The HEALTH Research Institute leverages faculty expertise in a range of health-related research areas (i.e., alcohol, anxiety, cancers, depression, diabetes, gender difference, social determinants, suicide, tobacco, and illicit drugs, etc.). Our relationships with a number of at-risk and vulnerable populations (i.e., African Americans, individuals who are homeless, Latinos/as, LGBT communities, women, individuals with behavioral and mental health care needs, outpatients, Medicaid/Medicare patients, etc.); and our understanding of contributory mechanisms to health-related disparities to forge new opportunities for interdisciplinary research projects collaboration that have the potential to lead in the development of innovative solutions that address a nationally recognized crisis.