Our research labs are built around a group of established principal investigators with junior faculty, staff, and trainees.
We currently have five distinct research labs (and growing!) focused on health services, policy, and economics research across WashU Medicine, the School of Public Health, and the Brown School.
Health Outcomes, Policy and Equity (HOPE) Lab
The Health Outcomes, Policy, and Equity (HOPE) Lab works at the intersection of policy and equity, using quantitative and qualitative methods to tackle questions about health care access, quality, outcomes, and structures across a range of clinical conditions. The lab is led by center Co-Director Karen Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH. The lab also includes center core faculty members:
Medicare Innovation Research Lab (Medicare IRL)
The Medicare Innovation Research Lab’s mission is to conduct health services research to improve health care access, quality, outcomes, affordability, and equity for Medicare patients, especially patients who are the most marginalized or vulnerable. The lab is led by Kenton J. Johnston, PhD, MPH. The lab also includes center core faculty member Alexander O. Everhart, PhD.
Medicaid Policy Analysis Lab
The Medicaid Policy Analysis Lab addresses pragmatic research questions that provide Medicaid stakeholders with timely analyses framed to inform the development of new strategies, including evaluation of existing and new payment and coverage policies across Medicaid programs. The lab is led by Abigail R. Barker, PhD.
Rural Health Policy Lab
The Rural Health Policy Lab conducts research on health services and public health in rural areas in the U.S. in partnership with the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis based at the University of Iowa. The lab explores how government policies affect access and affordability of health care and delivery systems, and produces analyses that are useful for federal and state policymakers. It is led by center Co-Director Timothy D. McBride, PhD, who for over 30 years has been a member of the RUPRI Health Panel that provides expert advice on rural health issues to the U.S. Congress and other policymakers.
View the Rural Health Policy Lab’s projects and publications »
Inclusive, Dignified, Equitable, Accountable, and Loving (IDEAL) Lab
The Inclusive, Dignified, Equitable, Accountable, and Loving (IDEAL) Lab is focused on describing and identifying solutions for issues related to the quality and accountability of health care, focusing primarily on behavioral health crisis services. The lab is led by Morgan Shields, PhD.