Harvard School of Public Health Press ReleasesPress Releases
2008 Releases
Lower Childhood IQ Associated With Higher Risk of Adult Mental Disorders
For immediate release: Monday, December 1, 2008 Boston, MA -- Researchers have hypothesized that people with lower IQs may have a higher risk of adult mental disorders, but few studies have looked...
HSPH's Center for Public Health Preparedness Receives $8.6 Million CDC Grant to Measure Emergency Systems Capabilities and Performance
For immediate release: Monday, November 24, 2008 Boston, MA - Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) are leading a new, multi-institution partnership aimed at improving...
Harvard School of Public Health Awards "Q" Prize to Dr. José Antonio Abreu and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel for Leadership of Venezuelan Program That Uses Classical Music to Transform the Lives of At-Risk Youth
Named in Honor of Music Impresario Quincy Jones, Q Prize Celebrates Extraordinary Advocacy on Behalf of Children BOSTON, MA, November 10, 2008 - The Harvard School of Public Health announced...
Results From Pre-Election Surveys Published In NEJM Show Deep Concerns About State Of Health Care With McCain and Obama Supporters Differing Sharply On Directions For New Administration
Analysis Draws from Kaiser/Harvard Survey of Registered Voters in September, As Well As Other Recent Public Polls and Historical Presidential Election Exit Polls For immediate release: Thursday,...
In First National Survey, Patients Give Low Scores to Hospitals on Pain Management and Discharge Instructions
For immediate release: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Boston, MA -- The quality of hospitals across the U.S. is inconsistent. To address this issue, the federal government and private organizations...
On Key Policy Areas, Majority of Voters Say Presidential Election Outcome Will Make a Great Deal Of Difference
Obama Voters Much More Likely Than McCain Voters to Believe Outcome Will Impact Health Care For immediate release: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 As part of the ongoing poll series, Debating...
Researchers Estimate Lives Lost Due to Delay in Antiretroviral Drug Use for HIV/AIDS in South Africa
For immediate release: Monday, October 20, 2008 Boston, MA - More than 330,000 lives were lost to HIV/AIDS in South Africa from 2000 and 2005 because a feasible and timely antiretroviral (ARV)...
Two HSPH Professors Honored with Election to Institute of Medicine for their Scientific Contributions
For immediate release: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Boston, MA - Two members of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) faculty have been elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a national...
Tobacco Companies Target Youths with Magazine Advertising and Marketing of Smokeless Tobacco Products
For immediate release: October 15, 2008 Boston, MA -- Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers have recently published two papers that analyze how tobacco companies have marketed their...
Smoking and Solid-Fuel-Burning in Homes in China Projected to Cause Millions of Deaths from Respiratory Diseases in Next Three Decades
For immediate release: October 4, 2008 Boston, MA -- If current levels of smoking and biomass and coal fuel use in homes continues, between 2003 and 2033 there will be an estimated...
Four in Ten Voters Don't See Either Obama's or McCain's Health Care Plan As Better for Them
Among Those Who Do, Obama Has Only Modest Lead Over McCain For immediate release: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 As part of the ongoing poll series, Debating Health: Election 2008, the Harvard...
Incoming HSPH Dean Julio Frenk Receives Clinton Global Citizen Award
Cited for "Outstanding Leadership and Innovation in Solving Global Challenges" For immediate release: Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 Boston, MA - Dr. Julio Frenk, who will become...
A New Class of Hormone from Healthy Fat Cells Benefits Body Metabolism, HSPH Researchers Find in Mice
Discovery of ‘lipokine' signaling could eventually lead to new treatments for obesity-related conditions For immediate release: Thursday, September 18, 2008 Boston, MA -- Scientists...
Following a Combination of Healthy Lifestyle Factors May Sharply Reduce Risk of Premature Death
For immediate release: September 16, 2008 Boston, MA -- A number of studies have shown associations between individual lifestyle factors, such as smoking and diet, and risk of chronic...
New Scholarship Program and Professorship To Honor Dr. Bernard Lown
Inventor of Cardiac Defibrillator and Co-founder of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Organization For immediate release: September 10, 2008 BOSTON, MA -- A professorship and scholarship program...
Genetic Variants Associated with Vitamin B12
Nutrigenomics study reveals surprising genetic predictor of blood levels of vitamin known to be deficient in some elderly people For immediate release: September 7, 2008 Boston, MA - Researchers...
Physicians Urged to Broaden Suicide Prevention by Addressing Access to Guns and Other Lethal Means When Focusing on Patient's Mental Health
Effort to Create Safer Environments for Individuals in Crisis Parallels the Motor Vehicle Safety Movement For immediate release: September 3, 2008 Boston, MA - In an effort to create safer...
Thomas H. Weller, Nobel Laureate and Professor Emeritus, Dies
For immediate release: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Boston, MA -- Thomas H. Weller, a Nobel Prize winner in 1954 and HSPH Professor Emeritus, passed away on Saturday, August 23, 2008. He was 93. Thomas...
Cervical Cancer Prevention in U.S. Should Focus on Vaccinating Adolescent Girls and Revising Screening Policies
For immediate release: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Boston, MA -- The cost-effectiveness of vaccination in the United States against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted virus that...
Women in India Abused by Husbands at Far Greater Risk for HIV Infection
Results from National India Health Survey Indicate that Reducing Violence Toward Women May Help Prevent Transmission of HIV For immediate release: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Boston,...
Statement of Concern on Detention of Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei by Iranian Authorities
For immediate release: Friday, August 8, 2008 Boston, MA -- Barry R. Bloom, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, today expressed "deep concern regarding the detention by Iranian...
Washington Post/Kaiser/Harvard Survey On Experiences of Low-Wage Workers
For immediate release: Monday, August 4, 2008 A new national survey <http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/7802.cfm> by The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University...
Julius B. Richmond, Former U.S. Surgeon General and Professor of Health Policy, Emeritus, Dies
For immediate release: July 31, 2008 Boston, MA -- Julius B. Richmond, a former U.S. Surgeon General and Professor of Health Policy, Emeritus, died at home in Chestnut Hill, MA, on Sunday,...
Julio Frenk Named Next Dean of Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard University Office of News & Public Affairs has released the following announcement: Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Boston, MA -- Julio Frenk, an eminent authority on global health...
Survey of Hurricane Preparedness Finds Those Who Experienced Katrina Most Worried About Drinking Water and Medical Care
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Tobacco Industry Systematically Manipulated Cigarette Menthol Content to Recruit New Smokers Among Adolescents and Young Adults
Internal industry documents, independent lab tests and survey data reveal strategy For immediate release: July 16, 2008 Boston, MA - Menthol cigarette brands have been rising in popularity...
New NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: Health Care and the Economy in Two Swing States
For immediate release: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Boston, MA --Two new surveys by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health examine the pocketbook problems facing...
Poll Shows Strong Support for MA Health Reform Law
More than two-thirds of Massachusetts residents support two-year-old reform effort For immediate release: July 15, 2008 BOSTON, MA - Two years after the implementation of a health care...
Binge Drinking Tied to Conditions in the College Environment
Review of Landmark 14-Year Study Cites Factors Such As Easy Access to Alcohol, Low Prices and Special Promotions, Weak Control Policies and Lax Enforcement For immediate release: July 11, 2008...
WHO and HSPH Collaborate for Safe Surgery Checklists to Prevent Deaths and Injuries
Global Volume of Surgery Reaches 234 Million with High Death Rates in Developing Countries Exceeding Those From Childbirth For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Boston, MA--...
Advice to the Next President: 7 Ways to Fight Health Inequities
HSPH Faculty Address Declining Life Expectancy for Many in U.S. For immediate release: June 18, 2008 Boston, MA- In a series of opinion pieces and two-minute videos, seven Harvard School of...
Even Before Tomato Warning, a Substantial Proportion of Americans Lacked Confidence In the System For Protecting Food Safety
Many Concerned About Imported Foods From China, Mexico For immediate release: Thursday, June 12, 2008 BOSTON, MA - A new national study conducted by the Harvard School of Public...
Dual Role of Molecule in Mice May Open New Avenue to Cholesterol Reduction
For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 12, 2008 Boston, MA -- Researchers have discovered an unknown regulator of fat and cholesterol production in the liver of mice, a significant finding that...
Decline in Cigarette Smoking In U.S. Significantly Offset by Increase in Use of Cigars, Snuff, Roll-Your-Own and Other Tobacco Products
Low Taxes on Non-Cigarette Tobacco Products Keep Addiction “Affordable” For immediate release: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Boston, MA--While trends in cigarette smoking and...
HSPH Researchers Discover Natural Inflammation-Fighting Mechanism in Body-Fat Cells
Protective mechanism fails when obesity sets in For immediate release: Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Boston, MA -- Scientists have discovered a previously unknown molecular signaling pathway in body...
Active Social Life May Delay Memory Loss Among U.S. Elderly Population
For immediate release: May 29, 2008 Boston, MA -- One of the features of aging is memory loss, which can have devastating effects on the quality of life among older people. In a new study,...
Americans Believe Wounded Iraq War Veterans Are Not Receiving High Quality Medical Care When They Return to the U.S.
Families With Military or Veteran Connection Also Hold Critical View McCain Seen in Poll as Best Candidate on Issue For immediate release: May 25, 2008 As part of the ongoing poll series,...
Nieman Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health Announce 2008-2009 Fellowships in Global Health Reporting
For immediate release: May 19, 2008 Boston, MA -- Three journalists have been awarded Nieman Fellowships in Global Health Reporting for the 2008-2009 academic year. The fellowships, a joint initiative...
New Healthy Eating Pyramid Now Freely Downloadable from Harvard School of Public Health
Update to "The Nutrition Source" Website Includes New Recipes and Latest Scientific References For immediate release: May 13, 2008 Boston, MA -- The Department of Nutrition at the Harvard...
Major Shift in HIV Prevention Priorities Needed
Researchers Say Reducing Multiple Sexual Partnerships and Providing Male Circumcision Services Should Be Emphasized For immediate release: May 8, 2008 Boston, MA -- According to...
Domestic Violence Associated with Chronic Malnutrition in Women and Children in India
For immediate release: April 22, 2008 Boston, MA-- In a new, large-scale study exploring the link between domestic violence and chronic malnutrition, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health...
Life Expectancy Worsening or Stagnating for Large Segment of the U.S. Population
Diseases Related to Smoking, High Blood Pressure and Obesity Contributing to Worsening Health, Particularly for Women For immediate release: Monday, April 21, 2008 Boston, MA -- One...
"Father of Aerobics" Kenneth Cooper, MD, MPH to Receive Healthy Cup Award from Harvard School of Public Health
For immediate release: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Kenneth Cooper Boston, MA -- In 1968, Kenneth Cooper, MD, MPH, authored the best-selling book Aerobics and introduced a new...
Elevated Urate Levels May Slow the Progression of Parkinson's Disease
For immediate release: Monday, April 14, 2008 Boston, MA -- Naturally elevated levels of the antioxidant urate may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease in men. Researchers...
Researchers Answer Troublesome Question of Why Some Genetic Association Studies Have Failed Replication Attempts
Paper Resulted from Identification of Childhood Obesity Gene and Carries Implications for Fundamental Study Design and Analysis For immediate release: Thursday, April 3, 2008 Boston, MA...
Most Republicans Think the U.S. Health Care System is the Best in the World. Democrats Disagree.
All Political Groups Agree the U.S. Lags in Providing Affordable Care and Controlling Costs For immediate release: Thursday, March 20, 2008 Survey Results Americans' views on the...
Inhaled Tuberculosis Vaccine More Effective than Traditional Shot in Study Using Experimental Animals
For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008 Boston, MA -- A novel aerosol version of the most common tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, administered directly to the lungs as an oral mist, offers significantly...
HSPH Research on Broad Determinants of Health Disparities Featured in Health Affairs
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Four papers by research faculty at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) are featured in the March/April issue of the journal Health Affairs,...
Four in 10 Americans Say They Have Trouble Paying for Drugs or Skip Prescriptions or Cut Pills Due to Cost
New USA Today/Kaiser/Harvard Poll Finds the Public Sees Real Benefits From Prescription Drugs, But Feels that They Cost Too Much and that Drug Companies Care Too Much About Profits For immediate...
Harvard School of Public Health Announces Creation of A.G. Leventis Foundation Fellowship Program
For Cypriot/Greek and Nigerian Students and Scholars in Public Health For immediate release: Monday, March 3, 2008 Boston, MA - The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has announced the establishment...
Study Finds Recent Trend of Growing U.S. Disparities In Health Not Inevitable
Researchers Show That Disparities Shrank From 1960s to 1980s, Possibly Because of Social Programs Enacted in the 1960s For immediate release: February 25, 2008 Boston, MA -- In the public...
NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: The Public on Requiring Individuals to Have Health Insurance
For immediate release: Friday, February 29, 2008 Boston, MA -- This survey conducted jointly by NPR and public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public...
Poll Finds Americans Split by Political Party Over Whether Socialized Medicine Better or Worse Than Current System
Seventy percent of Republicans think socialized medicine would make things worse and 70% of Democrats think it would make things better For immediate release: Thursday, February...
Presidential Candidates' Platforms Reflect Sharp Differences in Perspectives of Democratic and Republican Primary Voters on Health Care Problems
Analysis Draws on Data from New Kaiser/Harvard Survey of Likely Voters in Early Primary States, as Well as 10 Recent National Polls For immediate release: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 With...
Newly Identified Gene Variants Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk
Q&A with Co-author David Hunter of Harvard School of Public Health on Genome Scans and Pitfalls of Personal Profiling For Immediate Release: Sunday, February 10, 2008 Boston, MA - Three...