While we often highlight the groundbreaking impact of Carolina’s current research portfolio, it is important to acknowledge the bedrock upon which our success is built. For decades, sustained investment from our state and federal partners has nurtured the rich research ecosystem we benefit from today. These consistent commitments have been instrumental in enabling the game-changing and life-saving discoveries that we currently make and, with continued investment, will make tomorrow.
To ignore this history of support, and the importance of its continuation, jeopardizes Carolina’s standing as a nationally and internationally recognized research powerhouse. Every day we make discoveries that save and transform lives. These discoveries (along with those of our regional partners) drive innovation in our state, particularly in our thriving biotech sector which recently surpassed 100,000 jobs. This is a testament to the enduring value of university research driven by essential long-term federal and state investments.
Investments Over Time Lead To …
There is no shortage of examples I could point to that show the fruits of our partnerships with the federal government and our state sponsors, but here Iāll name just a few:
Sustained investment in genetics research, beginning in 1963, has led to significant advances. For example, Carolina established the UNC School of Medicine Department of Genetics in 2000, which is consistently ranked in the top five for National Institutes of Health program funding. Our researchers developed NCGENES, which uses advanced sequencing for clinical and diagnostic uses to improve human health. Patients like Elizabeth Davis, who benefited from UNC geneticists’ accurate diagnosis and treatment after 31 years of misdiagnosis, have had their lives transformed by these inroads and advancements. This research exemplifies how these investments save and transform lives.
Similarly, consistent investment in blood-related research at Carolina over the decades has transformed hemophilia from a deadly disease to a manageable condition. This foundational work positioned Carolina as a global leader in hematology and HIV/AIDS research. Starting in 1947 with Kenneth Brinkhous’ work on blood clotting, Carolina researchers developed essential diagnostic tools and pioneered treatments with support from external sponsors. Expanding and growing this work created the conditions for Carolina to become a leading center for hemophilia treatment. The first HIV patient at UNC Hospitals was a man with hemophilia. Our very own Myron Cohen, Yeargan-Bate Professor of Medicine, treated this patient and went on to become a world-leading researcher in HIV research. Carolina has consistently been at the forefront in both hemophilia and HIV, with researchers developing a wide range of effective treatments, resulting in revolutionary outcomes.
Founded in 1964, the UNC College of Arts & Sciences Department of Computer Science first made its mark in revolutionizing early computer graphics. The departmentās collaborative sponsored research now drives advancements in diverse fields and positions it as a hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI). Its faculty, graduates, and research have been instrumental in fueling the growth of the Research Triangle Park and North Carolina’s broader tech sector, which attracts business and industry in droves.
Research from the UNC Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC), made possible by consistent federal and state support, has significantly improved highway safety for all Americans, including nationally adopted programs like “Click it or Ticket” and Graduated Drivers Licensing. Since it was founded 55 years ago, HSRC has been a critical contributor to lowering the rate of motor vehicle related deaths in the U.S. by 80 percent. Today, HSRC researchers work with transportation professionals across the globe to improve traffic operations and roadway design; change behaviors, including distraction among young drivers; improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and advance road safety for all.
… The Impacts of Today
In March, we launched a new UNC Research Impact webpage to share our current impact. This page contains a wealth of content that highlights research conducted at the University and its reach across our state, including an interactive map that shows how our research benefits all 100 North Carolina counties. The webpage also showcases our strategic research priority areas ā areas of investment that will produce the exciting breakthroughs of tomorrow.
We also recently announced the strategic repositioning of the Winston Center for Technology and the Developing Mind, which was previously part of the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, as an interdisciplinary, pan-campus unit within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. This new structure, benefiting from UNC Research’s strategic planning, infrastructure, and support, will enable the center to harness the collective strengths of the University and foster collaboration with researchers across campus.
The Winston Center stands out as one of the nation’s few hubs to comprehensively investigate the role of social media on the well-being of adolescents. In fact, the center is now the research core for the U.S. Phone Free Schools Movement, and their work is already informing new legislation right here in our state ā multiple phone-free policy bills have been introduced in North Carolina’s current legislative session based on the centerās research.
With a new award from the NC Collaboratory, the center will examine how using devices during school relates to academic, behavioral, social, and psychological functioning of middle schoolers. Information gained from the study, which will be conducted across eight N.C. schools, will provide relevant data to our lawmakers to support evidence-based policy making. This is another wonderful example of how the NC Collaboratory and the North Carolina General Assembly have generously contributed to research that directly benefits North Carolinians.
Another exciting development is the work we are doing to accelerate data and AI-driven impact, translating data into action. The OVCRās Research Data Management Core provides systems and infrastructure to leverage our significant data assets so they can make tangible impacts. Our leading methods experts provide researchers with new AI tools to accelerate their work, reveal profound insights, and achieve transformative discoveries.
One great example of AI with lifesaving impact is the work of Dr. Jeff Stringer, professor of Global Women’s Health; Michael Kosorok, W. R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics and professor of statistics and operations research; and collaborators. The team has merged an AI-powered app with an affordable, portable, handheld ultrasound device that allows novices to measure gestational age and other pregnancy markers as precisely as expert sonographers. This research promises to transform pregnancy care, particularly in low-resource areas where access to specialized expertise and equipment is scarce, including a great many counties across our state.
We fully recognize that now is the time to showcase the impact of our research directly with our many stakeholders. The Office of Research Communications has launched a dynamic social media campaign called, āUNC Research Is…NC.ā This initiative complements the monthly stories of impact shared through the UNC Research Stories platform and highlights compelling narratives of life-changing research and game-changing breakthroughs, illustrating the tangible benefits of research for citizens within our state and far beyond. The Winston Center and Jeff Stringerās work were both recently highlighted. You can discover and share more of these stories of impact by following UNC Research on Instagram and LinkedIn.
As we continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and translate discoveries into real-world solutions, we remain deeply committed to wise stewardship of generous federal and state investments in Carolinaās research enterprise. The ongoing partnership between our researchers, sponsors, and the community is not just a financial equation; it’s a powerful formula for progress, ensuring that Carolina’s discoveries continue to shape a healthier, safer, and more innovative future for all.