On the Heights: June 2025
Departmental news, research highlights, community achievements, and more to help you stay connected with the Michigan Public Health community.
Faculty,Health Behavior and Health Equity
Michigan Public Health researchers address key housing needs
Michigan Public Health experts are working towards health equity by addressing persistent racial disparities in homeownership, the rising costs of housing, and the burden of affordability on Michigan's lowest-income residents.
The invisible shield: How Michigan Public Health is transforming outbreak detection in Michigan
Researchers at the Michigan Public Health Integrated Center for Analytics and Modeling (MICOM) are using real-time wastewater surveillance to detect virus outbreaks before they start, transforming public health response in Michigan.
Uncovering hidden dangers: How environmental research can prevent cancer
Justin Colacino, an environmental health researcher at Michigan Public Health, uncovers how environmental exposures can cause cancer. His research aims to pinpoint the root causes of cancer, leveraging powerful data and tools to prevent harmful cellular changes before they start.
Living near harmful algal blooms reduces life expectancy with ALS
Living close to cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms, which are present nationwide but are more common in coastal and Great Lakes states, heightens the rate of dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a Michigan Public Health study suggests.
Urban health expert focuses on improving housing opportunities across Michigan
How cities are planned and organized has a tremendous impact on the health of residents, especially in marginalized communities, says Roshanak Mehdipanah, an urban health expert at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.