Research Overview
The Division of Public Health faculty engages in research across several areas, including epidemiology, environmental public health, reproductive health, global health, and workforce excellence.
Our work emphasizes knowledge production through use-inspired research and innovation. We focus on identifying the causes and risk factors of diseases, developing effective prevention methods, and enhancing health services. Additionally, we aim to advance public health and improve health service delivery.
Faculty Research Labs
- Behavioral Sleep Medicine
- Cancer Epidemiology
- Life Course Epidemiology
Centers and Offices
- Utah Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
- Office of Cooperative Reproductive Health (OCRH)
- Rocky Mountains and High Plains Center for Emergency Public Health
- Center for Research on Migration & Refugee Integration (CRMRI)
Current Research Grants
Effects of a Behavioral Sleep Extension Intervention on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Patients with Elevated BP/Hypertension
Sponsor: National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Dates: 09/25/2020 - 06/30/2025
Project Description: One in two adults in the U.S. have at least one cardiometabolic disease (CMD) including hypertension, heart disease diabetes or stroke. Despite links between short sleep duration and cardiometabolic health, few studies have sought to improve CMD risk by extending sleep. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a behavioral sleep extension intervention on sleep and CMD risk factors among patients with elevated blood pressure or hypertension. Successful completion of this study will advance the possibility of increasing sleep duration for improving cardiometabolic health.
Long-Term Adverse Outcomes Among Rural Cancer Survivors in a Population-Based Cohort
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Dates: 07/16/2020 - 06/30/2025
Project Description: There are an estimated 2.8 million rural cancer survivors today, and they experience lower survival rates than cancer patients living in urban areas. We propose to conduct a study of rural prostate, rural breast, rural colorectal cancer patients and comparison groups of urban cancer patients in Utah and in elderly patients across the US, to investigate whether rural cancer survivors experience higher rates of adverse outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, opioid use disorders and mental illness than urban cancer survivors. We will also assess why rural cancer survivors may experience higher adverse outcome rates, with possible reasons including differences in the cancer treatment they receive or the distance to care.
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Subsequent Risk of Vascular Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, or Related Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study Taking into Account Mid-Life Mediating Factors
Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Dates: 09/01/2020 - 04/30/2025
Project Description: Women have a two-fold higher lifetime risk for Alzheimer Disease (AD), vascular dementia, and related dementias (RD) compared to men. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, eclampsia, and gestational hypertension, may contribute to sex differences in ADRD, with midlife experiences such as depression influencing the magnitude of risk. We propose to 1) create a model that can identify AD and related dementias in a large health administrative database; and 2) test the link (and mediating factors) between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and ADRD, which will serve as the first step towards creating women’s tailored intervention that can mitigate ADRD risk for women.