Newly Funded Projects
Title: Dairy Consumption Patterns and Perceptions (DCP2): A Regional Study Across the Levant, Gulf, and North African Countries.
Funded by: University of Balamand – Intra-Mural Research Grant (2026–2028)
Brief description of the project:
Milk remains one of the most widely consumed foods globally and plays a critical role in human nutrition; however, consumption patterns are rapidly evolving due to economic pressures, cultural shifts, health perceptions, and the growing availability of dairy alternatives. Despite the importance of dairy products in Middle Eastern and North African diets, comprehensive regional data on milk consumption behaviors remain scarce.
This funded research project aims to address this gap by examining dairy consumption patterns and perceptions across countries in the Levant, Gulf, and North Africa. Using a structured, cross-sectional survey distributed to adult populations across the region, the study investigates what, where, when, why, and how dairy products are consumed, as well as emerging trends toward plant-based alternatives. Particular attention is given to demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural determinants shaping consumer choices.
The significance of this research lies in its direct implications for public health, food security, and the sustainability of the regional dairy sector. By generating comparative, region-specific evidence, the project will support policymakers, nutrition professionals, and industry stakeholders in developing informed dietary guidelines and sustainable dairy strategies.
The project is led by
Dr. Mireille Serhan, Professor of Food Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Balamand, in collaboration with
Dr.Hussein Hassan,
Professor of Food Science and Technology at the Lebanese American University, whose expertise in food safety and consumer research strengthens the multidisciplinary and regional scope of the study.
Title: Students’ perception of academic advising: A mixed method study.
Funded by: UOB Internal Grant
Brief description of the project:
This study examines nursing and allied health students’ perspectives and challenges in accessing academic advising. The quantitative design measures students’ overall perspective of their advisors’ primary academic, social, and personal role, using a validated questionnaire (Aljohani et al., 2023). The qualitative design will provide a deep and broad understanding of the topic using 15 individual interviews and 5 focus groups. The results will provide evidence about students’ perception of academic advising highlighting the challenges they perceive and the way their viewpoints vary according to their different backgrounds.
Co-investigators: Diana Skaff, Christine Azar, Hiba Chakhtoura, Rabab Hourany, and Mirna Fawaz.
Title: Advancing Air Quality Awareness and Action in Lebanon – AWAIR Project
Funded by: EPIC Air Quality Fund – University of Chicago
Brief description of the project:
The AWAIR project, led by Dr. Myriam Mrad, has been selected by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago ’s (EPIC) Clean Air Program as one of the 12 new grantees of the EPIC Air Quality Fund, making it the only Lebanese university chosen from a pool of 322 submissions from 74 countries.
The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago’s Clean Air Program launched the EPIC Air Quality Fund in the summer of 2023 to support organizations in installing air quality monitors and providing open data access. The AWAIR project at UOB will focus on deploying 80 low-cost air quality monitors in key locations across Lebanon, including schools, hospitals, healthcare centers, and social spaces. Additionally, it will set a reference-grade monitor to provide real-time, open-access data, helping forecast trends, inform stakeholders, and guide policymakers in implementing effective air quality standards. The project is funded over the period of 18 months aiming to enhance air quality infrastructure and share the data collected openly with scientists, decision-makers, and the general public to promote national-level impact in the fight against air pollution in Lebanon.
Co-investigators: Dr Myriam Mrad (UOB) – Dr Georges Abi Tayeh (Health and Environment Response Agency HERA)
Title: Environmental Exposures in Lebanese Infants - EELI Study
Funded by: NIH Pilot Fund
Brief description of the project:
The EELI Study team, led by Dr. Myriam Mrad, has been awarded $36,000 through the Mount Sinai HEALS P30 Center Pilot Program to support a new NIH pilot project in collaboration with Mount Sinai. This funding will help advance the Environmental Exposures in Lebanese Infants (EELI) Study by strengthening international research partnerships and supporting innovative work on early-life environmental exposures and maternal and child health in Lebanon.
Co-investigators: Dr Myriam Mrad (UOB) – Dr Georges Abi Tayeh (Health and Environment Response Agency HERA)