Research

At the University of Michigan School of Nursing, we transform lives and advance health for all through research and innovations that advocate for change, impact policy and produce leaders who work to elevate the impact of nursing globally.

Our research is rooted in the belief that science should serve people. Every study, pilot project and partnership reflects our commitment to a healthier world that advances health for all.

• Mission: To advance nursing and health science through innovation, flexibility, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Vision: To lead nationally and globally in team-based science that improves health for all and health equity.

Areas of EXPERTISE

We pursue questions that matter — to patients, to providers and to populations. Our work addresses urgent challenges and drives solutions that improve health care delivery and outcomes.

• Nutrition, Diet, and Chronic Disease Management: How dietary habits, nutritional interventions, and physical activity and lifestyle changes influence the prevention and management of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

• Virtual Reality, Technology, and Digital Health: Examining the use of emerging technologies—such as VR, mobile apps, and telehealth—to enhance health care delivery, patient engagement, and treatment outcomes.

• Cancer Survivorship, Oncology, and Supportive Care: Researching cancer treatment, post-treatment survivorship, and strategies to improve quality of life and supportive services for cancer patients.

• Maternal, Reproductive, and Adolescent Health: Addressing health issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health, and the physical and mental well-being of adolescents.

• Health Disparities, Equity, and Global Health: Exploring differences in health outcomes across populations, aiming to promote equitable health care access and address social determinants of health worldwide.

• Substance Use and Behavioral Health: Investigating patterns, prevention, and treatment of substance use disorders, along with broader behavioral and psychological health issues.

• Mental Health, Stress, and Suicide Prevention: Understanding, preventing, and treating mental health disorders, stress-related conditions, and suicidal behaviors.

• Aging, Dementia, and Caregiving: Studying the cognitive and physical challenges of aging, with emphasis on dementia, elder care, and support for caregivers.

• Nursing Education and Workforce Development: Improving nursing education practices, developing health care workforce capacity, and ensuring a well-prepared nursing workforce.

•  Public Health, Emergency Preparedness, and Systems Science: Population health research, planning for health emergencies, and using systems-based approaches to improve health systems and policy.

• Data Science, AI/ML, and Statistical Modeling: Applying data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistical techniques to health care research and decision-making.

Research in Action

Our research doesn’t sit on a shelf — it leads to real-world change. From federal grants to national recognition, UMSN researchers are shaping policy, practice and innovation in health.

• $2.235 million FDA award to study stimulant and opioid use
• $2 million grant supports care innovation in underserved communities
• U-M School of Nursing ranks in the top 10 nationally in 2025 U.S. News & World Report for graduate nursing education

Centers & Initiatives

Our centers are incubators of innovation where interdisciplinary teams work together to explore complex challenges, test interventions and scale solutions.