Novant Health and UNC Chapel Hill expand research efforts with $1 million in new grants

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Novant Health is partnering with physicians and researchers from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine after being awarded two grants to fund new areas of research. 

Doctors and board members from Novant Health and UNC Chapel Hill met to announce two new capacity building grants they were awarded and what type of research these grants will fund.  

The first $500,000 grant is an Orthopedic Associated Grant, focusing on shoulder injuries, funding research to determine what is the best way to reduce complications and/or address shoulder injuries. 

The second $500,000 grant will focus on Metabolic Associated Liver Disease, liver disease that is associated with obesity and diabetes.  

The goal with this research is to identify and intervene early to help prevent the need for liver transplants. 

The senior Vice President of Medical Education and Research at Novant Health, Doctor Joseph Pino says he is excited about what these grants will do for southeastern North Carolina.  

“It pairs researchers that are from different parts of the state, and ones that we work with, and have mutual admiration for, and it offers us the opportunity to grow research and research opportunities,” Dr. Pino said. 

This is another of many projects that Novant Health and UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine have partnered on.