Asia is quickly becoming Carolina’s largest area of growth in terms of global research partnerships and educational programs. Students are traveling to and studying in Asia in unprecedented numbers, and there has been a dramatic rise in student interest and demand for Asia-related courses. To meet demand, UNC is recruiting new faculty with Asian expertise and planning a graduate program in Asian studies.

Global health is one of UNC’s existing strengths in Asia, particularly China. Infectious disease faculty, for example, have been working in China since the country opened to the West. Health and migration, heart disease, nutrition, obesity, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections are all areas of focus for UNC health affairs faculty and their Chinese partners.

With China as one of its target regions, IGHID is actively cultivating new interdisciplinary partnerships on campus, bringing together medicine, dentistry, economics, and business in a variety of China-focused initiatives.