Research

The Community Research Fellows Training Program (CRFT) is a comprehensive 17-week public health research training course through PECaD at Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center.

The Office of Innovation Summer Experience Program at WashU’s Bursky School of Public Health connects students with faculty and research mentors for two months of hands-on work addressing public health challenges, including food systems, health policy, global health and environmental health. St. Louis-area organizations and researchers can get involved by mentoring students or hosting research projects, creating opportunities to connect local expertise with emerging public health scholars and develop solutions to challenges affecting communities in the region and beyond.

The Health Communication Collaborative promotes population health and well-being by leading with listening to deeply understand what the public knows, believes and values about health. They are an interdisciplinary collaborative using health communication and design to engage the public and develop robust communities of practice to enrich the health information ecosystem. Projects include community listening projects such as iHeard and 211 Counts.

WashU Public Exchange connects university researchers with local governments, nonprofits, community organizations and other partners to develop practical, research-informed solutions to pressing community challenges. Anchored in St. Louis, the initiative supports collaborative projects addressing issues such as disaster recovery, economic mobility and nutrition, helping partners translate research into actionable tools, policies and programs that improve lives. The Public Exchange is an interdisciplinary initiative housed in the Brown School and launched in partnership with the existing USC model.

The Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research (CAHSPER) at WashU conducts research on health care access, quality, affordability, safety and outcomes to inform policies and interventions that improve health. The center connects researchers, policymakers, health care providers and community stakeholders to develop evidence-based solutions, influence health policy at the local, state and national levels, and train future leaders through mentorship, education and collaborative research.

The Center on Violence and Health brings together researchers, practitioners, and community partners to produce actional evidence on the causes and consequences of violence and the policies and programs that reduce it. Located in St. Louis — a city long characterized by disproportionately high rates of violence — we aim to build on existing collaborative efforts and cross-sector partnerships to generate actionable knowledge locally, nationally, and globally. Our work is grounded in community-engaged approaches that center the voices and expertise of those most affected.

The Office of Public Scholarship helps WashU faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers share their research and creative work with audiences beyond academia. Through consultations, workshops, funding opportunities, publishing support and media collaborations, the office helps scholars translate complex ideas for broader audiences, build public visibility and extend the reach and impact of their work. It also organizes free public events for the St. Louis community to enjoy on and off of campus.

The Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement connects WashU scholars and St. Louis community partners to advance community-engaged research, education and practice.

It centers community-identified needs and supports reciprocal, long-term partnerships through research development, community-engaged teaching and learning, partner capacity building, networking, funding resources and recognition of collaborative work. Its goal is to strengthen existing efforts, connect people across disciplines and help ensure university-community partnerships produce meaningful benefits for the region.

The Frick Initiatives invest in ambitious ideas and the people working to put them into practice. They support projects centered on four core pillars: civil discourse, free speech, free and open markets, and personal responsibility. They seek promising projects that move ideas beyond discussion and into practice, whether through education, applied research, public engagement, community partnerships or new approaches not yet imagined.

The Center for Community Health Partnership & Research (CCHPR) reduces disparities and improves health and wellness in the region as it fosters meaningful engagement between communities and researchers.