In an era of unprecedented data availability, UTMB establishes a new hub to transform healthcare delivery and population health management.
UTMB has launched the Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research (H-COR), 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 Neil K. Mehta, PhD, from the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public and Population Health, H-COR 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, H-COR 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," said Dr. Mehta. "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."
“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 the School of Public and Population Health. “With H-COR, we’re creating new pathways for translating complex data into meaningful action that improves lives across our region and beyond.”
Transforming Healthcare Through Data Science
Healthcare 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. H-COR 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.
H-COR's vision is to become a leading center for health and clinical outcomes through rigorous research and training, leveraging UTMB's exceptional data infrastructure and diverse expertise.
Key Research Activities
The center will enhance outcomes research at UTMB through several key activities:
- Collaborative Research Projects: H-COR 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.
- 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.
- Works-in-Progress Seminars: H-COR 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.
Training the Next Generation
Dr. Mehta emphasized that supporting emerging researchers is central to H-COR's mission: "Supporting the next generation of outcomes researchers is one of H-COR's core priorities. We are intentionally embedding mentorship and training opportunities into every stage of our work—from pilot funding competitions to works-in-progress seminars."
Students, trainees, and early career faculty will have opportunities to propose projects, present their work in collaborative settings, and receive analytic and design support from senior researchers.
"This is about building a sustainable pipeline of talent that can lead UTMB and SPPH into the next era of public health and healthcare innovation," Dr. Mehta added.
Strategic Partnerships
To advance its mission, H-COR will offer the support of a dedicated team of data analysts and will engage in close collaboration with key institutional partners. The center will maintain a collaborative relationship with the Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), combining H-COR's expertise in outcomes research and data analytics with ITS's robust infrastructure for translational research and clinical trials.
Additionally, H-COR will form a strong bidirectional partnership with the Office of Biostatistics (OBIOS) to address complex data analysis needs, with H-COR contributing methodological expertise while OBIOS offers statistical consulting and data management support.
About the Director
Neil K. Mehta, PhD, who also serves as associate dean for research for SPPH, brings extensive expertise to his role as H-COR director. His research intersects demography, sociology, and epidemiology with a focus on the health and wellbeing of older adults. Dr. Mehta has contributed significantly to understanding U.S. life expectancy trends, the effects of obesity on older-aged disability and mortality, socioeconomic status disparities in mortality, and health patterns among immigrants to the United States and Europe.
Dr. Mehta directs the NIA-funded TRENDS network on old-aged dementia and disability sponsored by the University of Michigan with funding from the National Institute on Aging. He previously served as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholar at the University of Michigan and has held faculty positions at Emory University and the University of Michigan.
Getting Involved
Faculty from all schools are invited to engage with H-COR through collaborative research opportunities, training programs, and upcoming events. For additional details on how to connect and participate, contact Dr. Mehta directly.
The Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research represents a strategic investment in UTMB's future as a leader in data-driven healthcare improvement and population health management.