Below is a selection of stories from the past year highlighting just some of the achievements the Brown public health community realized. From pioneering research on drug dependence and overdose, climate change and human health and the mental health crisis among children and young adults, to the re-establishment of a shuttered health clinic serving vulnerable populations, researchers at the school have not only endured, but have advanced Brown’s reputation as a leading center of education and research for the benefit of communities in Rhode Island and around the world.
Date
December 18, 2025
Ten ways Brown pushed public health forward in 2025
2025 tested the Brown University School of Public Health community in profound ways. But despite the challenges, our faculty, students, staff and alumni remained committed to pushing public health forward and advancing the wellbeing of people across our city, and across the globe.
November 4, 2025
News from Brown
Brown team to co-lead $12M study to improve well-being of people who use drugs in New England
With a focus on Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont, a project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse will analyze trends in drug use and barriers to care with the goal of strengthening treatment.
April 8, 2025
News from Brown
Research showcase celebrates the innovation and ideas of Brown public health students
National Public Health Week offered students at Brown’s School of Public Health the opportunity to discuss the impact of their research projects and learn about the work of others.
News from SPH
A turning point in addiction psychiatry?
GLP-1 drugs go far beyond weight loss and show a surprising ability to tame cravings for everything from alcohol to gambling. Addiction scholar Carolina Haass-Koffler offers insight on how and why these drugs work and their potential for revolutionizing addiction treatment.
Brown public health and medical students team up to provide culturally attuned care to Rhode Island’s South Asian, Middle Eastern and African communities.
April 16, 2025
News from Brown
Novel study at Brown shows how late-life health traces back to what happened in the womb
The New England Family Study, launched in 1959 and now led by a Brown epidemiologist, spans three generations of participants and unlocks key insights for healthy aging.
News from SPH
Men, masculinity and mental health
Samantha Rosenthal MPH’10, Ph.D.’14 encourages men to prioritize their well-being and seek help when needed while working to break down the stigma surrounding men’s mental health.
November 19, 2025
News from Brown
As ‘California sober’ catches on, study suggests cannabis use reduces short-term alcohol consumption
A new study led by researchers at Brown University suggests that while other risks remain, smoking marijuana can temporarily cut down how much people drink.
Developed by researchers in Brown University’s School of Public Health, the MediCode tool shows how coding practices in Medicare Advantage lead to billions in overspending.
Researchers from RAND, Brown University School of Public Health and Harvard report that young people are turning to generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, for mental health advice at unexpectedly high rates.
April 29, 2025
News from Brown
New center at Brown to study the intersection of climate, environment and human health
During a campus conversation to celebrate the launch of the Center for Climate, Environment and Health, panelists explored the impacts of climate change on human health and the research that will drive life-saving solutions.