Master of Public Health (Research)

UNSW places a strong emphasis on public health and epidemiology, from harm reduction and disease prevention to vaccine efficacy and therapeutics. Research spans integrated services delivery for children and families, from the effects of nutrition on metabolic health to the prevention of infectious disease among people with disabilities, drug users, sex workers and other vulnerable populations.

UNSW researchers have developed wearable technologies to prevent falls in older adults, lead the National Hypertension Taskforce established by the Minister of Health & Aged Care, made medical history with Australia's first successful childbirth from a transplanted uterus, and partnered in the nation's largest childhood cancer initiative, Zero Childhood Cancer — a groundbreaking trial that guarantees personalised care to every child with high-risk cancer and has already shown significant improvement in progression-free survival.

UNSW's cancer research aims to improve outcomes for people at each stage of the cancer journey – from prevention through to treatment, survivorship support and palliative care. Their multidisciplinary approach involves collaboration between a team of experts: nanotechnologists create synthetic biologic materials, while biologists map 3D genome architecture, and clinicians translate these scientific discoveries into diagnostics and tailored therapeutics which bypass mechanisms of resistance and lead to better patient outcomes.

UNSW is accelerating personalised medicine from the microbiome to the metagenome. Research into synthetic biology and multiomic data analysis is used to create precision diagnostics and treatments. UNSW develops nanoscale sensing and imaging tools to measure cellular function and applies AI-powered data science to drive the next-generation of genomic sequencing and transcriptomics, leading to huge advances in targeted drug delivery, tissue repair, and regenerative medicines such as CRISPR-cas gene therapy and stem cell treatment.

UNSW is evolving the science of how the brain works using advanced imaging and functional genomic studies in human brain tissue and neuronal cell culture systems. The research explores a range of interventions – from virtual reality environments to cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnosis, mindfulness and pharmacology. Areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, child and youth mental health, and suicide prevention.