UNF researchers getting $39,000 from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of North Florida (UNF) is getting a sizeable donation, courtesy of Bill and Melinda Gates.

The gift will help improve the health of our neighbors who may not have access to care.

Dr. Cynthia Williams is a researcher at UNF who’s part of a team getting a $39,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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“How big of a deal are these grants?” Action News Jax reporter Jessica Barreto asked.

“These grants really provide a tremendous opportunity for researchers across the globe such as myself,” Dr. Williams said.

Researchers have this public COVID-19 database as a jumping off point, to figure out how to bridge the gap between health care and health care access.

They will look at how different factors, like gender and minority status, can create barriers when it comes to using telehealth services.

“Looking at education, different types of technology and different types of health behaviors and decision making of an individual,” Dr. Williams explained.

These telehealth, or remote health resources, can supplement face-to-face care with important lifestyle tips.

“Really provides an opportunity for you to receive health information that’s very specific to your needs,” Dr. Williams emphasized. “That’s very targeted.”

Williams knows how important it is to be culturally sensitive, even with her own relatives.

“There are clearly cultural differences, you know, such as diet,” she pointed out.

“It is very difficult to get them to change their eating habits and sometimes it takes a health scare or a tragic event for them to go, I do need to change that. So, it’s a labor of love.”

But Williams says this money will help create partnerships with community organizations, and better the lives of those most at risk.

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“I really look forward to what this research can do on the individual and community levels, so it’s very exciting,” Dr. Williams added.

This research will be featured across different webinars and conferences here locally, as well as globally, later this year.

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