Chronic Disease

The outer wall of the R. Randall Rollins Building

Rollins researchers are dedicated to promoting health and making people’s lives better as they work on pressing public health concerns. Chronic disease surveillance and prevention research has long been part of that work, and includes research in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

“I've often said that we are the mecca of global chronic disease research. There is no center like ours in the United States.”

Mohammed K. Ali, MD, William H. Foege Distinguished Professor, In Reference to the Emory Global Diabetes Research Center

Access, Affordability, and Chronic Disease

Access to health services and nutritious foods impacts human health in profound ways.

Food for Thought

People who do not have access to fresh food and clean water are more likely to develop chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.

Rollins Research in Rural Communities

Rural communities often struggle with high rates of mental health disorders, obesity, heart disease, and dementia. And many lack the resources to diagnose and treat these conditions.

I Am An Emory Researcher: Lauren McCullough

She is investigating why outcomes for Black women with breast cancer are so much worse than their white counterparts despite socioeconomic status and other seemingly favorable characteristics.

Our Experts at the Forefront

"The more we recognize and think about mental health in the fabric of what we do, the more impact we can have in improving the public’s health."

M. Daniele Fallin, PhD

Dean of the Rollins School of Public Health

"Hypertension is the leading cause of death from heart disease and stroke in the U.S. and nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension. Controlling blood pressure is especially important in terms of both preventing heart disease or mortality from heart disease, but also in terms of preventing complications of diseases such as diabetes.”

Jithin Sam Varghese, PhD

Assistant Professor of Global Health

"Making sure that we have a pipeline of workers who feel confident and are adequately compensated to deliver dementia-competent care is a major priority for public health."

Regina Shih, PhD

Professor of Epidemiology

Related Research Centers

magazine fall 2024 diabetes story faculty photo

Our Chronic Disease Experts in the Media

Chronic Disease Deaths Have Fallen Globally, but Progress in U.S. Stalled

The New York Times

‘Clinical Obesity’ Definition Shifts Obesity Prevalence

Medscape

The Disappearing Funds for Chronic Diseases

The New York Times

Emory Prevention Research Center

Emory Researchers Help Create Healthier Homes for Rural Georgians

Michelle Kegler, professor of behavioral sciences and health education, leads an ongoing effort at the Emory Prevention Research Center to help the people of rural Georgia quit smoking, as well as working with those who have exposure to secondhand smoke — a leading preventable cause of cancer-related death in the state.

Read About the Georgia Smoke Free Homes Program