New Multimedia Campaign Showcases Lifesaving Research Powered by Federal Funding
The campaign spotlights UMB researchers speaking directly about their work — offering a firsthand look at how research across UMB’s seven schools is not only advancing science but improving lives in Maryland and beyond.
Elements of the campaign include short social media videos, written profiles and extended Q&As that delve deeper into the research. The featured research stands out for its real-world relevance and urgency, with each project addressing a pressing health or societal challenge — from chronic pain and substance use to early childhood development and cancer care — that is tangible and relatable to a broad audience.
Our goal is to help the public understand why this research matters, how it’s funded and how it touches their lives,” said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. “Scientific progress doesn’t happen in the abstract. It happens here and now, and it’s powered by public support.”
Featured researchers include:
- Sarah Kattakuzhy, MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), who is investigating whether a popular diabetes and weight-loss drug, semaglutide, can help reduce cocaine use. Read more.
- Allan Doctor, MD, UMSOM, and Joga Gobburu, PhD, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), who are on the cusp of developing the world’s first viable artificial blood. Read more.
- Abraham Schneider, DDS, PhD, University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), who is exploring how metformin, a widely available diabetes drug, might help regenerate damaged craniofacial bone. Read more.
- Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), who is testing the power of immersive virtual reality to reduce chronic pain and decrease reliance on opioids. Read more.
- Lisa Berlin, PhD, University of Maryland School of Social Work, whose research examines how brief, nurturing parenting interventions can boost long-term child health outcomes. Read more.
- Ian Kleckner, PhD, MPH, UMSON, who studies how exercise and brain plasticity can relieve chemotherapy-induced nerve damage. Read more.
- Ahmed Sultan, BDS, PhD, UMSOD, whose team is developing artificial intelligence tools that support earlier detection of oral cancer. Read more.
- Paul Shapiro, PhD, UMSOP, and Jeffrey Hasday, MD, UMSOM, are developing a class of drugs that may reset the natural balance of inflammation and prevent a number of serious diseases. Read more.
To explore the campaign, visit www.umaryland.edu/breakthroughs. You can also follow along on Instagram (@UMBaltimore), where we’ll highlight a new researcher and their discoveries each week.