In an era of unprecedented data availability, the University of Texas Medical Branch has established a new hub to transform health care delivery and population health management.

UTMB launched the Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, a university-level initiative that will serve as a central hub for developing, supporting, and accelerating health and clinical outcomes research across the institution.

Led by Dr. Neil K. Mehta, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and associate dean for research for the School of Public and Population Health, the new center aims to become a nationally recognized leader in outcomes research by leveraging UTMB's exceptional data infrastructure and multidisciplinary expertise. As a university-wide center, it will create new opportunities for collaboration between clinical and research enterprises across UTMB.

"It's really important that the center help build bridges between our clinical and research enterprises," Mehta said. "In collaboration with our clinical colleagues from medicine, nursing, and the school of health professions, we will identify ongoing projects that leverage UTMB's clinical data and that require expertise in data analytics. The goal is to build long-term relationships around research programs that have the potential of having a high impact on science and practice."

Health care delivery and population health management are experiencing a revolution driven by advances in data science. The integration of robust analytics with clinical practice and public health initiatives has become essential for improving both individual patient outcomes and community health. The center will harness UTMB's data infrastructure—including TriNetX, EPIC Cosmos, Medicare files, SEER databases, and unique population cohorts—to provide a critical organizational framework for coordinating, accelerating, and translating outcomes research.

The center will enhance outcomes research at UTMB through several key activities:

1. Collaborative Research Projects: The center will partner with faculty from across UTMB on defined research initiatives that leverage the university's data ecosystem, providing expertise in study design, data analytics, and support for manuscript and proposal development.
2. Pilot Funding Programs: The center will administer an annual pilot grant competition open to the UTMB research community, with priority given to early career investigators and projects with high potential for external funding.
3. Works-in-Progress Seminars: The center will conduct monthly seminars to improve research quality and build interdisciplinary teams, continuing a successful program that typically attracts 15-20 faculty members each month.

“This center is more than a research engine—it’s a platform for collaboration between the academic and clinical arms of UTMB,” said Dr. M. Kristen Peek, Senior Vice President and Founding Dean of UTMB’s School of Public and Population Health. “With the Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, we’re creating new pathways for translating complex data into meaningful action that improves lives across our region and beyond.”