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December 22, 2021

2021 Research Highlights — Human Health Advances

Disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

With NIH support, scientists across the United States and around the world conduct wide-ranging research to discover ways to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Groundbreaking NIH-funded research often receives top scientific honors. In 2021, these honors included Nobel Prizes to five NIH-supported scientists . Here’s just a small sample of the NIH-supported research accomplishments in 2021.

Printer-friendly version of full 2021 NIH Research Highlights

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COVID-19 spread and vaccines

NIH researchers continued to make scientific breakthroughs to help control the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies of spread suggested strategies for controlling infections . Research also revealed who was most at risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19: nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. were due to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure . Wide-spread vaccine rollouts slowed the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, developed with NIH, proved to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 . Six months later, people who had been vaccinated still showed signs of immunity . COVID-19 vaccines saved an estimated 140,000 lives through May 2021, and hundreds of thousands more have been saved since. As SARS-CoV-2 mutated and new variants became common, scientists conducted studies on booster doses of vaccine. These suggested that COVID-19 boosters not only lengthen immunity but help broaden and strengthen the immune response to protect against a wide variety of variants.

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Drug delays type 1 diabetes onset

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system’s T cells attack the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Those affected need insulin treatment to survive. In a clinical trial of people at risk of developing type 1 diabetes (with a median age of 13), the drug teplizumab delayed disease onset and improved insulin production. The findings support the use of the drug for delaying or preventing type 1 diabetes.

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Gene therapy effective in human trials

Advances in gene therapy are showing promise for people with life-threatening conditions. Using gene therapy, researchers were able to introduce a healthy copy of a disease-causing gene and restore immune system function in children with a rare genetic disorder called severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID. In another study, researchers safely delivered gene therapy to the brain to treat a debilitating neurological disease for which there are no effective treatments.

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Low-fat diet compared to low-carb diet

There has been a great deal of debate over what aspects of our diets affect weight control. A carefully controlled study found that people ate fewer calories per day and lost more weight on a plant-based, low-fat diet compared to an animal-based, low-carb diet. However, the low-fat diet led to higher insulin and blood sugar levels, which can be risk factors for heart disease. The findings reveal how restricting dietary carbohydrates or fats may impact health.

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Supplement targets gut microbes to boost growth in malnourished children

The effects of childhood malnutrition can cause lifelong health problems. Researchers found that a supplement designed to repair the gut microbiome—the bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the digestive system—helped malnourished children. Those given the supplement gained more weight than children on a standard nutritional supplement. The experimental supplement also raised levels of proteins in the blood associated with bone, cartilage, and brain health.

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Test may help reduce racial disparities in kidney disease

A common blood test for kidney function measures a protein called creatinine. But Black Americans generally have higher amounts of creatinine. As a result, doctors take race into account when testing for kidney disease. A study showed that measuring levels of another protein called cystatin C can accurately estimate kidney function without needing to take race into account. A race-blind method for estimating kidney function could more effectively identify chronic kidney disease.

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Malaria vaccines provide strong and lasting immunity

Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Researchers developed a vaccine approach that uses live sporozoites, the infectious form of the malaria parasite, along with a drug that kills the parasite. In a small trial, the approach led to broad, long-lasting protection against malaria. The strategy is now being tested in real-world conditions in a Phase 2 clinical trial in Mali.

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Devices in the brain help paralyzed people communicate

Technological advances are enabling people who have lost the ability to move or speak to communicate again. Scientists developed a device to decode brain activity into words in real time , allowing a person with paralysis to communicate in complete sentences. Another system quickly translates brain signals for imagined handwriting into text . These systems could make communication for people with severe paralysis more natural and efficient.

2021 Research Highlights — Promising Medical Findings >>

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Updated January 3, 2024

Medical research is broken: here’s how we can fix it

PhD Candidate, Health Sciences, University of Leeds

Clinical Research Fellow, University of Leeds

Disclosure statement

Kelly E Lloyd is affiliated with The Declaration to Improve Biomedical & Health Research. She receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

Stephen Bradley's research is funded by Cancer Research UK's multi-institutional CanTest Collaborative (C8640/A23385). He is a member of the executive committee of the Fabian Society, which is a think tank affiliated to the Labour Party.

University of Leeds provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK.

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Every year, around US$200 billion (£150 billion) is spent globally on health research. Meanwhile, millions of people volunteer their time to be participants in health studies. Despite all the resources that go into creating medical research, though, there is a glaring issue – almost all of that time and money achieves nothing. In fact, about 85% of all research is simply wasted.

This might seem too large a figure to be true, but it is much easier to imagine when you consider that around 50% of medical trials are not published at all . Studies that tend not to be published are those with results that are inconclusive or negative – so-called “null results”. To put this into context, this means studies that find that a drug helps to treat a disease are much more likely to be published than those finding no evidence that the drug works.

Even of the studies that are published, many are badly designed. When studies aren’t published or the research is of poor quality, precious resources can be wasted on treatments that don’t work , or may even harm patients .

Many published studies also fail to fully and accurately report how the study was conducted and what was found. This can lead to researchers engaging in questionable research practices such as selectively reporting results (leaving out negative results) and not reporting their financial or political conflicts of interest. This failing in transparency means doctors and patients can’t fully review the evidence they base healthcare decisions on.

In medicine, these problems have been talked about for decades , but this is a scandal that appears to be barely known by the wider public. However, COVID-19 has now made the problems with medical research impossible to ignore.

The solutions

Luckily, this colossal waste of research is avoidable. Because of the discipline of meta-research (research about research), there is a great deal of understanding of the solutions to these problems. Yet we still have COVID-19 trials that are badly designed and lack transparency .

Nowadays, the question isn’t “what are the solutions we can use to fix research waste?” but instead, “why aren’t these solutions being used widely across medical research?”

In response to these issues, an international group of doctors, researchers and patients has created the Declaration to Improve Biomedical and Health Research . The declaration describes three actions that are available, right now, to improve health research. These are:

1) All research that is funded by the public or a charity should be catalogued and stored in a central website open to everyone. This should include detailed study documents, such as protocols and a summary of the results. Cataloguing all research would help increase the number of studies with negative results being read and would be a huge first step to reducing research waste.

2) Mandatory publication of all authors’ interest. Examples include any financial or political interests that may bias the study’s results. There have already been documented cases of funders influencing the findings of studies, which has already led to patients being irreversibly harmed . In several countries, so-called “sunshine acts” require doctors to disclose financial interests. But this has not yet been made mandatory in all countries.

While these actions will help improve transparency, they won’t help fix poorly designed research. This is where registered reports come in.

3) Registered reports is a publication format where authors submit their study protocol to a journal for review before recruiting any patients. That way, reviewers can give feedback on the study design before it starts, rather than the current process of reviewing after it is complete and too late to change. A bonus of registered reports is that they’ve also been found to increase the number of studies with negative results being published. This is a promising solution currently in use by over 250 journals , but it’s a format that can be used by all journals.

These actions won’t solve all problems in research, but they are a start. With high-quality medical research needed now more than ever, we believe it is essential to start using these solutions now to change health science for the better.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Healthcare

100+ Healthcare Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a healthcare-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of healthcare-related research ideas and topic thought-starters across a range of healthcare fields, including allopathic and alternative medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacology and public health.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the healthcare domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic.

Overview: Healthcare Research Topics

• Allopathic medicine
• Alternative /complementary medicine
• Veterinary medicine
• Physical therapy/ rehab
• Optometry and ophthalmology
• Pharmacy and pharmacology
• Public health
• Examples of healthcare-related dissertations

Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine

• The effectiveness of telemedicine in remote elderly patient care
• The impact of stress on the immune system of cancer patients
• The effects of a plant-based diet on chronic diseases such as diabetes
• The use of AI in early cancer diagnosis and treatment
• The role of the gut microbiome in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• The efficacy of mindfulness meditation in reducing chronic pain: A systematic review
• The benefits and drawbacks of electronic health records in a developing country
• The effects of environmental pollution on breast milk quality
• The use of personalized medicine in treating genetic disorders
• The impact of social determinants of health on chronic diseases in Asia
• The role of high-intensity interval training in improving cardiovascular health
• The efficacy of using probiotics for gut health in pregnant women
• The impact of poor sleep on the treatment of chronic illnesses
• The role of inflammation in the development of chronic diseases such as lupus
• The effectiveness of physiotherapy in pain control post-surgery

Topics & Ideas: Alternative Medicine

• The benefits of herbal medicine in treating young asthma patients
• The use of acupuncture in treating infertility in women over 40 years of age
• The effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating mental health disorders: A systematic review
• The role of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety post-surgery
• The impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing high blood pressure
• The use of chiropractic therapy in treating back pain of pregnant women
• The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine such as Shun-Qi-Tong-Xie (SQTX) in treating digestive disorders in China
• The impact of yoga on physical and mental health in adolescents
• The benefits of hydrotherapy in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis
• The role of Reiki in promoting healing and relaxation post birth
• The effectiveness of naturopathy in treating skin conditions such as eczema
• The use of deep tissue massage therapy in reducing chronic pain in amputees
• The impact of tai chi on the treatment of anxiety and depression
• The benefits of reflexology in treating stress, anxiety and chronic fatigue
• The role of acupuncture in the prophylactic management of headaches and migraines

Topics & Ideas: Dentistry

• The impact of sugar consumption on the oral health of infants
• The use of digital dentistry in improving patient care: A systematic review
• The efficacy of orthodontic treatments in correcting bite problems in adults
• The role of dental hygiene in preventing gum disease in patients with dental bridges
• The impact of smoking on oral health and tobacco cessation support from UK dentists
• The benefits of dental implants in restoring missing teeth in adolescents
• The use of lasers in dental procedures such as root canals
• The efficacy of root canal treatment using high-frequency electric pulses in saving infected teeth
• The role of fluoride in promoting remineralization and slowing down demineralization
• The impact of stress-induced reflux on oral health
• The benefits of dental crowns in restoring damaged teeth in elderly patients
• The use of sedation dentistry in managing dental anxiety in children
• The efficacy of teeth whitening treatments in improving dental aesthetics in patients with braces
• The role of orthodontic appliances in improving well-being
• The impact of periodontal disease on overall health and chronic illnesses

Tops & Ideas: Veterinary Medicine

• The impact of nutrition on broiler chicken production
• The role of vaccines in disease prevention in horses
• The importance of parasite control in animal health in piggeries
• The impact of animal behaviour on welfare in the dairy industry
• The effects of environmental pollution on the health of cattle
• The role of veterinary technology such as MRI in animal care
• The importance of pain management in post-surgery health outcomes
• The impact of genetics on animal health and disease in layer chickens
• The effectiveness of alternative therapies in veterinary medicine: A systematic review
• The role of veterinary medicine in public health: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of climate change on animal health and infectious diseases in animals
• The importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine and sustainable agriculture
• The effects of the human-animal bond on canine health
• The role of veterinary medicine in conservation efforts: A case study of Rhinoceros poaching in Africa
• The impact of veterinary research of new vaccines on animal health

Topics & Ideas: Physical Therapy/Rehab

• The efficacy of aquatic therapy in improving joint mobility and strength in polio patients
• The impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes in Germany
• The effect of kinesiotaping on reducing knee pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain
• A comparison of manual therapy and yoga exercise therapy in the management of low back pain
• The use of wearable technology in physical rehabilitation and the impact on patient adherence to a rehabilitation plan
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions in physical therapy in adolescents
• The effects of resistance training on individuals with Parkinson’s disease
• The role of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia
• The impact of cognitive-behavioural therapy in physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain
• The use of virtual reality in physical rehabilitation of sports injuries
• The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle function and strength in athletes
• The role of physical therapy in the management of stroke recovery: A systematic review
• The impact of pilates on mental health in individuals with depression
• The use of thermal modalities in physical therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation
• The effect of strength training on balance and gait in elderly patients

Topics & Ideas: Optometry & Opthalmology

• The impact of screen time on the vision and ocular health of children under the age of 5
• The effects of blue light exposure from digital devices on ocular health
• The role of dietary interventions, such as the intake of whole grains, in the management of age-related macular degeneration
• The use of telemedicine in optometry and ophthalmology in the UK
• The impact of myopia control interventions on African American children’s vision
• The use of contact lenses in the management of dry eye syndrome: different treatment options
• The effects of visual rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury
• The role of low vision rehabilitation in individuals with age-related vision loss: challenges and solutions
• The impact of environmental air pollution on ocular health
• The effectiveness of orthokeratology in myopia control compared to contact lenses
• The role of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in ocular health
• The effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds on ocular health
• The impact of computer vision syndrome on long-term visual function
• The use of novel diagnostic tools in optometry and ophthalmology in developing countries
• The effects of virtual reality on visual perception and ocular health: an examination of dry eye syndrome and neurologic symptoms

Topics & Ideas: Pharmacy & Pharmacology

• The impact of medication adherence on patient outcomes in cystic fibrosis
• The use of personalized medicine in the management of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
• The effects of pharmacogenomics on drug response and toxicity in cancer patients
• The role of pharmacists in the management of chronic pain in primary care
• The impact of drug-drug interactions on patient mental health outcomes
• The use of telepharmacy in healthcare: Present status and future potential
• The effects of herbal and dietary supplements on drug efficacy and toxicity
• The role of pharmacists in the management of type 1 diabetes
• The impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• The use of technology in medication management in the USA
• The effects of smoking on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: A case study of clozapine
• Leveraging the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing opioid use disorder
• The impact of the opioid epidemic on public health in a developing country
• The use of biosimilars in the management of the skin condition psoriasis
• The effects of the Affordable Care Act on medication utilization and patient outcomes in African Americans

Topics & Ideas: Public Health

• The impact of the built environment and urbanisation on physical activity and obesity
• The effects of food insecurity on health outcomes in Zimbabwe
• The role of community-based participatory research in addressing health disparities
• The impact of social determinants of health, such as racism, on population health
• The effects of heat waves on public health
• The role of telehealth in addressing healthcare access and equity in South America
• The impact of gun violence on public health in South Africa
• The effects of chlorofluorocarbons air pollution on respiratory health
• The role of public health interventions in reducing health disparities in the USA
• The impact of the United States Affordable Care Act on access to healthcare and health outcomes
• The effects of water insecurity on health outcomes in the Middle East
• The role of community health workers in addressing healthcare access and equity in low-income countries
• The impact of mass incarceration on public health and behavioural health of a community
• The effects of floods on public health and healthcare systems
• The role of social media in public health communication and behaviour change in adolescents

Examples: Healthcare Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a healthcare-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various healthcare-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Improving Follow-Up Care for Homeless Populations in North County San Diego (Sanchez, 2021)
• On the Incentives of Medicare’s Hospital Reimbursement and an Examination of Exchangeability (Elzinga, 2016)
• Managing the healthcare crisis: the career narratives of nurses (Krueger, 2021)
• Methods for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric haematology-oncology patients: A systematic literature review (Balkan, 2020)
• Farms in Healthcare: Enhancing Knowledge, Sharing, and Collaboration (Garramone, 2019)
• When machine learning meets healthcare: towards knowledge incorporation in multimodal healthcare analytics (Yuan, 2020)
• Integrated behavioural healthcare: The future of rural mental health (Fox, 2019)
• Healthcare service use patterns among autistic adults: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (Gilmore, 2021)
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Combatting Burnout and Compassionate Fatigue among Mental Health Caregivers (Lundquist, 2022)
• Transgender and gender-diverse people’s perceptions of gender-inclusive healthcare access and associated hope for the future (Wille, 2021)
• Efficient Neural Network Synthesis and Its Application in Smart Healthcare (Hassantabar, 2022)
• The Experience of Female Veterans and Health-Seeking Behaviors (Switzer, 2022)
• Machine learning applications towards risk prediction and cost forecasting in healthcare (Singh, 2022)
• Does Variation in the Nursing Home Inspection Process Explain Disparity in Regulatory Outcomes? (Fox, 2020)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your healthcare dissertation or thesis, check out Topic Kickstarter service below.

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15 Comments

I need topics that will match the Msc program am running in healthcare research please

Hello Mabel,

I can help you with a good topic, kindly provide your email let’s have a good discussion on this.

Can you provide some research topics and ideas on Immunology?

Thank you to create new knowledge on research problem verse research topic

Help on problem statement on teen pregnancy

This post might be useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-problem-statement/

can you provide me with a research topic on healthcare related topics to a qqi level 5 student

Please can someone help me with research topics in public health ?

Hello I have requirement of Health related latest research issue/topics for my social media speeches. If possible pls share health issues , diagnosis, treatment.

I would like a topic thought around first-line support for Gender-Based Violence for survivors or one related to prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Please can I be helped with a master’s research topic in either chemical pathology or hematology or immunology? thanks

Can u please provide me with a research topic on occupational health and safety at the health sector

Good day kindly help provide me with Ph.D. Public health topics on Reproductive and Maternal Health, interventional studies on Health Education

may you assist me with a good easy healthcare administration study topic

May you assist me in finding a research topic on nutrition,physical activity and obesity. On the impact on children

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Research on Health Effects from Air Pollution

Decades of research have shown that air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter (PM) increase the amount and seriousness of lung and heart disease and other health problems. More investigation is needed to further understand the role poor air quality plays in causing detrimental effects to health and increased disease, especially in vulnerable populations. Children, the elderly, and  people living in areas with high levels of air pollution are especially susceptible.

Results from these investigations are used to support the nation's air quality standards under the Clean Air Act and contribute to improvements in public health.

On this page:

Health Effects of Air Pollutants on Vulnerable Populations

Long-term and short-term effects from exposure to air pollutants.

• Multipollutant Exposures and Changes in Environmental Conditions
• Leveraging Big Data for Innovations in Health Science 

Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke

Public health intervention and communications strategies, integrated science assessments for air pollutants.

Research has shown that some people are more susceptible than others to air pollutants. These groups include children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung disease. People in low socioeconomic neighborhoods and communities may be more vulnerable to air pollution because of many factors. Proximity to industrial sources of air pollution, underlying health problems, poor nutrition, stress, and other factors can contribute to increased health impacts in these communities.

There is a need for greater understanding of the factors that may influence whether a population or age group is at increased risk of health effects from air pollution. In addition, advances to analytical approaches used to study the health effects from air pollution will improve exposure estimates for healthy and at-risk groups.

The research by EPA scientists and others inform the required reviews of the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which is done with the development of Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs). These ISAs are mandated by Congress every five years to assess the current state of the science on criteria air pollutants and determine if the standards provide adequate protection to public health. 

Research is focused on addressing four areas:

• Identifying and characterizing whether there are key reproductive factors and critical stages of development that are impacted by air pollution exposures;
• Determining the role of acute and chronic sociodemographic factors in air pollution health disparities;
• Understanding how diet modifies responses to air pollution;
• Evaluating long-term lifestyle and chronic disease effects on air pollution-induced respiratory and cardiovascular responses

A multi-disciplinary team of investigators is coordinating epidemiological, human observational, and basic toxicological research to assess the effects of air pollution in at-risk populations and develop strategies to protect these populations, particularly those with pre-existing disease. The results from these products will improve risk assessments by clarifying the role of modifying factors such as psychosocial stress (e.g. noise) and diet, and determining the impact of individual susceptibility on the relationship between air pollutant exposures and health.

Related Links

• Healthy Heart Research
• Integrated Science Assessments
• Criteria Air Pollutants

People can experience exposure to varying concentrations of air pollution. Poor air quality can impact individuals for a short period of time during the day, or more frequently during a given day. Exposure to pollutants can also occur over multiple days, weeks or months due to seasonal air pollution, such as increased ozone during the summer or particulate matter from woodstoves during the winter.

The health impact of air pollution exposure depends on the duration and concentrations, and the health status of the affected populations. Studies are needed to increase knowledge of the exposure duration and the possible cumulative increase in risk.

The research is focused on three main areas: 

• Short-term peak exposures, such as wildfires, traffic-related sources, or other episodic events;
• Intermittent and cumulative exposures;
•  Mechanisms underlying the exposure risks

Researchers are evaluating the health responses of intermittent multiple days versus one-day air pollution exposure in controlled human exposure, animal, and in vitro models and associated cellular and molecular mechanisms. They are employing population-based models and electronic health records to assess the health effects of short-term and long-term exposures and identifying populations at greatest risk of health effects. The work is improving our understanding of the possible cumulative effects of multiple short-term peak exposures and the relationship of these exposures to longer-term exposures and risks.

Multipollutant Exposures and Changes in Environmental Conditions  

EPA research is providing information to understand how individuals may respond to two or more pollutants or mixtures and how environmental conditions may impact air quality.  While risk estimates for exposure to individual criteria air pollutants such as PM and ozone are well established, the acute and cumulative effects of combinations of pollutants is not well understood. In addition, research is needed to determine how changes in the environment affect both pollutant formation and subsequent responsiveness to exposures in healthy and susceptible individuals.

The research is focused on three specific questions: 

• What is the role of temperature and photochemical aging on the health impact of wildfire smoke and air pollution mixtures?
• What is the effect of changing environmental conditions (i.e., temperature and humidity) on responsiveness to air pollution?
• Does prior pollutant exposure modify responsiveness to subsequent exposures?

The integrated, multi-disciplinary research includes:

• Epidemiologic analyses of environmental influences on morbidity and mortality in populations,
• Simulations of changing environmental conditions in multi-pollutant formation in atmospheric chamber studies coupled with clinical and toxicological assessments in healthy and at-risk populations,
• Evaluation of pre-exposure as a modifying effect on subsequent exposures

The results are revealing how changes in environmental conditions affect pollutant formation and subsequent health impact in at-risk populations. The research findings are informing EPA’s Integrated Science  Assessments for criteria air pollutants and assisting with future regulatory decisions on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Leveraging Big Data for Innovations in Health Science  

EPA is at the cutting edge of health science, using electronic health records, novel data systems, tissue-like advanced cellular models, molecular approaches, and animal models to evaluate the health impacts of air pollution.  Researchers are using these powerful new techniques to identify factors that may increase sensitivity and vulnerability to air pollution effects. 

The research is building capacity for future risk assessment and regulatory analyses that go beyond traditional lines of evidence to more clearly define populations and lifestages at increased risk of health effects from air pollution.

To continue to protect public health from poor air quality, researchers must consider new epidemiological, toxicological and clinical approaches to understand the health risks of poor air quality and the biological mechanisms responsible for these risks. At the center of these new research approaches is an explosion of data availability and methodological approaches for handling large clinical and molecular datasets, also known as "big data."

While data of increasing size, depth, and complexity have accelerated research for many industries and scientific fields, big data is sometimes less recognized for the impacts it is having on environmental health studies. Increasingly, researchers are able to examine vulnerable populations with unprecedented precision and detail while also evaluating hundreds of thousands of molecular biomarkers in order to understand biological mechanisms associated with exposure.

Larger and more intense wildfires are creating the potential for greater smoke production and chronic exposures in the United States, particularly in the West. Wildfires increase air pollution in surrounding areas and can affect regional air quality.

The health effects of wildfire smoke can range from eye and respiratory tract irritation to more serious disorders, including reduced lung function, exacerbation of asthma and heart failure, and premature death. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to smoke exposure. Emissions from wildfires are known to cause increased visits to hospitals and clinics by those exposed to smoke.

It is important to more fully understand the human health effects associated with short- and long-term exposures to smoke from wildfires as well as prescribed fires, together referred to as wildland fires. EPA is conducting research to advance understanding of the health effects from different types of fires as well as combustion phases. Researchers want to know:

• What is the full extent of health effects from smoke exposure?
• Who is most at risk?
• Are there differences in health effects from different wildfire fuel types or combustion phases (burning versus flaming)?
• What strategies and approaches are most effective in protecting public health?
• What are the environmental, social and economic impacts of wildfire emissions?
• Wildland Fire Research
• Smoke-Ready Toolbox for Wildfires
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Many communities throughout the United States face challenges in providing advice to residents about how best to protect their health when they are exposed to elevated concentrations of air pollutants from motor vehicle and industrial emissions and other sources of combustion, including wildland fire smoke.

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Home » Research Problem – Examples, Types and Guide

Research Problem – Examples, Types and Guide

Table of Contents

Research Problem

Definition:

Research problem is a specific and well-defined issue or question that a researcher seeks to investigate through research. It is the starting point of any research project, as it sets the direction, scope, and purpose of the study.

Types of Research Problems

Types of Research Problems are as follows:

Descriptive problems

These problems involve describing or documenting a particular phenomenon, event, or situation. For example, a researcher might investigate the demographics of a particular population, such as their age, gender, income, and education.

Exploratory problems

These problems are designed to explore a particular topic or issue in depth, often with the goal of generating new ideas or hypotheses. For example, a researcher might explore the factors that contribute to job satisfaction among employees in a particular industry.

Explanatory Problems

These problems seek to explain why a particular phenomenon or event occurs, and they typically involve testing hypotheses or theories. For example, a researcher might investigate the relationship between exercise and mental health, with the goal of determining whether exercise has a causal effect on mental health.

Predictive Problems

These problems involve making predictions or forecasts about future events or trends. For example, a researcher might investigate the factors that predict future success in a particular field or industry.

Evaluative Problems

These problems involve assessing the effectiveness of a particular intervention, program, or policy. For example, a researcher might evaluate the impact of a new teaching method on student learning outcomes.

How to Define a Research Problem

Defining a research problem involves identifying a specific question or issue that a researcher seeks to address through a research study. Here are the steps to follow when defining a research problem:

• Identify a broad research topic : Start by identifying a broad topic that you are interested in researching. This could be based on your personal interests, observations, or gaps in the existing literature.
• Conduct a literature review : Once you have identified a broad topic, conduct a thorough literature review to identify the current state of knowledge in the field. This will help you identify gaps or inconsistencies in the existing research that can be addressed through your study.
• Refine the research question: Based on the gaps or inconsistencies identified in the literature review, refine your research question to a specific, clear, and well-defined problem statement. Your research question should be feasible, relevant, and important to the field of study.
• Develop a hypothesis: Based on the research question, develop a hypothesis that states the expected relationship between variables.
• Define the scope and limitations: Clearly define the scope and limitations of your research problem. This will help you focus your study and ensure that your research objectives are achievable.
• Get feedback: Get feedback from your advisor or colleagues to ensure that your research problem is clear, feasible, and relevant to the field of study.

Components of a Research Problem

The components of a research problem typically include the following:

• Topic : The general subject or area of interest that the research will explore.
• Research Question : A clear and specific question that the research seeks to answer or investigate.
• Objective : A statement that describes the purpose of the research, what it aims to achieve, and the expected outcomes.
• Hypothesis : An educated guess or prediction about the relationship between variables, which is tested during the research.
• Variables : The factors or elements that are being studied, measured, or manipulated in the research.
• Methodology : The overall approach and methods that will be used to conduct the research.
• Scope and Limitations : A description of the boundaries and parameters of the research, including what will be included and excluded, and any potential constraints or limitations.
• Significance: A statement that explains the potential value or impact of the research, its contribution to the field of study, and how it will add to the existing knowledge.

Research Problem Examples

Following are some Research Problem Examples:

Research Problem Examples in Psychology are as follows:

• Exploring the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.
• Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for treating anxiety disorders.
• Studying the impact of prenatal stress on child development outcomes.
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to addiction and relapse in substance abuse treatment.
• Examining the impact of personality traits on romantic relationships.

Research Problem Examples in Sociology are as follows:

• Investigating the relationship between social support and mental health outcomes in marginalized communities.
• Studying the impact of globalization on labor markets and employment opportunities.
• Analyzing the causes and consequences of gentrification in urban neighborhoods.
• Investigating the impact of family structure on social mobility and economic outcomes.
• Examining the effects of social capital on community development and resilience.

Research Problem Examples in Economics are as follows:

• Studying the effects of trade policies on economic growth and development.
• Analyzing the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on labor markets and employment opportunities.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to economic inequality and poverty.
• Examining the impact of fiscal and monetary policies on inflation and economic stability.
• Studying the relationship between education and economic outcomes, such as income and employment.

Political Science

Research Problem Examples in Political Science are as follows:

• Analyzing the causes and consequences of political polarization and partisan behavior.
• Investigating the impact of social movements on political change and policymaking.
• Studying the role of media and communication in shaping public opinion and political discourse.
• Examining the effectiveness of electoral systems in promoting democratic governance and representation.
• Investigating the impact of international organizations and agreements on global governance and security.

Environmental Science

Research Problem Examples in Environmental Science are as follows:

• Studying the impact of air pollution on human health and well-being.
• Investigating the effects of deforestation on climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Analyzing the impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and food webs.
• Studying the relationship between urban development and ecological resilience.
• Examining the effectiveness of environmental policies and regulations in promoting sustainability and conservation.

Research Problem Examples in Education are as follows:

• Investigating the impact of teacher training and professional development on student learning outcomes.
• Studying the effectiveness of technology-enhanced learning in promoting student engagement and achievement.
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to achievement gaps and educational inequality.
• Examining the impact of parental involvement on student motivation and achievement.
• Studying the effectiveness of alternative educational models, such as homeschooling and online learning.

Research Problem Examples in History are as follows:

• Analyzing the social and economic factors that contributed to the rise and fall of ancient civilizations.
• Investigating the impact of colonialism on indigenous societies and cultures.
• Studying the role of religion in shaping political and social movements throughout history.
• Analyzing the impact of the Industrial Revolution on economic and social structures.
• Examining the causes and consequences of global conflicts, such as World War I and II.

Research Problem Examples in Business are as follows:

• Studying the impact of corporate social responsibility on brand reputation and consumer behavior.
• Investigating the effectiveness of leadership development programs in improving organizational performance and employee satisfaction.
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful entrepreneurship and small business development.
• Examining the impact of mergers and acquisitions on market competition and consumer welfare.
• Studying the effectiveness of marketing strategies and advertising campaigns in promoting brand awareness and sales.

Research Problem Example for Students

An Example of a Research Problem for Students could be:

“How does social media usage affect the academic performance of high school students?”

This research problem is specific, measurable, and relevant. It is specific because it focuses on a particular area of interest, which is the impact of social media on academic performance. It is measurable because the researcher can collect data on social media usage and academic performance to evaluate the relationship between the two variables. It is relevant because it addresses a current and important issue that affects high school students.

To conduct research on this problem, the researcher could use various methods, such as surveys, interviews, and statistical analysis of academic records. The results of the study could provide insights into the relationship between social media usage and academic performance, which could help educators and parents develop effective strategies for managing social media use among students.

Another example of a research problem for students:

“Does participation in extracurricular activities impact the academic performance of middle school students?”

This research problem is also specific, measurable, and relevant. It is specific because it focuses on a particular type of activity, extracurricular activities, and its impact on academic performance. It is measurable because the researcher can collect data on students’ participation in extracurricular activities and their academic performance to evaluate the relationship between the two variables. It is relevant because extracurricular activities are an essential part of the middle school experience, and their impact on academic performance is a topic of interest to educators and parents.

To conduct research on this problem, the researcher could use surveys, interviews, and academic records analysis. The results of the study could provide insights into the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance, which could help educators and parents make informed decisions about the types of activities that are most beneficial for middle school students.

Applications of Research Problem

Applications of Research Problem are as follows:

• Academic research: Research problems are used to guide academic research in various fields, including social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and engineering. Researchers use research problems to identify gaps in knowledge, address theoretical or practical problems, and explore new areas of study.
• Business research : Research problems are used to guide business research, including market research, consumer behavior research, and organizational research. Researchers use research problems to identify business challenges, explore opportunities, and develop strategies for business growth and success.
• Healthcare research : Research problems are used to guide healthcare research, including medical research, clinical research, and health services research. Researchers use research problems to identify healthcare challenges, develop new treatments and interventions, and improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
• Public policy research : Research problems are used to guide public policy research, including policy analysis, program evaluation, and policy development. Researchers use research problems to identify social issues, assess the effectiveness of existing policies and programs, and develop new policies and programs to address societal challenges.
• Environmental research : Research problems are used to guide environmental research, including environmental science, ecology, and environmental management. Researchers use research problems to identify environmental challenges, assess the impact of human activities on the environment, and develop sustainable solutions to protect the environment.

Purpose of Research Problems

The purpose of research problems is to identify an area of study that requires further investigation and to formulate a clear, concise and specific research question. A research problem defines the specific issue or problem that needs to be addressed and serves as the foundation for the research project.

Identifying a research problem is important because it helps to establish the direction of the research and sets the stage for the research design, methods, and analysis. It also ensures that the research is relevant and contributes to the existing body of knowledge in the field.

A well-formulated research problem should:

• Clearly define the specific issue or problem that needs to be investigated
• Be specific and narrow enough to be manageable in terms of time, resources, and scope
• Be relevant to the field of study and contribute to the existing body of knowledge
• Be feasible and realistic in terms of available data, resources, and research methods
• Be interesting and intellectually stimulating for the researcher and potential readers or audiences.

Characteristics of Research Problem

The characteristics of a research problem refer to the specific features that a problem must possess to qualify as a suitable research topic. Some of the key characteristics of a research problem are:

• Clarity : A research problem should be clearly defined and stated in a way that it is easily understood by the researcher and other readers. The problem should be specific, unambiguous, and easy to comprehend.
• Relevance : A research problem should be relevant to the field of study, and it should contribute to the existing body of knowledge. The problem should address a gap in knowledge, a theoretical or practical problem, or a real-world issue that requires further investigation.
• Feasibility : A research problem should be feasible in terms of the availability of data, resources, and research methods. It should be realistic and practical to conduct the study within the available time, budget, and resources.
• Novelty : A research problem should be novel or original in some way. It should represent a new or innovative perspective on an existing problem, or it should explore a new area of study or apply an existing theory to a new context.
• Importance : A research problem should be important or significant in terms of its potential impact on the field or society. It should have the potential to produce new knowledge, advance existing theories, or address a pressing societal issue.
• Manageability : A research problem should be manageable in terms of its scope and complexity. It should be specific enough to be investigated within the available time and resources, and it should be broad enough to provide meaningful results.

Advantages of Research Problem

The advantages of a well-defined research problem are as follows:

• Focus : A research problem provides a clear and focused direction for the research study. It ensures that the study stays on track and does not deviate from the research question.
• Clarity : A research problem provides clarity and specificity to the research question. It ensures that the research is not too broad or too narrow and that the research objectives are clearly defined.
• Relevance : A research problem ensures that the research study is relevant to the field of study and contributes to the existing body of knowledge. It addresses gaps in knowledge, theoretical or practical problems, or real-world issues that require further investigation.
• Feasibility : A research problem ensures that the research study is feasible in terms of the availability of data, resources, and research methods. It ensures that the research is realistic and practical to conduct within the available time, budget, and resources.
• Novelty : A research problem ensures that the research study is original and innovative. It represents a new or unique perspective on an existing problem, explores a new area of study, or applies an existing theory to a new context.
• Importance : A research problem ensures that the research study is important and significant in terms of its potential impact on the field or society. It has the potential to produce new knowledge, advance existing theories, or address a pressing societal issue.
• Rigor : A research problem ensures that the research study is rigorous and follows established research methods and practices. It ensures that the research is conducted in a systematic, objective, and unbiased manner.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Katie Krimitsos is among the majority of American women who have trouble getting healthy sleep, according to a new Gallup survey. Krimitsos launched a podcast called Sleep Meditation for Women to offer some help. Natalie Champa Jennings/Natalie Jennings, courtesy of Katie Krimitsos hide caption

Katie Krimitsos is among the majority of American women who have trouble getting healthy sleep, according to a new Gallup survey. Krimitsos launched a podcast called Sleep Meditation for Women to offer some help.

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"I would be wide awake, just my brain completely spinning in chaos until two in the morning," says Krimitsos.

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A research problem is a definite or clear expression [statement] about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or within existing practice that points to a need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad proposition, or present a value question. In the social and behavioral sciences, studies are most often framed around examining a problem that needs to be understood and resolved in order to improve society and the human condition.

Bryman, Alan. “The Research Question in Social Research: What is its Role?” International Journal of Social Research Methodology 10 (2007): 5-20; Guba, Egon G., and Yvonna S. Lincoln. “Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research.” In Handbook of Qualitative Research . Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln, editors. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1994), pp. 105-117; Pardede, Parlindungan. “Identifying and Formulating the Research Problem." Research in ELT: Module 4 (October 2018): 1-13; Li, Yanmei, and Sumei Zhang. "Identifying the Research Problem." In Applied Research Methods in Urban and Regional Planning . (Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2022), pp. 13-21.

Importance of...

The purpose of a problem statement is to:

• Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied . The reader is oriented to the significance of the study.
• Anchors the research questions, hypotheses, or assumptions to follow . It offers a concise statement about the purpose of your paper.
• Place the topic into a particular context that defines the parameters of what is to be investigated.
• Provide the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.

In the social sciences, the research problem establishes the means by which you must answer the "So What?" question. This declarative question refers to a research problem surviving the relevancy test [the quality of a measurement procedure that provides repeatability and accuracy]. Note that answering the "So What?" question requires a commitment on your part to not only show that you have reviewed the literature, but that you have thoroughly considered the significance of the research problem and its implications applied to creating new knowledge and understanding or informing practice.

To survive the "So What" question, problem statements should possess the following attributes:

• Clarity and precision [a well-written statement does not make sweeping generalizations and irresponsible pronouncements; it also does include unspecific determinates like "very" or "giant"],
• Demonstrate a researchable topic or issue [i.e., feasibility of conducting the study is based upon access to information that can be effectively acquired, gathered, interpreted, synthesized, and understood],
• Identification of what would be studied, while avoiding the use of value-laden words and terms,
• Identification of an overarching question or small set of questions accompanied by key factors or variables,
• Identification of key concepts and terms,
• Articulation of the study's conceptual boundaries or parameters or limitations,
• Some generalizability in regards to applicability and bringing results into general use,
• Conveyance of the study's importance, benefits, and justification [i.e., regardless of the type of research, it is important to demonstrate that the research is not trivial],
• Does not have unnecessary jargon or overly complex sentence constructions; and,
• Conveyance of more than the mere gathering of descriptive data providing only a snapshot of the issue or phenomenon under investigation.

Bryman, Alan. “The Research Question in Social Research: What is its Role?” International Journal of Social Research Methodology 10 (2007): 5-20; Brown, Perry J., Allen Dyer, and Ross S. Whaley. "Recreation Research—So What?" Journal of Leisure Research 5 (1973): 16-24; Castellanos, Susie. Critical Writing and Thinking. The Writing Center. Dean of the College. Brown University; Ellis, Timothy J. and Yair Levy Nova. "Framework of Problem-Based Research: A Guide for Novice Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem." Informing Science: the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline 11 (2008); Thesis and Purpose Statements. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thesis Statements. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Selwyn, Neil. "‘So What?’…A Question that Every Journal Article Needs to Answer." Learning, Media, and Technology 39 (2014): 1-5; Shoket, Mohd. "Research Problem: Identification and Formulation." International Journal of Research 1 (May 2014): 512-518.

Structure and Writing Style

I.  Types and Content

There are four general conceptualizations of a research problem in the social sciences:

• Casuist Research Problem -- this type of problem relates to the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by analyzing moral dilemmas through the application of general rules and the careful distinction of special cases.
• Difference Research Problem -- typically asks the question, “Is there a difference between two or more groups or treatments?” This type of problem statement is used when the researcher compares or contrasts two or more phenomena. This a common approach to defining a problem in the clinical social sciences or behavioral sciences.
• Descriptive Research Problem -- typically asks the question, "what is...?" with the underlying purpose to describe the significance of a situation, state, or existence of a specific phenomenon. This problem is often associated with revealing hidden or understudied issues.
• Relational Research Problem -- suggests a relationship of some sort between two or more variables to be investigated. The underlying purpose is to investigate specific qualities or characteristics that may be connected in some way.

A problem statement in the social sciences should contain :

• A lead-in that helps ensure the reader will maintain interest over the study,
• A declaration of originality [e.g., mentioning a knowledge void or a lack of clarity about a topic that will be revealed in the literature review of prior research],
• An indication of the central focus of the study [establishing the boundaries of analysis], and
• An explanation of the study's significance or the benefits to be derived from investigating the research problem.

NOTE :   A statement describing the research problem of your paper should not be viewed as a thesis statement that you may be familiar with from high school. Given the content listed above, a description of the research problem is usually a short paragraph in length.

II.  Sources of Problems for Investigation

The identification of a problem to study can be challenging, not because there's a lack of issues that could be investigated, but due to the challenge of formulating an academically relevant and researchable problem which is unique and does not simply duplicate the work of others. To facilitate how you might select a problem from which to build a research study, consider these sources of inspiration:

Deductions from Theory This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations embodied in life and in society that the researcher is familiar with. These deductions from human behavior are then placed within an empirical frame of reference through research. From a theory, the researcher can formulate a research problem or hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical situations. The research asks the question: “What relationship between variables will be observed if theory aptly summarizes the state of affairs?” One can then design and carry out a systematic investigation to assess whether empirical data confirm or reject the hypothesis, and hence, the theory.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study can come from academic movements and scholarship originating in disciplines outside of your primary area of study. This can be an intellectually stimulating exercise. A review of pertinent literature should include examining research from related disciplines that can reveal new avenues of exploration and analysis. An interdisciplinary approach to selecting a research problem offers an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive understanding of a very complex issue that any single discipline may be able to provide.

Interviewing Practitioners The identification of research problems about particular topics can arise from formal interviews or informal discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new directions for future research and how to make research findings more relevant to practice. Discussions with experts in the field, such as, teachers, social workers, health care providers, lawyers, business leaders, etc., offers the chance to identify practical, “real world” problems that may be understudied or ignored within academic circles. This approach also provides some practical knowledge which may help in the process of designing and conducting your study.

Personal Experience Don't undervalue your everyday experiences or encounters as worthwhile problems for investigation. Think critically about your own experiences and/or frustrations with an issue facing society or related to your community, your neighborhood, your family, or your personal life. This can be derived, for example, from deliberate observations of certain relationships for which there is no clear explanation or witnessing an event that appears harmful to a person or group or that is out of the ordinary.

Relevant Literature The selection of a research problem can be derived from a thorough review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of interest. This may reveal where gaps exist in understanding a topic or where an issue has been understudied. Research may be conducted to: 1) fill such gaps in knowledge; 2) evaluate if the methodologies employed in prior studies can be adapted to solve other problems; or, 3) determine if a similar study could be conducted in a different subject area or applied in a different context or to different study sample [i.e., different setting or different group of people]. Also, authors frequently conclude their studies by noting implications for further research; read the conclusion of pertinent studies because statements about further research can be a valuable source for identifying new problems to investigate. The fact that a researcher has identified a topic worthy of further exploration validates the fact it is worth pursuing.

III.  What Makes a Good Research Statement?

A good problem statement begins by introducing the broad area in which your research is centered, gradually leading the reader to the more specific issues you are investigating. The statement need not be lengthy, but a good research problem should incorporate the following features:

1.  Compelling Topic The problem chosen should be one that motivates you to address it but simple curiosity is not a good enough reason to pursue a research study because this does not indicate significance. The problem that you choose to explore must be important to you, but it must also be viewed as important by your readers and to a the larger academic and/or social community that could be impacted by the results of your study. 2.  Supports Multiple Perspectives The problem must be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead supports the generation and exploration of multiple perspectives. A general rule of thumb in the social sciences is that a good research problem is one that would generate a variety of viewpoints from a composite audience made up of reasonable people. 3.  Researchability This isn't a real word but it represents an important aspect of creating a good research statement. It seems a bit obvious, but you don't want to find yourself in the midst of investigating a complex research project and realize that you don't have enough prior research to draw from for your analysis. There's nothing inherently wrong with original research, but you must choose research problems that can be supported, in some way, by the resources available to you. If you are not sure if something is researchable, don't assume that it isn't if you don't find information right away--seek help from a librarian !

NOTE:   Do not confuse a research problem with a research topic. A topic is something to read and obtain information about, whereas a problem is something to be solved or framed as a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution, or explained as a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation. In short, a research topic is something to be understood; a research problem is something that needs to be investigated.

IV.  Asking Analytical Questions about the Research Problem

Research problems in the social and behavioral sciences are often analyzed around critical questions that must be investigated. These questions can be explicitly listed in the introduction [i.e., "This study addresses three research questions about women's psychological recovery from domestic abuse in multi-generational home settings..."], or, the questions are implied in the text as specific areas of study related to the research problem. Explicitly listing your research questions at the end of your introduction can help in designing a clear roadmap of what you plan to address in your study, whereas, implicitly integrating them into the text of the introduction allows you to create a more compelling narrative around the key issues under investigation. Either approach is appropriate.

The number of questions you attempt to address should be based on the complexity of the problem you are investigating and what areas of inquiry you find most critical to study. Practical considerations, such as, the length of the paper you are writing or the availability of resources to analyze the issue can also factor in how many questions to ask. In general, however, there should be no more than four research questions underpinning a single research problem.

Given this, well-developed analytical questions can focus on any of the following:

• Highlights a genuine dilemma, area of ambiguity, or point of confusion about a topic open to interpretation by your readers;
• Yields an answer that is unexpected and not obvious rather than inevitable and self-evident;
• Provokes meaningful thought or discussion;
• Raises the visibility of the key ideas or concepts that may be understudied or hidden;
• Suggests the need for complex analysis or argument rather than a basic description or summary; and,
• Offers a specific path of inquiry that avoids eliciting generalizations about the problem.

NOTE:   Questions of how and why concerning a research problem often require more analysis than questions about who, what, where, and when. You should still ask yourself these latter questions, however. Thinking introspectively about the who, what, where, and when of a research problem can help ensure that you have thoroughly considered all aspects of the problem under investigation and helps define the scope of the study in relation to the problem.

V.  Mistakes to Avoid

Beware of circular reasoning! Do not state the research problem as simply the absence of the thing you are suggesting. For example, if you propose the following, "The problem in this community is that there is no hospital," this only leads to a research problem where:

• The need is for a hospital
• The objective is to create a hospital
• The method is to plan for building a hospital, and
• The evaluation is to measure if there is a hospital or not.

This is an example of a research problem that fails the "So What?" test . In this example, the problem does not reveal the relevance of why you are investigating the fact there is no hospital in the community [e.g., perhaps there's a hospital in the community ten miles away]; it does not elucidate the significance of why one should study the fact there is no hospital in the community [e.g., that hospital in the community ten miles away has no emergency room]; the research problem does not offer an intellectual pathway towards adding new knowledge or clarifying prior knowledge [e.g., the county in which there is no hospital already conducted a study about the need for a hospital, but it was conducted ten years ago]; and, the problem does not offer meaningful outcomes that lead to recommendations that can be generalized for other situations or that could suggest areas for further research [e.g., the challenges of building a new hospital serves as a case study for other communities].

Alvesson, Mats and Jörgen Sandberg. “Generating Research Questions Through Problematization.” Academy of Management Review 36 (April 2011): 247-271 ; Choosing and Refining Topics. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; D'Souza, Victor S. "Use of Induction and Deduction in Research in Social Sciences: An Illustration." Journal of the Indian Law Institute 24 (1982): 655-661; Ellis, Timothy J. and Yair Levy Nova. "Framework of Problem-Based Research: A Guide for Novice Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem." Informing Science: the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline 11 (2008); How to Write a Research Question. The Writing Center. George Mason University; Invention: Developing a Thesis Statement. The Reading/Writing Center. Hunter College; Problem Statements PowerPoint Presentation. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Procter, Margaret. Using Thesis Statements. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Shoket, Mohd. "Research Problem: Identification and Formulation." International Journal of Research 1 (May 2014): 512-518; Trochim, William M.K. Problem Formulation. Research Methods Knowledge Base. 2006; Thesis and Purpose Statements. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thesis Statements. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Pardede, Parlindungan. “Identifying and Formulating the Research Problem." Research in ELT: Module 4 (October 2018): 1-13; Walk, Kerry. Asking an Analytical Question. [Class handout or worksheet]. Princeton University; White, Patrick. Developing Research Questions: A Guide for Social Scientists . New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2009; Li, Yanmei, and Sumei Zhang. "Identifying the Research Problem." In Applied Research Methods in Urban and Regional Planning . (Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2022), pp. 13-21.

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Covid Vaccine Side Effects: 4 Takeaways From Our Investigation

Thousands of Americans believe they experienced rare but serious side effects. But confirming a link is a difficult task.

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

Apoorva Mandavilli spent more than a year talking to dozens of experts in vaccine science, policymakers and people who said they had experienced serious side effects after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.

Soon after their arrival in late December 2020, the Covid-19 vaccines turned the pandemic around and opened a path back to normalcy. They prevented about 14.4 million deaths worldwide, according to one estimate .

In a small percentage of people, they also produced side effects.

Over the course of more than a year, The New York Times talked to 30 people who said they had been harmed by Covid vaccines. Their symptoms may turn out to be unrelated to the shots. But they — along with more than a dozen experts — felt federal officials are not doing enough to investigate their complaints.

All vaccines carry some risk of side effects. More than 270 million Americans received about 677 million doses of the Covid vaccines, and even rare side effects — occurring, say, in just 0.001 percent of patients — might mean thousands of recipients were affected.

Indeed, more than 13,000 have submitted claims to a government fund that compensates people for Covid vaccine injuries. So far, however, only a dozen people have been compensated, nearly all of them for a heart problem caused by the vaccines.

Here are four takeaways from our investigation.

For most people, the benefits of Covid vaccines outweigh any risks.

Even the best vaccines and drugs have some side effects. That does not negate their benefits, nor does it suggest that people should stop taking them.

The rotavirus vaccine, for example, is an unmitigated success, but it can lead to intussusception — a life-threatening condition in which the intestine folds in on itself — in about 0.02 percent of children who are vaccinated.

Some side effects caused by the Covid vaccines may be equally rare. Researchers in Hong Kong analyzed that country’s health records and found that about seven of every million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine triggered a bout of shingles serious enough to require hospitalization.

Other side effects are slightly more common. The Covid vaccines may lead to myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, in one of every 10,000 adolescent males. (Myocarditis is one of the four serious side effects acknowledged by federal health officials.)

Deaths from the vaccines are vanishingly rare , despite claims from some conspiracy theorists that vaccines have led to a spike in mortality rates.

More intensive analysis may indicate that in some groups, like young men, the benefit of Covid shots may no longer outweigh the risks. But for the majority of Americans, the vaccines continue to be far safer than contracting Covid itself.

Federal surveillance has found some side effects but may miss others.

To detect problems with vaccines, federal agencies rely on multiple databases. The largest, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, is useful for generating hypotheses, but contains unverified accounts of harms. Other databases combine electronic health records and insurance claims.

These systems spotted blood-clotting problems associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a potential risk of stroke after mRNA immunizations, which is still under investigation. But federal researchers trailed Israeli scientists in picking up myocarditis as a problem among young men.

The American health care system is fragmented, with medical records stored by multiple companies that do not collaborate. Electronic health records do not all describe symptoms the same way, making comparisons difficult. Insurance claims databases may have no record of shots administered at mass vaccination sites.

Federal systems may also miss symptoms that defy easy description or diagnosis.

Proving vaccination led to an illness is complicated.

Among the hundreds of millions of Americans who were immunized against Covid, there were deaths, heart attacks, strokes, miscarriages and autoimmune illnesses. How to distinguish illnesses caused by the vaccine from those that would have happened anyway?

The rarer the condition, the harder it is to answer this question.

Merely judging by the timing — the appearance of a particular problem after vaccination — can be misleading. Most famously, childhood vaccines were mistakenly linked to autism because the first noticeable features often coincided with the immunization schedule.

Serious side effects may first turn up in animal studies of vaccines. But few such studies were possible given the nation’s desperate timeline in 2020. Clinical trials of the vaccines were intended to test their effectiveness, but they were far from big enough to detect side effects that may occur only in a few people per million doses.

Most independent studies of side effects have not been large enough to detect rare events, nor to exclude their possibility; others have looked only for a preset list of symptoms and might have missed the rare outliers.

An expert panel convened by the National Academies concluded in April that for most side effects, there was not enough data to accept or reject a link to Covid vaccination.

Understanding the full range of side effects may take years.

Federal health officials acknowledge four major side effects of Covid vaccines — not including the temporary injection site pain, fever and malaise that may accompany the shots.

But in federal databases, thousands of Americans have reported that Covid vaccines caused ringing in the ears, dizziness, brain fog, sharp fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, new or relapsed autoimmune conditions , hives , vision problems , kidney disorders, tingling , numbness and a loss of motor skills.

Some studies have examined reports of side effects and largely concluded that there was no link . Closer scrutiny may reveal that many, perhaps most, of the other reported side effects are unrelated to immunization. Most of them are also associated with Covid , and may be the result of undiagnosed infections. But without in-depth studies, it is impossible to be sure, experts said.

Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter focused on science and global health. She was a part of the team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the pandemic. More about Apoorva Mandavilli

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• COVID-19 shutdown flips drug overdose mortality rates among industries
• Spring undergraduate fellows tackle critical public health issues
• CPH graduate finds her path through public health, receives several honors

Drug overdoses, firearm injuries, a cancer-causing virus, and social needs in health care delivery: this past spring, four University of Kentucky College of Public Health (CPH) students worked on research projects related to these important public health issues as part of the Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research Fellowship program.

Brayden Ward, Mason Taylor, Ashley Grospitch, and Khushi Arora participated in the fellowship program, which is funded by the University’s Office of Undergraduate Research and provides funding for students as they to work with a faculty mentor on a research project.

Brayden Ward: Fatal Drug Overdoses

Brayden Ward’s research focuses on post-incarceration fatal drug overdose rates in Kentucky. Brayden is working with Dana Quesinberry, JD, DrPH , an assistant professor at the CPH and associate director of the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, to use publicly available data to examine fatal overdoses among individuals post-incarceration. The research aims to identify modifiable factors leading to the increased overdose risk.

When reflecting on his motivations for becoming a fellow, Brayden emphasized that he wanted to broaden his horizons.

“Going into this fellowship, I wanted to expand my experiences in public health research in a way that grew my skills both professionally and educationally, but also have the opportunity to make a difference in the community,” he said. “When Dr. Quesinberry reached out to me about this topic, I knew it was an opportunity to do both of those things, and I was immediately excited to get started.”

Dr. Quesinberry highlighted the importance of intellectual curiosity in research.

"An important characteristic of a researcher is having a curious mind. While we started with a topic that Brayden had no experience with, his natural curiosity became engaged with the complexity of the topic," said Dr. Quesinberry.

Brayden’s research work serves as an important starting point for addressing the intersection of incarceration, substance use disorders, and public health by identifying a population that is often overlooked in public health initiatives. By highlighting the correlation between incarceration status and increased overdose risk, Brayden's work emphasizes the need for targeted interventions and support services tailored to this demographic.

"Brayden provided an energy to a project that had been sidelined because of conflicting priorities,” Dr. Quesinberry said. “His preliminary findings have created a team energy around the data he wrangled and its potential to answer a number of research questions that will translate into both corrections and public health practice."

Brayden said, “This fellowship has given me an opportunity to expand my experiences in the world of public health research. I think that is the value of doing something like this program. Being exposed to so many real-work events as an undergraduate gives me an experience and knowledge I could not get in a classroom.”

Mason Taylor: Firearm Injuries

Mason Taylor's research project focuses on analyzing morbidity and mortality data related to firearm incidents in Kentucky. Mason is collaborating with Julia Costich, JD, PhD , Jacqueline Seals, DrPH , and Alaina Murphy, MPH , from the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), to analyze the data and produce a manuscript summarizing his findings. This research aims to provide insights into the prevalence, patterns, and potential risk factors associated with firearm injuries in Kentucky.

Mason shared that his inspiration to pursue the topic of firearm violence stemmed from analyzing Kentucky injury trends from the past decade; he noticed a concerning increase in emergency department admissions related to intentional and unintentional firearm injuries.

“Mason was very enthusiastic about his topic and eager to work with the KIPRC team on a scholarly manuscript,” said Mason’s mentor, Dr. Costich. “Mason’s identification of issues related to firearm violence has mobilized a group of faculty and staff to initiate more focused and collaborative research on this critically important topic. I am not sure we’d be where we are in the development of this focus without his work.”

The research identifies patterns and risk factors associated with firearm incidents, advocating for comprehensive public health interventions to prevent injuries and fatalities.

“Firearm violence is a glaring public health issue in the United States that truly exists,” said Mason. “It is almost constantly seen in the media, but I do not believe individuals see it as a public health issue. Our research proves that firearm violence should not be a social norm but an area where public health interventions can help prevent it from occurring.”

Mason plans to pursue a career in public health, motivated by the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of the field.

Ashley Grospitch: Social Needs and Health Care

Ashley Grospitch's research project, conducted in collaboration with Rachel Hogg-Graham’s Team Up collaborative, focuses on developing a social needs screening and referral experiential learning opportunity.

Ashley’s research work examined models for delivering screenings and referral services and how students can be integrated into the work. Her work informed a model where UK HealthCare will work with students to support the referral process to community resources.

“I wanted to pursue this topic because creating a student program, in particular, provides a unique opportunity to increase awareness through both education and experience of the impact of the social drivers of health on health care outcomes,” shared Ashley.

Dr. Hogg-Graham praised Ashley's contribution to integrating student involvement into health care initiatives.  

“Ashley worked closely with our team to examine the roles students can play in social need screening and referral strategies,” said Dr. Hogg-Graham, DrPH, who is an associate professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy. “Her work has been used to build an experiential opportunity with UK HealthCare where students will support the population health team in their work bridging patients with unmet social needs to community resources."

She added that Ashley's efforts have not only enhanced student education but will also help improve social need referral outreach.

Reflecting on her time as a research fellow, Ashley shared, “Completing research this semester as an Undergraduate Research Fellow has been an immensely positive experience. Working on Dr. Hogg-Graham’s Team Up Collaborative, in addition to my Public Health Showcase experience, has reinforced my long-term interest in pursuing research as a career, and I hope to continue in this field after graduation.”

Khushi Arora: HPV

Khushi Arora’s research project focuses on tracking trends in human papilloma virus (HPV) positivity rates from 2000 to 2023. HPV is known to cause cervical cancer, but vaccines can prevent many other types of HPV infections as well. Khushi's study looks at how changes in HPV testing guidelines and the introduction of vaccination programs have affected the rates of HPV infections.

The importance of Khushi's research lies in its potential to show how effective these preventive measures have been in reducing HPV infections. By understanding these trends, public health officials can assess the impact of vaccination programs and testing guidelines on the spread of HPV and ultimately on the rates of cervical cancer. This information can help guide future public health policies and interventions aimed at further reducing the burden of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.

“This fellowship program has allowed me to further delve into research and dig deeper into analysis of given data for my project,” shared Khushi.

She added that she gained valuable experience in navigating institutional review board submissions, conducting human subject research, and presenting findings at scientific conferences.

“She will be finishing off her work with me culminating in a quality assurance report that will be submitted for regulatory purposes summarizing the changing trends in HPV testing volume and positivity rates,” shared mentor Julie Ribes, MD, PhD.

After graduation, Khushi plans to pursue a career in medicine. In the interim, she intends to continue engaging in research. She added that being involved in research not only provides her with valuable insights but also enhances her ability to understand and interpret research conducted by others, which she intends to incorporate into her future medical practice.

Learn more about fellowship opportunities and undergraduate research here at cph.uky.edu/programs/bachelor-public-health/undergraduate-research .

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College of Public Health 111 Washington Avenue Lexington, KY 40536 [email protected]

The 'healthiest' way to spend 24 hours depends on what you value most

Health The 'healthiest' way to spend 24 hours depends on what you value most

It's known as the "Goldilocks day": the "just right" way to allocate your time to various activities for optimal health.

Sounds like a handy guide to life, right? But is it even possible?

We already have guidelines around how much physical activity adults should get each week . So how many hours each day should we spend standing, sitting or sleeping?

New Australian research published in Diabetologica provides an hour-by-hour breakdown of daily activities to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, which include disorders of the heart, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

The study, from Swinburne University and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, analysed more than 2,000 people in the Netherlands, 684 of whom had type 2 diabetes.

Over seven days, they had their waist circumference, blood glucose and insulin levels, cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides (a type of fat found in blood) measured.

By examining how participants with the healthiest results divvied up their time, the researchers came up with what they say is an optimum day for cardiometabolic health.

Christian Brakenridge from Swinburne's Centre for Urban Transitions led the research, and says the activity plan is "like a North Star" — something to aim towards.

"I think people might kind of baulk at the idea of these strong quantitative guidelines, but the take home message here is we really want people to sit less, move more and sleep for appropriate durations," Dr Brakenridge says.

The average Australian sits for about eight hours a day but desk-based office workers can spend around 10 hours seated.

And most of us only get two hours of physical activity each day (that's light and moderate activity combined), which is about half of what the study recommends.

Light physical activity includes slow walking or doing chores, and moderate to vigorous activity can be brisk walking, jogging or difficult tasks like shovelling.

Dot Dumuid is a time-use epidemiologist at the University of South Australia. For years she's studied the healthiest ways to spend our time.

She provided statistics for the new study, and noted its narrow focus on cardiometabolic   risk factors.

"I like when studies put other outcomes in there as well, like cognition, for example."

Dr Dumuid says very few study participants managed four hours of activity day in, day out.

" There'd be a few super-achievers … but that's not feasible for heaps of people.

"You could do it, but you'd have to give up something else."

And that activity trade-off is where things get interesting.

Adjusting the levers of your life

The perfect day for your heart might be quite different to the perfect day for your brain.

Dr Dumuid has studied the "optimum" 24 hours for a range of health outcomes, and is particularly interested in what happens when you take time from one category   and put it in another.

For example, physical activity is great for heart health. But if it comes at the cost of sleep, Dr Dumuid says that can be detrimental for those with anxiety and depression.

And people need to spend more hours sitting than moving if they want to optimise academic performance and cognitive function, as that's when we usually do things like study, read or play music.

While Dr Dumuid is yet to come up with a "Goldilocks day" for adults, she has one that she says is most beneficial for the mental, physical and cognitive function of children aged 11 and 12.

But even with children, priorities can shift, and if exams are approaching, a student might need to temporarily adjust the dial to manage their time differently.

To help with this, Dr Dumuid developed an online tool which lets students rank what's most important to them to give a more personalised 24-hour breakdown.

"One size rarely fits all in population health," she says.

More than one optimum day

No matter how much time we want to invest in being happy and healthy, not everyone has complete agency over how they spend their day.

There can be many limitations depending on where you live, what you earn and whether your capacity is restricted, for example, by chronic health conditions.

And the daily activity combinations researchers looked at in the new study didn't incorporate things like social interactions, which can improve mental and physical health.

So how many hours a day should we spend socialising? Recent research in Nature found there's no universal balance between solitude and socialising.

In fact, solitude (when the person chooses it) can reduce stress levels.

This is another reason why Dr Dumuid thinks we'll never have one single optimum day for overall health.

Instead, perhaps we'll one day have multiple "best days" with different purposes.

"In the future you might wake up and decide 'OK, today I want to preference my mental health, let me see what my options are.'

"Then you focus on something else the next day, and then over a week you can balance it out to be a good, healthy week."

Dr Brakenridge hopes his findings will be used by the federal government to update current health guidelines so they can better reflect the full spectrum of human behaviour.

He says Australia should look to Canada, which has the world's first 24-hour movement guidelines that lay out how much time adults should spend doing aerobic activities, muscle strengthening, sleeping, sitting and using a screen.

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A florida university is a leader in kratom research, but questions remain.

A bill that would have further regulated kratom failed to pass in the Legislature as its use continues to grow. Meanwhile, UF continues to lead much of the research surrounding the herb.

Sam Trathen stands at the counter in her small, dimly lit apartment kitchen. It's 11 a.m. and time for her first cup of kratom tea. The electric whir of her French press fills the room while she measures out the greenish brown powder onto a kitchen scale.

"I guess while that's heating up, I can weigh it out on a little scale. Usually about half a teaspoon is 2 grams,” Trathen said.

About 1.7 million Americans 12 and older used kratom in 2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health .

Mac Haddow, with the American Kratom Association. estimates that number to be much higher — between 11 million and 15 million users.

"They break down roughly into a third that use it recreationally like you would a cup of coffee as a replacement for a cup of coffee, because they find that it has better effects for them,” Haddow said.

“Another third use it in order to mitigate feelings of anxiety and depression successfully. And then, of course, in that third category where people are struggling with acute and chronic pain issues and don't want to use more addictive substances like opioids."

What is kratom?

Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree in Southeast Asia and has long been used by farmers there for an extra caffeine boost in the morning, much like coffee.

But unlike in the United States, where kratom-associated deaths and addiction have headlined mainstream media, there’s little indication in countries like Thailand and Malaysia that the same thing is happening.

As the University of Florida notes on its kratom resource page : “Kratom products in the U.S. are not fresh leaf material and therefore, not the exact same product that is found in Southeast Asia traditional use. This difference, which has not been fully investigated, comes from the fact that products available outside of the traditional use are usually dried or aged in ways that could possibly change the chemical composition of the leaf material.”

In the United States, it is usually sold in powder form in stores, gas stations and online, but you can also find liquid extract products sold as energy shots.

Trathen uses it to deal with the pain of chronic kidney stones, bone spurs and arthritis. She said she can't function on opioids or medical cannabis.

“It helps me stay focused at work because I wasn't always in pain," Trathen said. "When you have like a chronic pain disorder, it helps to have something that just kind of takes the edge off.”

Kratom’s regulation problem

Kratom is illegal in seven states, but not Florida. Last year, a new law restricted kratom sales to those 21 and older. But otherwise it’s largely unregulated, a veritable “Wild West,” said University of Florida researcher Chris McCurdy.

A second kratom consumer protection bill, supported by groups such as the American Kratom Association, died in subcommittee in March during the Florida legislative session.

The bill would have prohibited the production, sale or distribution of kratom products combined with other substances, including synthetic alkaloids that “strengthen it to a dangerous degree” or that state statutes list as poisonous or harmful.

It would have also banned any product labels claiming kratom is intended to treat, cure or prevent any medical condition or disease.

Groups including the federal Food and Drug Administration have historically warned against the use of kratom, but advocates such as Haddow disagree.

“The FDA narrative about kratom initially is wrong. It's not a dangerous product; it is safe as long as it's regulated appropriately. So, that's what we're pushing for,” Haddow said.

“We hope that in the state of Florida next year that we'll be able to negotiate with the Department of Agriculture to give them a good regulatory pathway that would allow for consumer access to safe products, but not an overregulated environment that would block products from getting into the hands of consumers.”

Part of the problem when it comes to regulation, research and consumption, UF's McCurdy said, is that “not all kratom is equal.”

“Trying to classify it as a one, single substance is really not appropriate at this time. That's like calling all alcoholic beverages just alcohol, where you can have a light beer that's very low in alcohol content versus Everclear that could be 190 proof.”

“You could easily see how you could go from a minimal exposure with leaf material to incredibly, significantly higher exposure with some of these concentrated extract products.”

Research at UF and beyond

The University of Florida in Gainesville has been at the forefront of kratom research for several years. McCurdy has been studying the herb for more than 15 years.

UF has received numerous grants over the years to study kratom, including a five-year $3.4 million National Institute on Drug Abuse award that ended this year.

“Although we've learned a tremendous amount about individual alkaloids within the plant, those chemicals and how they interact with systems in our body, we've not learned a tremendous amount about the product overall as a whole leaf product or even as an extract product,” McCurdy said.

In February, the university’s College of Pharmacy hosted the third International Kratom Symposium, which featured over 20 presentations by scientists from fields including botany, chemistry, pharmacology and public health.

McCurdy said much of the research on people so far has been conducted with single doses of kratom — or increasing doses over a short period of time.

The FDA also recently conducted a single ascending dose trial in which none of the individuals experienced severe adverse effects outside of nausea.

"It was tolerated in the majority of individuals all the way up to 12 grams in a single dose,” McCurdy said.

He said the next steps will involve studies studying multiple dosages, drug interactions and efficacy trials to explore claims that kratom helps with pain, mood elevation and more.

McCurdy said there's still much to learn about kratom, and at times it has been unfairly criticized by the media, law enforcement and federal organizations.

Data on kratom-associated deaths, he said, are not always clear cut — and politics sometimes plays a role.

"Coroners are still elected positions in our country; they're political positions. You don't have to be a physician to be a coroner. ... They don't consider the whole bigger picture of what other things may have been going on or what may have been happening," McCurdy said.

A study published in 2019 looked at more than 27,000 overdose deaths that occurred between July 2016 and December 2017. Fewer than 1% tested positive for kratom, and of those, most also tested positive for another substance such as fentanyl, heroin, benzodiazepines, prescription opioids or cocaine.

A study published this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that the majority of kratom users surveyed are “doing kratom in a very responsible way so that they're getting their benefit. They're not out there trying to get high or trying to abuse the substance,” McCurdy said.

"Certainly in some cases, there's been reports where kratom was the only thing in the individual system that led to a death,” McCurdy said. “Yet, you know, they may have not screened for very many other substances or even some substances may have been combined that isn't screened for at all because we're seeing so many new synthetic things, synthetic molecules show up in the illicit marketplace.”

The future of kratom

Currently, the FDA has a call out for a human abuse potential trial with the same doses that were used in that single ascending dosage trial to see if there's abuse potential with any of those doses.

Down the road, McCurdy said, there will be multiple ascending dose trials where researchers will start looking at multiple doses and escalating those doses in individuals until they reach an adverse event.

And then there will be “efficacy trials to understand, 'Is this actually working in a manner that everyone is claiming it works? Does it relieve pain? Does it elevate mood?' ”

McCurdy said the ultimate goal is to have an investigational new drug application approved by the FDA for purified mitragynine, the most abundant active alkaloid in the Mitragyna speciosa plant, in a “capsule formulated form” that would go into the NIDA Drug Supply Program so researchers can apply for grants to use that material for human clinical trials.

“We believe that process will probably be completed at the end of this calendar year early into 2025, where that material will be available for researchers with an FDA sort of ‘approval go-ahead green light’ to go into human trials,” McCurdy said.

While McCurdy said he’s absolutely an advocate for the positive benefits of kratom use, there’s much to be learned.

“We absolutely still need more research,” McCurdy said. “So, even though we've been able to move in monumental directions in the last five years, and we've learned a tremendous amount, that's led to more questions that we don't know answers to.”

  Meanwhile, kratom users like Trathen look forward to more research they hope backs up their experiences with the herb.

“Having some scientific knowledge about how it works and what it does and how to not use it dangerously would be really helpful,” she said.

  Until then, she said, she'll continue monitoring her kratom use with her doctor, who has her full support.

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Study dispels myth that purebred dogs are more prone to health problems

by Courtney Price, Texas A&M University

It's a common belief that purebred dogs are more prone to disease than mixed-breed dogs, but a new study led by researchers at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) has busted this myth.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers In Veterinary Science , has found that while certain dog breeds are prone to specific diseases, purebred and mixed-breed dogs are mostly equal when it comes to overall frequency of health condition diagnoses.

"There are several well-known diseases that frequently occur in specific dog breeds ," said Dr. Kate Creevy, chief veterinary officer of the Dog Aging Project and a professor in the VMBS Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. "This has helped perpetuate the misconception that all purebred dogs are more prone to disease, but that is not the case."

The study—which surveyed the owners of more than 27,000 companion dogs—also found that some of the most common diagnoses, like ear infections or osteoarthritis, occur in both purebreds and mixed-breed dogs.

Breaking down the data

According to the study, 25 breeds make up about 60% of the purebred dog population within the Dog Aging Project. In order of popularity, those breeds are:

• Labrador retriever
• Golden retriever
• German shepherd
• Australian shepherd
• Border collie
• Pembroke Welsh corgi
• Miniature schnauzer
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel
• Yorkshire terrier
• Boston terrier
• Siberian husky
• Shetland sheepdog
• English springer spaniel
• Australian cattle dog
• Doberman pinscher

Within these 25 breeds, a total of 53 unique medical conditions make up the top owner-reported medical conditions.

"The medical conditions reported by owners of purebred dogs varied considerably," Creevy said. "However, some conditions appeared frequently in the top 10 reported health conditions by breed."

Across the 25 most popular breeds, those 10 conditions were:

• Dental calculus (hardened plaque)
• Extracted teeth
• Giardia (a parasite)
• Osteoarthritis
• Seasonal allergies
• Ear infection
• Heart murmur
• Fractured teeth

For mixed-breed dogs, the most common reported conditions were highly similar, with cataracts and heart murmur being replaced by torn/broken toenail and chocolate toxicity.

Some conditions, like dental calculus and osteoarthritis, appeared with roughly the same frequency in both purebred and mixed-breed dogs. Other conditions were more common in one than the other; extracted teeth and dog bites were more common in purebreds, versus ear infections in mixed-breed dogs.

"Out of the 53 medical conditions that owners reported, 26 did not differ significantly between mixed-breed and purebred dogs," Creevy said.

Implications for dog owners

Ultimately, one of the most important findings from the study is that dog breed is only one aspect of pet health to consider when creating a pet's care plan or researching what kind of dog to adopt.

"People should consider many factors when choosing a dog, including environment, lifestyle, social interactions and physical activity that will be available to the dog," Creevy said. "Planning for both preventive veterinary care and medical care as the dog ages is also prudent. Dog owners should also talk with their primary care veterinarians about the kinds of medical problems to which their new dog might be particularly prone based on breed, size, sex, etc."

As the study also showed, some of the most common reasons owners take their dogs to the vet have little or nothing to do with breed.

"Dental disease, allergies and osteoarthritis are among the most common conditions for all dogs," Creevy said. "Owners should work with their primary care veterinarians on a plan to manage dental health. Regular exercise and maintaining lean body weight may help delay, prevent or lessen the impact of osteoarthritis."

Expanding dog health understanding

Though the study is already one of the largest cross-sectional studies of canine health, researchers at the Dog Aging Project are far from done examining its findings.

"We were surprised by the number of owners who reported that their dogs had experienced a bite from another dog," Creevy said. "More investigation is needed to determine what this means and what particular factors might put an individual dog at risk."

The DAP is a collaborative, community scientist-driven data-gathering research project that enrolls companion dogs from all backgrounds to study the effects of aging and gain a better understanding of what contributes to a long and healthy life for a dog.

The DAP continues to accept dogs of all breeds into the project. To date, more than 50,000 dogs have been enrolled. Many of their research projects have led to translational studies that inform not only dog health, but also human health.

Provided by Texas A&M University

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