college’s diverse research strengths are attractive to these funding sources and deliver a clear return on investment: Healthier individuals, children, families and communities. This goal is ambitious but achievable. HOW DOES THE COLLEGE HELP ADVANCE THE UNIVERSITY’S RESEARCH GOALS? Our multidisciplinary research contributes to the university’s goal of building international research distinction in areas of competitive advantage, particularly climate science and related solutions, and integrated health and biotechnology. Integrated health is about seeing health not in silos, but as the product of the complex interactions of biology, behavior, environment and community. The college is uniquely positioned to lead and anchor OSU’s research in this area. Our faculty already exemplify this approach. Across human development and family sciences, nutrition, kinesiology, and public health, we span the full continuum — from molecular and nutritional sciences to human behavior and movement, and from epidemiology and AI to OSU Extension partnerships and policy translation. This breadth allows us to generate new discoveries and ensure they are implemented in ways that reduce disparities and improve health for people throughout Oregon and beyond. WHAT MAKES COLLEGE OF HEALTH RESEARCH SPECIAL AT OREGON STATE? What sets our research apart is its direct connection to people’s lives. Whether it’s studying how wildfire smoke affects asthma, how nutrition can help prevent chronic disease, or how social policies shape family well-being, our discoveries can improve health and well-being for all people. The college also houses four centers that fuel its strategic research engine. We’re looking forward to celebrating the 15-year anniversaries of the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families and the Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventive Health in 2026. The Center for Healthy Aging Research celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, and the Center for Global Health celebrated 10 years in 2024. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS AI IS BEING USED IN HEALTH RESEARCH? Artificial intelligence is an area we must embrace to increase our research productivity and ensure that we train the next generation of scientists. In the college, faculty and students are already using AI to model environmental exposures such as noise, air pollution and greenspace; analyze social media to track health misinformation and its spread; and mine large health datasets to uncover new patterns and opportunities for prevention. With the new Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex supercomputer, we have a powerful resource that will allow us to scale these efforts for even greater impact. Importantly, the fields of AI and data science are evolving at an extraordinary pace. Our priority is to equip faculty and students with the skills to harness these tools, effectively and responsibly, while positioning the college as a leader in applying AI to advance health and well-being. DESCRIBE THE CURRENT RESEARCH LANDSCAPE AND WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. Even with significant funding uncertainty at the federal level, the research community is coming together to form new collaborations, share resources and find creative ways to keep research moving forward. I’m also encouraged by the foundations, donors and industry partners who are stepping up to support our work. At OSU, we’re fortunate to be at a world-class public research university where research is central to our mission. This provides protected time and space for faculty to pursue consequential science. These commitments matter now more than ever. They allow faculty to keep asking hard questions, mentor students and solve pressing problems even when external funding isn’t available. Leading Edge Research Follow our research on Bluesky 12 ▴ College of Health
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