Environmental health refers to the area of public health that aims to identify environmental hazards and examine how they are shaped by physical, chemical, biological, social, and structural factors. These hazards can be evaluated at the global scale (e.g., climate change) as well as from regional …
Infectious Disease
As COVID has underlined anew, infectious disease presents a huge health threat both globally and locally. The World Health Organization estimates that infectious diseases are responsible for about 1 out of every 5 years of healthy life lost due to disease or disability. This burden falls most …
Community Gardens
Community gardens are communal spaces where gardeners cultivate flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, and vegetables. They vary in size, location and types of community tenure. The central motivation of many gardeners is often food production, but community gardens contribute to other diverse goals …
Indigenous and Traditional Healing
UCSC is located on the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore …
Cancer & NCD Genomics
Genomic analysis of genes, genomes and genetic variation is transforming human health. Cancer is a leading cause of death world wide, with more than 10 million deaths per year. Our faculty use genomics to uncover the genetic causes and blueprints of cancer, as well as new diagnostics and innovative …
Drug Development
Biomedical innovation over the last half century has improved health and extended lifespan globally. The molecular understanding of disease, along with sophisticated automation and screening technologies, have ushered in a new era of drug discovery. However, many infectious diseases, including ones …