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The future of public health depends on how we respond to our current challenges and use innovative tools—to improve people’s lives and access to healthcare. During I3R’s spring speaker series, three researchers—Dr. Michael Niño (University of Arkansas), Dr. Joyce Wong (Boston University), and Dr. Siddhartha Sikdar (George Mason University)—shared how their work is reframing health challenges through data, innovation, and systems-level thinking.
From hyper-local health surveillance in Arkansas to groundbreaking diagnostics for women’s health and community-embedded biomedical engineering, their approaches stand for a powerful shift toward inclusive, convergent research. Here are three compelling perspectives and takeaways shaping the path forward:
Dr. Michael Niño, Associate Professor (Department of Sociology and Criminology), University of Arkansas
1. Arkansas Faces Persistent Health Challenges That Demand Granular Data
Arkansas ranks among the lowest in the nation for health outcomes, with chronic illness driving premature deaths. The Arkansas Health Survey addresses this by collecting hyper-local, real-time health data from all 75 counties, filling the gaps left by outdated or overly aggregated public health sources.
2. The Arkansas Health Survey Uses a Multilevel, Community-Linked Approach
Led by Dr. Niño, the survey links individual health outcomes with factors like food access, transportation, and climate exposure. This approach reveals how geography, race, and culture interact to shape health. For example, Latinos report strong physical health but face disproportionate behavioral health challenges. Even in affluent areas like Northwest Arkansas, disparities persist—underscoring that economic success alone doesn’t equate to health equity.
3. Cross-Sector Collaboration Expands Impact
Six public institutions, and a private partner are collaborating on this project, combining expertise in health data, visualization, and implementation. It’s a scalable framework for public health through shared data and collective action.
Dr. Joyce Wong, Professor (Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering), Boston University
1. Biomedical Innovation Must Start with Women’s Health in Mind
Dr. Wong advocates for designing medical devices and treatments that consider women’s biology and life experiences from the outset. Her lab looks to close long-standing gaps in diagnosis and care that have historically excluded or underserved women.
2. Abdominal Adhesions: A Hidden Women’s Health Crisis
Adhesions—bands of internal scar tissue—affect millions of women, leading to chronic pain, infertility, and bowel obstructions. Dr. Wong’s team is developing a non-invasive diagnostic method using targeted ultrasound microbubbles, offering a breakthrough for a condition that currently requires surgery to diagnose.
3. Investing in Women’s Health Is a Moral and Economic Imperative
Women’s health support is a significant economic opportunity. Women drive most healthcare decisions and spending. Closing the women’s health gap in resources and funding could unlock over $1 trillion in global economic value, proving that equity is both a public good and a smart investment.
Dr. Siddhartha Sikdar, Professor and Director, Center for Adaptive Brain-Body Interactions, George Mason University
1. Health Should Be Studied as a Complex System
At the Center for Advancing Systems Science and Bioengineering Innovation (CASBI) at George Mason University, Dr. Sikdar, and his colleagues approach health as a complex system of biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors. CASBI prioritizes human-centered, community-engaged design to develop solutions that reflect lived realities and social contexts.
2. Translational Research Is Built on Core Strengths
CASBI tackles challenges in mobility impairment, chronic pain, and behavioral health through its four core areas: Science & Engineering, Clinical Research & Translation, Community Engagement, and Graduate Training. From VR therapies for substance use to wearable sensors for movement disorders, CASBI blends technology with community insight.
3. We Must Train the Next Generation of Changemakers
CASBI’s NSF-funded graduate program has trained over 80 students from many fields, all collaborating with community partners to co-create solutions. One example could be a mobile app that connects recovery specialists with real-time resources, an innovation born from the experiences of people in recovery.
In their engagements at the Institute, these pioneering researchers have shown that creating a healthier future requires convergence—merging sectors and areas of expertise to approach challenges from multiple perspectives. Whether it’s capturing better data to inform policy and healthcare solutions, designing more inclusive diagnostics, or training the next generation to center communities in their work, these speakers offer a blueprint to build a healthier world, shared with our campus and regional communities.
I³R’s ongoing speaker series—held Fridays both online and in person—highlights voices from across public health, artificial intelligence, biomaterials, education, and more. The series is designed to spark conversation, inspire collaboration, and share bold ideas for tackling complex challenges. Stay tuned for our fall series where we’ll continue exploring how convergence research drives real-world impact.