Addressing Societal Concerns Through Academic Research
Climate change, pollution and an aging population all represent serious concerns for our global society. At UToledo, researchers are answering the questions of today while preparing solutions for the future.
There are numerous highly infectious diseases for which we have no vaccine and limited therapeutic options. A $7 million expansion of UToledo’s biosafety level 3 laboratory, led by Jason Huntley, Ph.D., a professor of medical microbiology and immunology, will expand the ability of researchers and students to safely study current and emerging pathogens and better position the University to respond to future pandemics.
In the latest example of the close collaboration between UToledo and the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories, Yanfa Yan, Ph.D., a Distinguished University Professor of physics, co-authored a study published in the journal Nature proving the durability of high-efficacy perovskite solar cells, moving them closer to commercial availability.
A study overseen by Varun Vaidya, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacy practice, highlights the need for reforms addressing drug affordability by showing many of the country’s most prescribed generic medications, which include treatments for common, chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, can be purchased more cheaply when patients use pharmacy discount card services from Amazon Prime and GoodRx than by going through their insurance.
Branching out from their near decade-long study of the health effects of harmful algal blooms, David Kennedy, Ph.D. and Steven Haller, Ph.D., both associate professors of medicine, are investigating emergent threats in the Great Lakes including microplastics and forever chemicals.
Chemical engineer Dong Shik Kim, Ph.D., received a Fulbright Global Scholar Award for his research on using DNA origami nanostructures for medical diagnosis. He recently traveled to Turkey as a Fulbright Global Scholar to continue his work on applying the novel technology to diagnosing and monitoring diabetes.
Researchers from across the University continue to play a leading role in seeking solutions for harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and beyond, leading nearly two dozen studies funded by the Ohio Sea Grant, including projects aimed at quantifying risks for those who work or play on the water and better understanding pathways for human exposure.
Learn More
- NBC News: Online Pharmacy Programs Can Save Patients Millions in Prescription Drug Costs, Study Finds
- Everyday Health: Many Generic Drugs Are Cheaper With Amazon or GoodRx Than With Insurance
- 13 ABC: Insurance Makes Some Prescriptions More Expensive
- The Blade: University of Toledo Receives $7 million Grant to Upgrade Research Efforts in Infectious Disease
- 13 ABC: Congresswoman Kaptur Announces UToledo Research Grant
- U.S. Department of Energy Funds UToledo Research Aimed at Zero-emission Hydrogen Production
- The Independent: Scientists Invent Solar Panel Coating That Lets Them Work in Any Weather
- UToledo Research Links Common Insecticide to Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Physicists Solve Durability Issue in Next-Generation Solar Cells
- 13 ABC: How to Save Money on Prescription Drug Prices
- The Blade: What Happens to Us After Long-Term Exposure to Algal Toxins? It’s Still Unclear