Benjamin Brazil
From advancing healthcare with artificial intelligence to uncovering the lifelong benefits of childhood kindness, Chapman researchers are breaking new ground across disciplines. Their work spans urgent global challenges and practical innovations, reflecting the university’s growing role as a hub of discovery where bold ideas translate into real-world impact.
Here are a few examples of how our faculty are pushing research forward in ways that improve health, strengthen communities and shape the future of higher education.
Uncovering How Early Life Experiences Shape Adulthood
Chapman Professor Laura Glynn has spent her career exploring how pregnancy and early life experiences shape health and development. She investigates some of the biggest questions in maternal and child health, from the causes of premature birth to the role of hormones in postpartum depression and how early environments leave lasting marks on children.
In her latest study, Glynn co-authored the Spanish-language version of the Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC-SP), a tool that measures how stable, or unstable, a child’s home life was. The research revealed that unpredictability in childhood is linked not only to mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, but also to physical health challenges later in life.
By expanding this tool to Spanish-speaking communities, Glynn and her colleagues are making research more inclusive while deepening our understanding of how early experiences shape lifelong well-being.
Chapman University Plays Key Role in Initiative That Empowers Emerging Research Institutions to Harness AI
Chapman University, the Leatherby Libraries and IS&T are leading a new National Science Foundation–funded initiative to help Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) like Chapman responsibly adopt generative AI. The project, “Advancing AI Governance and Implementation at Emerging Research Institutions,” will explore how smaller universities with limited resources can build the infrastructure, staffing and oversight needed to leverage AI for scientific discovery while ensuring ethical use.
AI-Powered App Enables Anemia Screening Using Fingernail Selfies
A new study co-authored by Chapman University professor and Fowler School of Engineering founding dean Andrew Lyon highlights a breakthrough in noninvasive health technology: a smartphone app that uses AI and a photo of a user’s fingernail to detect anemia. Published in “PNAS,” the study shows the app delivers hemoglobin estimates comparable to traditional lab tests, with over 1.4 million screenings conducted by 200,000 users. The tool offers a scalable, low-cost option for earlier detection and broader access, especially in underserved communities.
For patients who require frequent monitoring, such as those with kidney disease or cancer, personalized app use improved accuracy by nearly 50%, making at-home management easier and safer. While not a replacement for clinical diagnosis, the app empowers users to track hemoglobin levels, understand when to seek medical care, and reduce the need for constant lab visits. Lyon says the project, eight years in the making, reflects a commitment to patient-centered innovation and greater healthcare accessibility.
