HEALTH FOR ALL BEGINS WITH RESEARCH, and research begins with curiosity — and questions. What impacts our health and well-being? How might we mitigate negative impacts? What do we understand, and what do we have yet to learn? These research questions eventually lead to big ideas and big solutions that promote the public good, positively contribute to our economy, create reliable knowledge, help us make sense of our world and make better decisions, drive progress and personal development, verify facts, advance our society, improve the quality of our lives, and power innovation. It’s also core to training future scientists, health providers and educators. What research gets done, how it’s done, and who pays for it also pose big questions. In response, a new picture of research is developing across the college, driven by multilayered and complex factors. On the one hand is new leadership, including a new dean and new associate dean for research, as well as a new college strategic plan. On the other hand are significant federal funding cuts to Medicaid, environmental protections, grants, education and the college’s Extension Family and Community Health program. The loss of $9.5 million from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program education (SNAP-Ed) is about three quarters of FCH’s annual operating budget. Layer on growing societal needs, such as tackling climate-related impacts, and this plethora of change and challenges demands that leaders sharpen their focus to create a strategic, diversified approach that prioritizes translating research into real-world impact. “We’ve been doing this work, but now we need to accelerate, be more purposeful and make sure our science benefits those in greatest need,” says Professor Perry Hystad, who began his role as associate dean for research in September 2025. Marie Harvey, OSU Distinguished Professor of Public Health, most recently held that position and has been honored with the 2025 Discovery Award from the Medical Research Foundation. Perry brings a distinguished record of interdisciplinary research to the role, paired with extensive leadership experience. With over $23 million in research funding and more than Innovation, solutions and impact SHAPING THE NEXT ERA OF RESEARCH IN THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH BY KATHRYN STROPPEL “Our research has never been more vital.” – Perry Hystad Perry Hystad Leading Edge Research 10 ▴ College of Health
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