HPH NOWHSPH Scientists Illuminate Pathways Linking Fat and Disease
Persuading people to lead healthier lifestyles is crucial. But an
understanding of the rather murky biological links between obesity and
its health-endangering consequences is also urgently needed to create
more-effective medical treatments and preventive measures. Public
health needs bench science to help control such a population-wide
epidemic, and scientists at HSPH have been dissecting some of the key
biological circuits through which obesity and high-fat and
high-carbohydrate foods do their mischief.
Through a major research initiative at the National Institutes of
Health, Harvard has received substantial new funding to create a
Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC). The five-year award
is intended to accelerate the translation of research findings from
bench to clinical application and from theory to community application.
Harvard Medical School will be the lead institution and Harvard's
teaching hospitals, the School of Public Health, and several other
schools will have substantial roles. HSPH faculty will have important
tasks in the development of the biostatistical science program (BSP),
training of clinical/translational scientists, and community-based
participatory research.
With the ink just drying on the HSPH Class of 2008's diplomas,
preparations are already under way to improve campus facilities in time
for the coming academic year. Student computing space in the Kresge
Building is receiving a major upgrade this summer, several classrooms
on the building's second floor are going high tech, and the School's
cafeteria now has an inviting open floor plan. The projects are
overseen by HSPH Operations.
