About
Serving North Carolina, Changing the World
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the 13th largest research university in the United States, ranking tenth in the nation for federal research expenditures, and first for federally funded social and behavioral sciences research and development. More than 150 Carolina faculty are members of the National Academies and other prestigious learned societies.
UNC houses five major health affairs schools (Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing) on our main campus, as well as our College of Arts & Sciences, a statewide health care system with five on-campus hospitals, and 46 research centers and institutes. Proximity and passion create a highly collaborative culture among scientists of all disciplines, which drives our $1.2 billion in annual research activity.
Carolina stays highly competitive by expanding research partnerships internally and with other universities, industries, and external organizations. Toward this end, Carolina has established seven institutional research priorities which highlight our strengths and align with growth opportunities highlighted in the University’s strategic plan, Carolina Next.
Strategic Research Priorities
By fostering and supporting collaborative, interdisciplinary teams, UNC Research is accelerating new discoveries and solutions to emerging challenges in these areas:
Brain
Discovering the biology and diseases of the nervous system and drivers of human behavior.
Cancer
Improving lives through cancer research and advancing cancer prevention, detection, treatment and health practice.
Data Science
Developing and applying big data tools to solve scientific and societal problems.
Environment
The study of natural systems, global environmental change, resilience, and health.
Infectious Disease
Discover cures and therapies and pioneer strategies that will combat the spread of infectious disease and address current and rapidly evolving threats to public health
Opportunity, Well-Being, and Culture
Exploring how opportunities shape success and well-being over a person’s lifetime and across societies; and humanities as a lens for understanding our world.
Precision Health and Society
Tailoring health care practice, delivery and therapeutics to unique individual circumstances, using factors from genetics to social and environmental influences.
Research Funding Initiatives and Award Programs
The Vice Chancellor for Research’s funding Initiatives and award programs accelerate the work of UNC researchers with diverse perspectives to develop solutions to scientific challenges, promote creative pursuits, and benefit North Carolina and the world. Through these initiatives, we seek to build a culture of collaboration that promotes discovery and curiosity, supports creative inventions, and recognizes and rewards exceptional performance.
