Media Contact
Sam Fahmy
Director of Communications
School of Public Health
[email protected]
ATLANTA—Supported by $11.6 million in externally sponsored funding for research and outreach in fiscal year 2026 alone, the faculty and staff of the Georgia State University School of Public Health are applying their expertise to urgent local and global challenges.
“In a highly competitive environment for securing grants and awards, our faculty and staff continue to attract critical funding that supports impactful research and community engagement,” said Dean Rodney Lyn. “The breadth of these projects reflects the School of Public Health’s commitment to improving population health while preparing the next generation of leaders.”
In fiscal year 2026, SPH faculty and staff received a total of 95 external awards to support research and outreach. In many cases, students work alongside faculty to gain hands-on experiences that better prepare them for impactful careers.
Improving Health and Well-Being, Locally and Globally
SPH faculty and staff received several large grants in fiscal year 2026, including a $3.5 million project funded by the National Institutes of Health that seeks to inform sexual assault prevention among Marines. Funding from the NIH, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration is supporting a project that seeks to accelerate scientific advances by promoting data sharing among researchers. Funding from the National Cancer Institute and the NIH supports several projects to develop and test new strategies and messages to reduce tobacco use.
External funding also supports the work of the School of Public Health’s centers, which translate research-based knowledge into improved health and well-being. GSU’s Prevention Research Center, for example, is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and works closely with community partners in Clarkston to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The Center for Leadership in Disability translates research into practices that contribute to independent and self-determined lives for people with disabilities and their families, while Positive Childhood Alliance Georgia works across the state to prevent child abuse and neglect.
The school’s reach extends globally, as well, and includes a $1.1 million project funded by the Fogarty International Center of the NIH to develop and test a mobile health app to improve sanitation in resource-limited communities.
Daniel Whitaker, Distinguished University Professor and Associate Dean for Research, noted the essential role the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects plays in the school’s research and community engagement.
“ORSP staff work alongside investigators throughout the grant lifecycle, helping them identify opportunities, develop competitive proposals and manage awards,” Whitaker said. “Their partnership helps faculty and staff turn their ideas into funded projects that advance public health knowledge and improve lives.”
Research with Impact
View the video below for an overview of how Georgia State faculty and staff contribute solutions to public health challenges through their research and community engagement.