MEZCOPH partners with Colab, the leading civic engagement and digital health platform in Brazil

Today
Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Three people stand together indoors under warm hanging lights, smiling at the camera. The person on the left holds a purple and blue booklet. The background features a chalkboard-style mural with text and illustrations, giving the space a casual, creative atmosphere.

The new partnership between the Zuckerman College of Public Health and Colab, the leading civic engagement and crowdsourcing platform in Brazil, will provide exciting data analysis and digital public health research opportunities for both organizations to promote public health.

We are pleased to share that the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) has entered a Collaborative Research Agreement with Colab, Brazil’s leading civic engagement and crowdsourcing platform. Guided by the leadership of Onicio Leal-Neto, PhD, MSc, this new partnership will bring together MEZCOPH researchers and students with Colab professionals to explore how citizen data can inform public health research, policy, and practice.

Colab’s online platform empowers citizens across Brazil’s cities to share feedback on local services and report urban challenges, from waste management to infrastructure problems that affect health and quality of life. By capturing real-time, community-generated data, Colab helps local authorities develop responsive policies that address issues such as access to clean water, traffic safety, and environmental health hazards. Its approach strengthens accountability, encourages civic participation, and enables integrated solutions to the public health challenges that accompany rapid urbanization.

“Through this partnership, MEZCOPH researchers will have access to Colab’s rich dataset on public health services, enabling new analyses of citizen feedback and its implications for health outcomes and policy,” said Dr. Leal-Neto. “The collaboration goes beyond data analysis. The college will host short-term visits where Colab professionals come to Tucson to participate in workshops, training, and academic events, while MEZCOPH students will be able to gain hands-on experience at Colab’s headquarters in Brazil, learning firsthand about crowdsourcing and digital health.“

This collaboration reflects MEZCOPH’s commitment to global engagement and will provide unique opportunities for our students and faculty to contribute to innovative solutions in digital public health and citizen-driven policy.

Originally posted on publichealth.arizona.edu/news.