We aim to characterize work exposures and illness in Badin, North Carolina--the site of an aluminum smelting facility for nearly 100 years.

In an effort to improve therapeutic options for treatment, this study will explore the use of research laboratory testing results to guide treatment decisions for difficult to treat Mycobacterium abscessus and other non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections. Specific combinations of antibiotics will be tested in the laboratory, alone or in combination, to determine if those antibiotics could help with treatment of individual patients.

To comprehensively characterize the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of breast cancer patients receiving care according to local standards in Malawi.

The purpose of this study is to allow for the laboratory examination and characterization of inflammatory cells found in sputum, nasal cells and components in exhaled breath. Sputum samples may also be tested for the presence of proteins and genetic variations thought to be important in inflammation.

The purpose of this research study is to learn more about Barrett's Esophagus and esophageal cancer by collecting data and samples (blood and tissue) for a biorepository. A biorepository is a large bank of specimens and data that are stored indefinitely and may be shared with other researchers.

The purpose of this research study is to develop the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Palliative Care (ADRD-PC) program for persons with late-stage ADRD and their family members during a hospitalization. For patients, we aim to learn if this program of dementia-specific palliative is effective to reduce hospital transfers, improve symptom treatment, supplement supportive services and reduce nursing home transitions. For family members, we aim to improve communication with clinicians, shared decision-making and decrease distress.

We are studying the frequency of flooding in coastal North Carolina and the impacts of floods on households and businesses.

This is a registry for pediatric IBD patients.

The purpose of this research study is to collect data about attitudes towards social topics in the news.

Why have our societies become so polarized? How deeply are we divided? And what is the role of social networks in bridging as well as deepening these divides? This study focuses on local communities in North Carolina to understand political change in America and beyond. In particular, we are interested in how people in their church congregation experience political and social change. This is because churches are pillars of local community life in North Carolina. We reach out to local faith leaders across the spectrum of Christian churches to get their take on how their congregation grapples with the issues of our time. This is part of a comparative study across several Western societies.