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ADMINISTRATIVE CORE

ABOUT THE CORE

The Administrative Core (AC) provides the organizational infrastructure for the HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer PreventionThe HEALTH–RCMI at the University of Houston (UH) designs, executes, and disseminates community-engaged research that informs novel prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention strategies that mitigate a broad range of health disparities — with an emphasis on advancing research in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use and preventing cancer in underserved communities. Through a purposeful and streamlined organizational structure, the AC provides the necessary communications, coordination of activities, and evaluation components to integrate stakeholders, policymakers, and community members into the science being execute by this national center. These efforts facilitate the HEALTH–RCMI's vision and goals to serve as a national hub for eliminating health disparities in ATOD use and cancer prevention. 

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The AC intentionally aligns with the primary purpose of the HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention to complete four specific aims:​

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  1. Provide leadership, coordination, and implementation of all administrative and operational processes for managing, supporting, and ensuring timely progress and documentation of HEALTH–RCMI activities.​

  2. Enhance institutional infrastructure and environment to accelerate bold health-equity research in addictions and cancer prevention.​

  3. Accelerate discovery and increase the scientific productivity of scientists underrepresented in the health sciences through increased extramural funding, high-impact peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, professional presentations, and effective dissemination and implementation activities in the community.​

  4. Deliver career enhancement activities and research opportunities for underrepresented minoritized (URM) postdoctoral fellows and assistant professors.
     

CORE STAFF

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Tzuan A. Chen, PhD

Senior Biostatistician and 

Program Evaluator

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Safiya Friday

Program Director

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Arlette Chavez

Program Manager

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Natalie Shipula

Sr. Graphics Designer

Ashika Brinkley

Ashika Brinkley, PhD, MPH

Health Initiative
Research Director

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