Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Our mission is to understand and intervene on the social determinants of health and health equity across the life-course.
677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building
Boston, MA 02115
News
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May 28, 2026
Student honors: Spring 2026
Graduation awards, President’s Innovation Challenge, Three Minute Thesis competition.
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Health Equity May 14, 2026
Mothers, infants in Mississippi at health risk due to lost data
Experts worry that data lost last year could worsen outcomes for mothers and babies in Mississippi.
In the Media
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Aging May 13, 2026
Can humans age healthier? Researchers see promising paths.
A variety of interventions, ranging from drug therapies to dietary alterations to behavioral changes, may help humans live healthier lives as they age, according to researchers at Harvard Chan School.
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Health Equity May 7, 2026
Yerby Fellows present new research on mental health, stress, and HIV
The Yerby Fellowship Program provides a bridge between academic training in public health-related fields and entry-level faculty positions.
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Mental Health April 30, 2026
PTSD linked with blood biomarkers; finding could aid diagnosis, care
Post-traumatic stress disorder has been linked with a set of biological markers in the blood—a finding that could help clinicians diagnose and manage the condition.
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Food, Nutrition, Diet April 23, 2026
New York State considers bills targeting added sugar, sodium, junk food marketing
Former New York health commissioner Mary Bassett recently discussed three bills under consideration by state lawmakers.
In the Media
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Preventative Care April 14, 2026
Optimism may lower dementia risk
The more optimistic a person is, the lower their risk of developing dementia, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.
In the Media
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Social & Behavioral Health April 2, 2026
U.S. smoking rate hits an all-time low—but there’s still work to do
The adult cigarette smoking rate in the U.S. is down to 9.9%. Is this a major public health victory? And does it matter that for the first time, due to funding cuts, this statistic didn’t come from the federal government? Harvard Chan Schools Vaughan Rees weights in.
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Health Data Science March 31, 2026
Using advanced statistics and AI to improve health
Matlin Gilman, PhD ’26, studies the real-world health effects of policy decisions and builds artificial intelligence tools to advance health care.
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Child & Maternal Health March 12, 2026
Poor birth outcomes increase with poverty
Inequities in birth outcomes are staying consistent—if not widening—between economic groups, according to a new Harvard Chan School study.
Unleash your potential at Harvard Chan School.
In addition to our degree programs, we offer highly targeted programs through our Advanced Learning Academy, directed and taught by Harvard faculty.