who diversify institutions

Pitt Climbs in Highly Cited Researcher List

Five public health faculty appeared in the annual listing of Highly Cited Researchers, published by the UK-based data analytics firm Clarivate. 

This Hormone May Be the Missing Ingredient to Heart-Healthy Cholesterol Levels for Menopausal Women

Dr. Samar R. El Khoudary has identified a link between a lesser-known hormone called anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and lipid, or cholesterol, levels in midlife women.

Step aside estrogen. Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a predictor of blood lipid - or cholesterol - status for midlife women that may be key to understanding how hormone replacement therapy contributes to heart health.

Weight-Loss Surgery Produces Durable Improvements in Urinary Incontinence

Seven years after bariatric surgery, patients with urinary incontinence see improvements that persist, according to large longitudinal study

Americans are eating more whole grains but are still confused by the food labels

An analysis of two decades of data on Americans’ diets revealed that people are increasingly choosing whole grain foods, although we can't always tell which products are healthier.

Public Health in Practice

Countywide Project Helps Communities to Flourish

Disparities in COVID-19 vaccine equity persist, though the situation has improved

Healio -  Jean Nachega explains that these data show that vaccine access inequity is still a reality, especially in low- and middle-income countries, though the situation at least in terms of COVID-19 vaccines has somewhat improved.