Health and Wellness Research
Health and wellness research advances understanding of the human body, medicine, delivery of care, and public health concerns to help people live healthier, happier lives.
At UMass Amherst, researchers work to bring health and wellness discoveries from the lab out into the world, often in partnership with hospitals, biotech companies and start-ups, public health agencies, and community organizations. At UMass Amherst's Institute for Applied Life Sciences, more than 200 faculty-led research groups bring deep and interdisciplinary expertise to translate fundamental research into innovative product candidates, technologies, and services that benefit human health and well-being.
Whether developing the next generation of wearable health monitoring devices, tapping the potential of RNA to unlock new therapeutics and vaccines, or studying individual differences in psychology and psychotherapy, UMass is at the vanguard of health and wellness research and innovation.
UMass Amherst researchers across multiple disciplines are studying the power of food to promote health and reduce chronic illness, often working in partnership with local community groups.
Health and Medicine
Research to Stem the Tide of Antibiotic Resistance
Adam Charest ’24 conducts research to develop new natural antimicrobial treatments to help combat the rise in antibiotic-resistant microbes.
Biomedical Engineering Research to Enhance Bone Regeneration
Sophia Millan ’24 studies the role of circadian rhythms in bone regeneration to identify potential new treatment approaches.
Shedding Light on the Mysteries of Protein Folding
Owen Hurlbut Lesk ’25 conducts research to improve understanding of protein folding in cells, with possible implications for treating diseases such as diabetes.
Computer Science Research to Help Stroke Survivors
Ramita "Mimi" Dhamrongsirivadh ’24 analyzes data from wearable sensors to better understand movement patterns in stroke survivors to aid their recovery.
Improving the Lives of Older Adults Through AI
The Massachusetts AI and Technology Center for Connected Care in Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease (MassAITC) at UMass Amherst fosters research and innovation to promote healthy aging and enhance health care.
Nurses and Engineers Join Forces to Revolutionize Health Care
UMass Amherst’s Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation works to leverage the unique skills and insights of both professions to develop life science technology solutions for a healthier and more equitable future.
Research to Advance Cancer Targeting
Bao Quang Gia Le ’23 is a chemistry major at UMass Amherst who works on the synthesis of molecules for cell surface modification, research with implications for a novel targeted approach to treat and image cancer.
Investigating the Health-Related Effects of Smoking
Sean Bannon ’24 conducts research on the effects of cigarette smoke on mitochondrial function, with important implications for public health.
Uncovering the Impacts of 'Forever Chemicals' on Health
Isabella Boyack '23 studies the effects of PFAS chemicals on the development of the exocrine pancreas, which is crucial for a healthy metabolism.
mRNA Holds Key to Next-Gen Vaccines and Therapeutics
UMass Amherst researchers are developing technology to make extremely pure and plentiful RNA that could enable a new class of vaccines and treatments for a range of deadly diseases.
Unlocking Our Personal Health Through Smart(er) Wearables
With the recent explosion in popularity of smart watches and other wearable health monitors, UMass Amherst scientists are designing the next generation of devices, which could revolutionize personal health and healthcare.
Getting Into the (Micro)Flow of Research
In Sarah Perry's microfluidics course, students get hands-on research experience with real-world applications.
Training the Next-Generation STEM Workforce
The Core Summer Internship Program at UMass Amherst offers undergraduates hands-on research experience in state-of-the-art labs along with valuable soft-skills training.
Targeted Teamwork
UMass Amherst and UMass Chan Medical School researchers team up to find revolutionary ways to target cancer cells.
Public Health
Research to Increase Health Care Equity for Children
Charlotte Gilson ’25 studies healthcare disparities and has taken a leading role in a project examining pediatric fluoride varnish application patterns in Massachusetts.
Confronting a Public Health Threat in the Great Outdoors
The New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEWVEC), headquartered at UMass Amherst, promotes collaborative research and outreach aimed at more effective control of ticks and mosquitoes.
Research to Enhance Food Safety
Julia Hershelman '23 studies a food-borne pathogen and its tolerance to sanitizers and antibiotics, for the benefit of public health.
Reducing Suffering From Addiction
Public health researcher Elizabeth Evans has dedicated her career to understanding how healthcare systems and public policy can better serve vulnerable populations at risk for opioid and other substance abuse disorders.
Securing the Safety of the Food Supply
UMass Amherst scientists are conducting research to promote the safety of the food we eat—and to stop the spread of outbreaks when they occur.
UMass Amherst Research Aimed at Ending the Opioid Epidemic
Researchers are working to mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic through compassionate care, evidence-based solutions, and machine learning.
Psychology and Mental Health
Research to Drive More Personalized Mental Health Care
Professor of Clinical Psychology Michael Constantino’s research aims to help psychotherapists provide more effective treatment to patients suffering from a range of mental health challenges.
Recognizing Individual Differences in Self-Regulation
Psychologist Kirby Deater-Deckard conducts large-scale research studies around the world to understand variations in self-regulation, a key aspect of individual development.