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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 Prevention. The 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 community health challenges — with an emphasis on advancing research in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use and preventing cancer. 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 executed by this national center. These efforts facilitate the HEALTH–RCMI's vision and goals to serve as a national hub for addressing 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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Provide leadership, coordination, and implementation of all administrative and operational processes for managing, supporting, and ensuring timely progress and documentation of HEALTH–RCMI activities.​
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Enhance institutional infrastructure and environment to accelerate bold research in addictions and cancer prevention.​
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Accelerate discovery and increase the scientific productivity of early-stage investigators 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.​
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Deliver career enhancement activities and research opportunities for early-stage investigators postdoctoral fellows and assistant professors.
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Bettina Beech
Principal Investigator
CORE STAFF
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Ashika Brinkley, PhD, MPH
Health Initiative
Research Director
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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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Alison Medley
Communications Manager
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Arlette Chavez
Program Manager
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Natalie Shipula
Sr. Graphics Designer