Indiana University Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing

Innovative solutions emerge when diverse perspectives converge. At the IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing, we foster interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from health sciences, psychology, social work, and beyond to address complex challenges. By integrating research, education, and community engagement, we create transformative approaches that improve health outcomes and promote holistic wellbeing for individuals and communities.

The Institute serves as a bridge between academia, industry, and the community, fostering partnerships that drive innovation and improve human health and wellbeing. It is a hub for cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration, offering:

• Access to expertise: Work with world-class researchers across diverse fields, including mental health, addiction science, disease prevention, and health equity.
• Collaborative research opportunities: Engage in joint projects that leverage academic rigor and industry insight to address real-world health challenges.
• State-of-the-art facilities: Utilize advanced research infrastructure to accelerate discovery and application.
• Translational impact: Bridge the gab between research and practice with our focus on evidence-based, scalable solutions.

The IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing will address health disparities in Indiana by strategically investing resources into three broad areas of research. These areas–listed below–reflect an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and leverage emerging expertise in informatics and artificial intelligence/machine learning on the IU Indianapolis campus. Examples of the types of research associated with each area are provided.

1. Addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery
2. Psychological, social, and environmental determinants of health
3. Human performance and health
4. Health Economics

Interdisciplinary research at the intersections of these broad areas will emphasize approaches that integrate biological, social, economic, and environmental factors to address complex human health challenges. These approaches may leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and informatics, among others, to recognize and analyze the interconnected elements influencing human health and wellbeing. Innovative inquiry at the intersections of these areas will explore how social and environmental stressors, such as natural disasters or economic instability, impact the overall health and wellbeing of an individual, driving the development of sustainable strategies to improve human health outcomes and enhance resilience in vulnerable populations.

Examples of research that might fall within the above broad areas of interdisciplinary focus include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• AI-driven platforms for delivery of personalized interventions for physical health, mental health, and addiction recovery
• Machine learning models integrating large health (physical and mental), environmental/social, and physical activity data sets to identify comprehensive risk factors for chronic health conditions such as depression, cardiovascular disease, and obesity
• AI systems forecasting of compounded effects of climate variability on vulnerable populations, enabling early interventions for physical and mental health challenges
• Impact of income, education, employment, and/or health insurance in physical and mental healthcare utilization and outcomes
• The role of social determinants (e.g., housing, employment) in mental and physical health, addiction, and physical performance
• Impacts of environmental stressors (e.g., climate variability) on mental and physical health, addiction, and human performance
• Translational animal models of social and environmental determinants of health (e.g., stress, social dynamics, environmental exposures) that uncover behavioral and physiological mechanisms and inform health interventions and policies
• Digital health platforms to improve physical and mental health and addiction outcomes
• Relationships between built and natural environments and outcomes in mental and physical health, addiction, human performance
• Social factors influencing physical activity, as well as physical and mental health and addiction
• Physical activity as a therapeutic approach for improving mental health and supporting addiction recovery

Gabe Filippelli, PhD (IU Indianapolis School of Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Science)
Melissa Cyders, PhD (IU Indianapolis School of Science, Department of Psychology)
Jesse Stewart, PhD (IU Indianapolis School of Science, Department of Psychology)
Sumedha Gupta, PhD (IU Indianapolis School of Liberal Arts, Department of Economics)
Dan Johnson, PhD (IU Indianapolis School of Liberal Arts, Department of Geography)
Drew Kesner, PhD (IU Indianapolis School of Science, Department of Psychology)

For Scientists: Access interdisciplinary research teams and state-of-art-facilities; Co-develop studies and secure joint funding for impactful health projects; Translate academic discoveries into real-world applications with measurable outcomes.

For Industry Partners: Collaborate on product development, testing, and commercialization; Leverage IU’s research infrastructure to accelerate innovation; Engage in workforce/scientific training to build expertise in emerging health technologies.

For Community Stakeholders: Partner on community health programs and co-design solutions that meet local needs; Utilize evidence-based strategies to drive public health improvements; Access workshops and educational resources to build capacity in health initiatives.

Let’s partner to advance health and wellbeing in Indiana!