UNC Injury Prevention Research Center

02/03/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Idania Rodriguez-Melendez

Meet Idania Rodríguez-Melendez, the Public Health Communications Intern at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center. In her role, Idania supports the Center’s Public Health Communications Specialist in advancing strategic communications by managing social media and assisting with marketing and communications initiatives to amplify IPRC’s research and impact.

01/29/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Carol Shirley

Meet Carol Shirley, who leads public health communications at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center. Carol manages media relations, public relations, marketing, and organizational communications, helping translate injury and violence prevention research into clear, impactful messaging for communities and partners.

01/23/2026

We’re pleased to share a new open-access publication authored by former Injury and Violence Prevention Fellow David Colston, MPH!

“It’s a last straw situation”; Overdose response and preferences for seeking support from emergency services during overdose in rural Ohio

Learn more:

Objectives We assessed how people who use drugs in rural Ohio communities affected by the opioid epidemic respond to overdose, their preferences for seeking support from first responders, and factors contributing to their willingness or hesitancy to call 9-1-1 during an overdose. Methodology Semi-st...

01/07/2026

The application is now open for the 2026 Injury-Free NC Academy on Overdose Prevention and Risk Reduction! (Formerly known as “Harm Reduction as Transformative Practice.”)

Apply before Jan. 30 at 5pm EST to learn more about incorporating risk reduction principles into overdose prevention work.

https://iprc.unc.edu/2025/11/18/2026-injury-free-nc-academy-on-harm-reduction/

11/19/2025

Join this webinar tomorrow to see what the Injury Prevention field is planning for its upcoming “Year of Action.”

Join us on November 20 from 2:00–3:00 PM ET for a fireside chat moderated by Tracy Mehan, Director of Research Translation and Communication at the Center for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Panelists Torine Creppy, President of Safe Kids Worldwide; Mighty Fine, Assoc...

11/18/2025

Save the date for the 2026 Injury-Free NC Harm Reduction Academy!

https://iprc.unc.edu/2025/11/18/2026-injury-free-nc-academy-on-harm-reduction/

11/18/2025

Today is National Injury Prevention Day. UNC IPRC has worked for decades to reduce the rate and impact of injuries in the state of North Carolina and across the United States. Join us in building safer communities! Share your impact story today and use the hashtag

11/14/2025

Register now for our November "Connect, Empower, Prevent” webinar!

Wednesday, 11/19/25, 12–12:30pm ET

Adams Sibley, PhD, MPH, Postdoctoral Fellow at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center and Associate Editor of Harm Reduction Journal, will present “The Only Constant is Change: Emerging Adulterants in the Unregulated Drug Supply.”

Register at: go.unc.edu/IPRCWebinar
More information: go.unc.edu/IPRCWebinarSeries

11/10/2025

We are excited to share that the invited commentary “How North Carolina is Using Opioid Settlement Funds to Reduce Overdose Deaths," by Cecilia Gonzales, Project Director at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center, along with Katherine Gora Combs, Adams Sibley, and Stephen Marshall, has been published in the North Carolina Medical Journal (NCMJ) Fall 2025 issue, "Turning the Curve: Halfway to Healthy North Carolina 2030."

The commentary covers CORE-NC and the Street Drug Analysis Lab, highlighting how both are helping to reduce overdose deaths and how they are building and maintaining community trust.

Read the article here: https://ncmedicaljournal.com/article/146070-how-north-carolina-is-using-opioid-settlement-funds-to-reduce-overdose-deaths

10/30/2025

Listen to Dr. Dasgupta discuss his research and reflections on the MacArthur Grant in his recent interview with Aaron Keck on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com

https://chapelboro.com/the-aaron-keck-show/on-air-today/on-air-today-uncs-nabarun-dasgupta-macarthur-genius-grant-winner

Aaron chats with UNC epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta, recently named as a recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" Grant.

10/29/2025

🌟 Meet the Opioid Data Lab Members

In honor of Dr. Nabarun “Nab” Dasgupta receiving the 2025 MacArthur Award for Excellence, we’re spotlighting the talented researchers behind the Opioid Data Lab at UNC IPRC.

✨ Jalice Manso, MS — Research Chemist

10/28/2025

Surprise! 🎉 The UNC IPRC and Opioid Data Lab teams came together to celebrate Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, newly named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow (“Genius Grant” recipient)!

We’re proud to celebrate this incredible recognition and the impact of his work across North Carolina and beyond.