Health and Behavior
Center leader: Anne Kazak, PhD, and Joel Fein, MD, MPH
Advances in neurosciences and the behavioral and social sciences have created new opportunities toward devising effective treatments and preventative approaches to reduce morbidity and enhance well-being. However, behavioral research faces unique challenges surrounding the essential components of research, and researchers cannot always easily find clear answers for their questions.
The Health and Behavior Research Affinity Group (RAG) serves as a forum for multidisciplinary research investigators to collaborate and gain a better understanding of the direct and indirect effects of behavior health on children. Behavioral outcomes, such as quality of life, functional impairments, and cognitive difficulties can be effective targets for intervention.
The goals of the Health and Behavior RAG are to strengthen the community of researchers in health and behavior research, enhance multidisciplinary and translational activities and initiatives, and provide leadership and support to the Children's Hospital community for research questions and activities related to behavior and child health.
Through a monthly seminar series and a yearly retreat, the Health and Behavior RAG brings together nationally-prominent investigators from highly-specialized disciplines to provide opportunities for mentoring and development, facilitate research accomplishments, and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of pediatric care for children and their families.