health & wellness
Advancing research, education, and innovation to promote healthier lives and stronger communities
Creating Connections Across Disciplines
Leveraging UT talent and resources to create integrated approaches that position the university at the forefront of health innovation.
Partnering for Impact
Working with industry, nonprofit, and government partners to deliver healthcare innovations.
Serving all Tennesseans
Ensuring that the health solutions of tomorrow serve all Tennesseans .
Research Areas
BIOMEDICAL TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES
UT is reimagining the future of health: biomaterials that heal, orthopedics that restore mobility, imaging and diagnostic platforms that detect disease earlier, surgical innovations that transform care, and radiopharmaceutical therapies that bring new hope to patients. Data-driven insights fuel advances in precision health and medicine, enabling predictive modeling, early disease detection, targeted therapies, and evidence-based interventions that enhance patient outcomes.
Learn about Biomedical Innovation Research at UT
Learn about Computational Health and Medicine Research at UT
CANCER AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES
UT brings together strengths in computational health, population science, and community engagement to tackle cancer and other chronic diseases—challenges that disproportionately affect Tennesseans. By teaming with healthcare and industry partners, UT is advancing innovative, translational research that leads to improved outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across the state.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
UT is developing new technologies and approaches to detect, model, and evaluate the complex interactions between humans, the environment, and infectious disease. Building on interdisciplinary expertise in epidemiology, data science, public health, and environmental systems, we are advancing solutions that not only safeguard the health of Tennesseans but also contribute to global efforts in infectious disease preparedness and response.
PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND LIFESTYLES
UT faculty are advancing research that strengthens individual and community health by addressing the myriad of social, environmental, and biological factors that promote wellness. Our population health approaches, carried out in collaboration with partners across Tennessee and around the world, advance the translation of fundamental discoveries into sustainable solutions that promote healthier lives and more resilient communities.
Learn about Behavioral, Social, and Mental Health Research at UT
World-Class Faculty
Faculty advancing health and wellness innovation at UT span all colleges and more than 30 academic departments and centers of excellence. Together, they are tackling complex challenges across health and medicine. Trusted partnerships with industry, healthcare, and community organizations not only amplify impact but also help prepare and position UT students as the next generation of leaders, innovators, and care providers.
Explore
UT Research
Discover the people, projects and ideas driving research and innovation across the University of Tennessee.
Health and Wellness News
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UT’s Peninsula Innovation District Earns National Recognition
UT’s Peninsula Innovation District has received the 2026 Emerging Community of Innovation award from the Association of University Research Parks. The award honors research parks and innovation districts that have been operational for less than 10 years and are building sustainable ecosystems that move technology from early-stage ideas toward market-ready solutions.
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Leading Researchers Join UT To Expand Impact and Innovation
UT is raising the bar in research excellence with the addition of eight exceptional researchers. Three of these researchers are advancing Americans’ well-being as they advance radiopharmaceutical therapies, apply precision health for aging populations, and optimize digital health technologies. Together, these preeminent hires showcase UT’s commitment to attracting top-tier faculty who tackle society’s pressing challenges.
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UT Names Governor’s Chair for Nuclear Medicine
Carolyn Anderson, an internationally recognized radiopharmaceutical researcher, has been named the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Nuclear Medicine: Radiopharmaceutical Therapies. In this role, Anderson will research the potential of ORNL-produced radioisotopes for cancer treatment and translate new knowledge and discoveries into solutions. She brings expertise in targeted alpha-emitting radioisotopes, which can precisely kill cancer cells.
