Innovation & Impact - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Veteran Matthew Colon stands in a barn with a horse, facing the camera. An American flag is in the background.

Helping Veterans Thrive

An empowering clinical outreach program at UNC-Chapel Hill offers veterans and first responders new hope through holistic health care.

A male Blue Ridge two-lined salamander is held in the hand of a researcher

Seeking Salamanders

Carolina students discover their passion and aptitude for fieldwork

A phone screen with social media apps is shown

Tackling Crisis of Teens and Screens

New center providing groundbreaking research and public awareness

Dante Pittman poses outside with hands on hips and whirligigs in the background.

Strengthening North Carolina’s local governments

Dante Pittman, member of the first cohort of Lead for North Carolina Fellows, is now human relations director for the City of Wilson, his hometown.

Samantha Meltzer-Brody sits outside at a patio table with a cup of coffee.

Improving child and adolescent mental health

CHAAMP is one of the first research programs focused exclusively on addressing the gap in child and adolescent mental health services.

A physician sits with her arms on a desk

STEPPS to Address Physician Stress

New recommendations seek to ameliorate stress among health care workers

Chris Atack and Duane Hampton in police uniforms pose at the UNC School of Government.

A Mission for Public Service

A UNC School of Government program supports leadership in public service.

A small mouse is held to be tagged by researchers

Measuring Mitigation

Collaborating to see how wetland mitigation affects small mammals

Portraits of Lyneise Williams and Uredo Agada

Partnership and Perspective

Collaboration brings new insights for student and faculty member

Structural Disruptions in School Disasters

Data-Driven EnviroLab’s lecture showcases Carolina research on school disaster recovery

Documenting Veteran Histories

A Southern Oral History Project partnership will share veteran stories

Democracy in the Digital Age

Carolina researchers are helping us understand our digital political spheres

Vaughn and Nancy Bryson pose facing the camera with Dr. Muenzer

New Pediatric Center Named to Honor UNC Doctor

A new research and treatment program focused on MPS was named in honor of Dr. Joseph Muenzer, Bryson Distinguished Professor in Pediatrics.

Analyzing Artificial Intelligence

New lab will understand how to integrate AI into operations management

Health Equity on the Move

Students learn public health nursing at mobile drive-thru nursing clinics

Close-up of Anita Brown-Graham posting in front of The Well at UNC-Chapel Hill.

New funding for statewide youth employment program

Blue Cross NC award fuels Carolina Across 100’s “Our State, Our Work” program.

Healing Heart Muscle

Reprogramming heart muscle cells for healthier outcomes

Film Beyond the Stars

Cosmic Rays film festival encourages students to push boundaries and brings experimental art to Chapel Hill

Catching for Cancer

Recognizing Reelin’ for Research’s contributions to the fight against childhood cancer

Magnifying NCBG’s Impact

The North Carolina Botanical Garden has made a large impact on native species

Connecting with North Carolina

The Tar Heel Bus Tour brings faculty across the state and promotes service to Carolina communities

Nate Hathaway in the CRISPR Screening Facility

UNC-Chapel Hill Awarded Funding for Study of Malan Syndrome

UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and CRISPR Screening Facility collaborate on Malan Syndrome study.

Smarter Organ Transplants

The UNC Eshelman Institute for Innovation's Venture Studio invested in technology for smarter organ transplants.

Making Ultrasounds Universal

Using the power of artificial intelligence to improve maternal health worldwide

John Spencer with his restored Purple Heart

Correcting the Record

Restoring the honors that were owed for a veteran’s service

Seeing More Stars

New projection system revamps the Morehead Planetarium

Wanda Andrews Saunders (left) and Consherto Williams

Retelling and Reckoning with Environmental Racism

Telling the story of a watershed moment through the words of community members

The unveiling of a plaque dedicating the campaign to Longiotti

A Lobby of Legacy

“The Longiotti Family Lobby” at UNC Family Medicine Center honors Nazzareno Longiotti

Bill and Dana Starling with a view of mountains in the background

Starling gift establishes UNC Suicide Prevention Institute

The new institute aims to better understand causes and prevention of suicide, as well as engage and educate communities.

Improving Organ Transplantation

Faculty combine expertise to improve the organ transplantation process with AI

Striving for Sustainability in Drug Development

Determination pays off with a groundbreaking proof-of-concept study

Kids in a classroom complete science-related crafts

Summer of Science

Bringing engaging, informative science education to students across the state

Hope for Hemophilia

UNC’s legacy of hemophilia treatment continues with new gene therapy

Analyzing AI

Fostering research on the future of business and artificial intelligence

Prioritizing Care in a Pandemic

Massey Distinguished Service Award recognizes Loftis’ contributions to Carolina Testing Together Program

Travis Williams speaks with a patient at MAHEC Family Medical Center

Going Where They Are Needed Most

The Kenan Primary Care Medical Scholars program is increasing patient care resources while creating a new generation of health care providers with ties to underserved communities.

Manning Hall, the home of the School of Information and Library Science

Evolving Technology Requires New Solutions

New center to offer public policy solutions around developing technology

Sam Huener works in the Conservation Laboratory

Continuous Conservation

Repairing and preserving historic books and papers

Treating the Untreatable

New research funded by a NIH grant seeks to combat one of the most treatment-resistant cancers

Supporting Child Care Health

Supporting statewide child care health efforts

Examining Efficacy in Opioid Treatment

New study examines patient retention in opioid treatment programs

The music room in NC Children's Hospital

Bringing Music to Pediatric Therapies

Two families team up to fund music therapy for young patients

Care Beyond the Hospital

The UNC Health FoodWell program addresses food insecurity for discharged patients

Kathy’s Korner

Legacy gift will bring books to hospitalized children for years to come

Everyday Excellence

Stacy Davis keeps the Institute for Marine Science running through his work as facilities manager

Exterior shot of Gillings School of Public Health

Examining a New Prescription

Research project will examine long-term cost of produce prescription programs

Haggis, chair of the Classics department, displays a copy of Maury Hanson's Hippocrates On Head Wounds

Studying Medicine Through the Ages

Classics alumnus led a distinguished life and left a surprise legacy gift

Preparing for the Next Pandemic

NIH funding will support the development of oral antivirals to fight future pandemics

Doug Mackenzie and Dean Terry Rhodes (third and fourth from left) spent time with students at a fellowship gathering in fall 2020.

A Coming-Of-Age Opportunity

A gap year fellowship provides means for students to see and serve the world

Side by side portraits of Rebecca Grzadzinski (left) and Jose Rodriguez-Romageura (left)

Breakthroughs in Early Intervention

Researchers work to find new and more accessible ways to detect and treat autism earlier.

Retracing A Family’s Roots

An Arts Everywhere Innovation Grant helped fund an immigration documentary project

Kelli Smith-Biwer in the Beat Lab. (Photo by Jess Abel)

Meet the Inaugural Arts Everywhere Graduate Fellow in Music Technology

Creating work that depends on community engagement and activism

Sleeping baby prior to MRI. (CIDD at UNC-CH)

Effects of Amygdala Overgrowth

Scientists identify overgrowth of key brain structure in babies who later develop autism

Kelley Altman Greer poses on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill

‘A Family Experience’

As Kelley Altman Greer '92 reflected on what she wanted her and her family’s charitable giving to support, she said the Autism Research Center was “a natural fit.”

Best In The Nation

UNC-Chapel Hill graduate programs ranked among best in nation

Individual observing a various tables and columns of electronic data

Opening doors through data

The UNC School of Data Science and Society is slated to open in the fall of 2022

Dr. Wei You, professor and chair of chemistry at Carolina, leads a team supported by a Department of Defense MURI Award

Supporting The Future of Electronics

A five-year grant from the Department of Defense will support the development of future electronics

Honoring Innovation and Excellence

Four alumni receive The Graduate School Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award

Elected faculty members, left Amy followed by Stephen, David, and Alexander at the far right

Recognizing Outstanding Advancements

UNC-Chapel Hill scientists, researchers named 2021 AAAS fellows

Right, βII-spectrin (magenta) forms aggregates throughout neurites of a mouse cortical neuron expressing one of the human SPTBN1 variants. (Lorenzo Lab)

Discoveries of SPTBN1 Variant

New developments in neuroscience research that potentially impact the formation of new neurological disorders

2022 Impact Award Recipients

Leading research and discovery in North Carolina

A blue-footed booby poses on a rock in the islands

Enhancing Global Research Opportunities

New leadership takes over the UNC Center for Galápagos Studies

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School alum Napoleon Wallace ‘10 (MBA) smiling

Leading a Fulfilling Life

Working towards a passion despite the odds

Blocks lying on a wooden table, each with a different image and scripture

Blocks of History

Gaining a better understanding of the interconnected nature of our world

Emily holding a net while standing on a thigh deep water level lake

Plasticity and Evolution

Finding a new solution for biological conservation

Christina hugging her grandfather who is sitting

Get Real & Heel

Expanding an exercise program for cancer survivors

Cameron working in lab with instruments in hand

Single-Cell Solutions

Helping to create better medicines

Student looking through glass instrument

A Fight Against Time

Preserving the history of the South

Archivists Laura, Anna, and Chaitra in a virtual meeting

On These Grounds

Piecing together the history of slavery and the University

Students working with computers and various devices in a lab.

Shaping Future Engineers

Bridging the gap between engineering and business

Black and white photos, one of two people holding signs in protests and one of a priest sitting in a library

Algorithms of Resistance

Using machine-learning to identify historically racist laws

Dr. Lisa Carey wears a white lab coat and poses in a hospital hallway.

Supporting Innovative Cancer Treatments

Donor gives $25 million to establish UNC Lineberger Center for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Aerial view of a beach on the Galapagos Islands

Collaborating for Conservation

Galapagos Science Center and sustainable clothing startup Sula collaborate for conservation efforts.

Promoting Sustainability

Carolina sophomore co-founds CompostMates, a student organization dedicated to composting.

A Joint Effort

Carolina and Duke awarded grant to establish joint Alzheimer’s disease research center.

Nicolas and Jairo with all they need for a successful day – coffee, dogs and their machetes.

Combining Coffee and Conservation

REACCT program funds conservation efforts in Galapagos.

Jeremy Wang, assistant professor of genetics in the UNC School of Medicine, in front of lab equipment

The power of partnership

A collaboration among UNC-Chapel Hill clinicians and researchers is leading the way in how we think about tracking viral variants.

Tar Heel hat in front of St. Basil's Cathedral

Taking the Initiative

Russian Flagship Program caps off successful first year.

Launching Local Innovation

Launch Chapel Hill accelerates business owners and entrepreneurship in the local area.

Jason P. Mihalik, PhD, co-director, Matthew A. Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center; Terry Rhodes, PhD, dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Dr. James Kelly, executive director, Marcus Institute for Brain Health; Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, chancellor

Treating Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans

A $12.5 million gift from the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network will establish THRIVE, a new clinical outreach program to treat TBI in veterans.

Stacy Zhang conducts research on the North Carolina coast.

On the Edge of Discovery

Carolina Covenant alumna navigates challenges facing North Carolina’s coast.

A Pillar For Ecosystem Health

Striving to understand how changing temperatures are impacting ecosystem health through caterpillars.

Investing in Beaver Habitats

Investigating beavers as a solution to urban flooding and waterway pollution.

David R. Martinez in the lab on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

Trailblazers in Pandemic Preparedness

New universal coronavirus vaccine could prevent future pandemics.

Rahima Benhabbour holds up a medical device.

Where 3D Printing Meets Women’s Health

New medical devices benefit marginalized women around the globe.

Our Global University

In the midst of the pandemic, Carolina forged global connections and found new ways for students and faculty to collaborate with counterparts from around the world.

A screenshot of UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Humanitarian Health fellows and volunteers.

Students on the Frontlines of Humanitarian Health

The Humanitarian Health Initiative leverages Carolina's global health expertise in support of humanitarian efforts around the world.

Patients walk into the University of Zambia School of Medicine Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.

A new device for saving lives

UNC-Chapel Hill and University of Zambia researchers are tackling global maternal and child health issues while providing quality services to women and children in Zambia.