Research: The Relentless Pursuit of a Better World

From the bench to the bedside, Carolina's research enterprise is among the nation's most prolific. Having made extraordinary advances in fields such as biomedical engineering, cancer and big data, the University has become a worldwide leader among premier research universities for discoveries and contributions that improve quality of life for all.

Research Funding Priorities

Health
Build the Health Care Workforce to Expand Access to Care
Every county in Western North Carolina has a health care provider shortage. We must think differently about building pipelines of opportunity for rural learners and reinforcing the pipeline of students from the region who are interested in pursuing health care careers. UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC provides paths to rural practice by training students and residents in rural settings while sustaining rural providers and transforming rural health.
Patient
Improve the Quality of Life for Vulnerable Children
We are committed to understanding the complex biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that affect child and adolescent development, and to accelerating the discovery and implementation of programs that strengthen children, families, and communities. Additional resources for outreach and dissemination will help us to promote early adoption of promising strategies and maximize their impact for the children and families who need it the most.
Technology
Transform Our Space
As we evolve as an institute, our space must shift and grow. We aspire to be a hub for innovative ideas and interdisciplinary partnerships that spark groundbreaking science. Our success relies on fostering a collaborative learning environment equipped with emerging technologies. New biobehavioral laboratories, innovative collaborative workspace, and better training facilities will strengthen our work and advance our mission.
Innovation
Innovate through Strategic Initiatives
We promote innovative, interdisciplinary research at UNC and partner with a range of public and private stakeholders to translate new discoveries into transformative interventions that meet the needs of diverse communities. Strategic investments in seed grants, pilot programs, and implementation evaluations will enable innovation that will benefit thousands of children and families across the state and the nation.
Health
Seeding the Field of Discovery
Innovation is a process, a series of steps that begins with imagination and ends with something of social value. At UNC Nutrition Research Institute, our scientists start by conceiving something new, or looking at an existing nutrient or metabolic pathway from an entirely novel viewpoint.
Health
Prepare Tomorrow’s Experts
At UNC Autism Research Center, we are dedicated to educating the next generation of autism experts. What if we could detect autism in infants? What if we could develop personalized treatment for each individual on the spectrum? What if we could scale the autism treatments we develop at Carolina to reach those individuals who typically can’t access treatment? We can with your support.
Faculty Support
Fuel Revolutionary Research
At UNC Autism Research Center, our strength lies in our ability to cross borders, focusing on collaboration and the amplification of exceptional autism research piloted across campus. We are revolutionizing the way the world approaches autism research. With your support, the center will make collaborative discovery the priority, offering seed grants to those projects whose investigators qualify in two out of three core areas.
Research
Unlock Autism Through Genetics
At UNC Autism Research Center, we are focused on better understanding the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the most fundamental level. By using genetics and phenotypic biomarkers to diagnose autism at a very early age, we can dramatically impact the trajectory of children’s lives.
Faculty Support
Applying Research Expertise for the Benefit of North Carolina and Beyond
Funds for research and accessible scholarly activities that utilize innovative models of partnership and collaboration among and between North Carolina communities and University faculty, students and staff. Other opportunities include assistantships for graduate and professional students.
Research
Working to Eliminate Barriers
in N.C. and Beyond
UNC Health is deeply committed to finding solutions to the world's most pressing health issues and eliminating barriers to health care, education and treatment. We bring excellence in research, care and prevention to North Carolina and to our international partners as well. With your help, we can find solutions and deliver health solutions here in North Carolina and beyond.
Innovation
Activate: Apply the Innovation Mindset and Skillset Across the Journey of an Idea
We support faculty, students and staff who want to put their ideas into practice and thrive in society and the modern innovation economy. Support focuses on three new opportunities: (1) Pathways to Impact Program, (2) Dreamers Who Do Program and (3) Carolina Innovation Passport.
Health
Prepare Future Leaders
The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health’s outstanding students represent our best opportunity to create a healthier world. We are committed to providing students with opportunities to grow as practitioners, researchers and problem solvers. To be agile, effective, innovative leaders, our students must have funding for their education, travel, internships, research, conference presentations and other experiences that enable their growth and professional development. You can make a tangible, meaningful difference by investing in these phenomenal scholars.
Research
Focus on High-potential Research
To maintain and elevate our position as one of the nation’s most respected research institutions, we must target and support high-potential, high-reward research to grow our portfolio and extend its reach around the world. We do this not just for a position or rankings, but to ensure we are able to create solutions that benefit as many people as possible, both here at home and around the world.
Student Support
Create Library Spaces that Support New Styles of Learning and Inquiry
Ideas, when nurtured, can reach further than ever imagined. Only by expanding interdisciplinary collaboration and research space can we support new methods of teaching and learning. From building design labs to accommodating additional resource materials, we will create space to foster ideas and bring them to fruition.
Faculty Support
Support and Enrich World Class Collections
First and foremost, we must give students and faculty all the support, space and inspiration they will need through their academic career. To achieve this, we will put an emphasis on strengthening our global collections, digitizing collections to ensure that history is preserved and made widely accessible, enhance our holdings of the American South and anticipate new developing trends in faculty research.
Faculty Support
Foster Professional Excellence of UNC Library Staff
As new priorities emerge, we must provide mentoring and support for future research librarians. We must administer training and secure innovation grants for the next career librarians and knowledge holders. Because here at Carolina, leaders beget leaders, and go on to impact generations to come.
Research
Educational Improvement at Scale
Fueled by Carolina’s broad expertise in Improvement Science, the UNC School of Education is launching the interdisciplinary Carolina Improvement Science Initiative. In a strategic, campus-wide effort, we will work with school districts, hospitals, public health departments and social service organizations to extend the benefits of our research-practice partnerships. With your help, we can address critical problems in our field and develop integrated programs for our students.
Research
Education Data Sciences
Building on the strength of our internationally known scholars, we are working to expand the capacity of the School to utilize the immense powers of the emerging fields of big data, data mining, and data analytics to transform educational measurement, assessment, and evaluation for the 21st century.
Faculty Support
Transforming Care: Faculty Support
In the face of a critical nationwide shortage of nursing faculty, the challenge to attract and retain the best for our school has never been greater. Competition is fierce, and faculty support in the way of professorships, professional travel funds and scholarly endowments often determine whether outstanding candidates choose Carolina over our peers. Indeed, supporting our faculty is critical to our program’s growth and success, and ultimately to the health of the people of North Carolina.
Research
Translate Research into Results
Because of our many interdisciplinary strengths, we have the ability to convert breakthroughs in labs into novel treatments in clinical trials much more rapidly than other institutions. Strengthening these capabilities will lead to more effective therapies, and ensure that our patients have access to more personalized, more advanced and more compassionate treatments. We will continue to provide holistic support and address the needs of all patients and families throughout their entire cancer journey.

Explore Stories

Jeliyah Clark smiling

Sciences

Multiplier Effect

Former Chancellor’s Science Scholar Jeliyah Clark ’18 studies links between the environment and birth outcomes.

Checking blood pressure

Health

Conducting Prevention Research

New study to help patients avoid a second stroke

Doctor showing patient an x-ray of teeth.

Research

Improving Patient Care

FDA clears new 3D dental x-ray device based on UNC research.