Health and wellbeing

Schistosomiasis infects millions of people each year. Researchers at Stanford and in Senegal are working to reduce disease transmission in rice paddies, make food systems more productive and sustainable, and boost local economies – with the help of fish.

The 2026 Stanford Global and Planetary Health Research Convening brought scholars together to discuss solutions and strategies to address health challenges and build resilience.

An ambitious initiative is tackling the pervasive issue of lead contamination, which exerts a heavy toll on global health. Researchers aim to identify major sources of lead exposure and develop affordable detection methods in communities worldwide.

Gas and propane stoves emit substantial amounts of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to higher risks of asthma, heart and lung disease, and other conditions. A Stanford-led study finds switching from a gas to electric stove would cut nitrogen dioxide exposure across the U.S. by over one half, reducing the risk of asthma.

Using wearable device data from 53 U.S. cities, Stanford University researchers show that access to nature is linked to increased physical activity in urban communities.

Stanford engineers quantified what level of indoor greenery benefits well-being – and what level might overwhelm.

Stanford researchers are uncovering the journey of microplastics in our environment and their effects on human health, while developing practical solutions to mitigate their impact.

Climate change has already contributed substantially to the global burden of dengue fever, a new study finds. Over 260 million people live in places where dengue incidence is expected to more than double due to climate change by mid-century. The findings could help with public health planning and developing ways to mitigate such risks.

Adolescents living in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh face dramatically higher rates of anxiety and depression than their peers in lower-risk regions, according to a Stanford-led study that highlights a hidden cost of climate change with potentially devastating long-term consequences.

A new study clarifies the importance of nature for mental health in urban settings and provides low-cost recommendations for improving public health in cities.

Erin Mordecai, a senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, studies mosquitos to understand how climate change is affecting the spread of infectious diseases and uses mathematical modeling to predict future outbreaks.

Two Stanford assistant professors will lead interdisciplinary projects on environment and health with seed funding from the Center for Human and Planetary Health’s Early-Career Research Awards.

Stanford research shows that large, efficient scavengers are disappearing globally, allowing carrion to persist longer and creating opportunities for disease-carrying species like rodents to proliferate.

An epidemiologist is on a mission to reduce pollution where past efforts have failed—and end an environmental health nightmare.

Stanford students are helping rural energy non-governmental organizations put health at the center of energy decisions.

Scientists estimate that reducing harmful chemical emissions could cut cancer risks from smoke exposure by over 50%.

Dozens of faculty members at Stanford are working to transform the way the world grows, distributes, and consumes food, with research and scholarship spanning topics including sustainable food systems, food security, health equity, culture, and diet.

A collaboration between Stanford researchers and Indonesian organizations aims to capitalize on aquatic food sources to improve nutrition, food security, and livelihoods.

Tiny fragments of plastic that fail to break down have pervaded our water, food, ecosystems, and the human body. Experts explain impacts on our long-term health and what can be done to address the problem on a broader scale.