At the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, our mission is to advance health through nutrition science that makes a difference in people’s lives. This May, that mission took the national stage in Seattle, where Deborah F. Tate, PhD, Professor of Nutrition and Interim Director of the NRI, delivered a plenary talk at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR).
Her session, Leveraging Data and Technology in the Next Generation of Digital Tailored Health Interventions, offered a frank look at both the promise and complexity of designing interventions that truly meet people where they are. Rather than accepting generic, one-size-fits-all approaches, Tate pushed for tailoring that responds to individual needs, using everything from smartphone sensors to adaptive messaging algorithms.
For Tate, the move toward dynamic, data-informed interventions isn’t theoretical. She’s spent decades testing interventions that go beyond static, one-time assessments. Instead, she spoke about moving toward dynamic models that learn from ongoing user data. Self-reported logs and daily weighing remain valuable tools, but sensors and apps can now gather passive data—location, activity, even social context—to help deliver timely nudges.
Yet she was realistic about the challenges, stating, “Even the best passive data won’t solve the problem of disengagement if interventions demand too much from participants or feel impersonal.” She pointed to the need for thoughtful design that minimizes burden while maximizing personal relevance, emphasizing that technology should serve people, not the other way around.
Even the best passive data won’t solve the problem of disengagement if interventions demand too much from participants or feel impersonal.
Tate also highlighted next-generation strategies such as Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs). These systems don’t just tailor content but adapt timing and frequency based on real-time behavior and context. Her recent work uses innovative experimental designs, including micro-randomized and factorial trials, to test different ways of delivering support that strengthens self-regulation and motivation.
Far from being a sales pitch for technology, her talk struck a practical, even ethical note. She cautioned that while advanced tools like generative AI hold real promise for scaling personalized care, they must be deployed thoughtfully, with attention to privacy, equity, and the need for a human touch. “Precision in prevention,” Tate emphasized, “is about using data and technology thoughtfully to improve outcomes for more people, with approaches that can adapt to different needs.”
“Precision in prevention,” Tate emphasized, “is about using data and technology thoughtfully to improve outcomes for more people, with approaches that can adapt to different needs.”
Tate’s presence at SPR 2025 reflected the NRI’s broader commitment to bringing scientific rigor to public health challenges. As she put it to the audience, “The goal is to deliver practical, evidence-informed solutions that help people make sustainable and meaningful changes for better health.”
For the NRI, that mission continues as data and technology evolve. By staying grounded in science and focused on real-world impact, we aim to keep translating knowledge into better outcomes for every individual.