The USC GRIT Lab is a research collaborative focused on carrying out community-based public health research and service activities in low- and middle-income countries and providing training opportunities in research and program implementation to students ranging from high school through doctoral studies.
GRIT is directed by Dr. Heather Wipfli, Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences at USC. Current research projects focus on adolescent health; malaria prevention and control; drowning prevention; environmental health; tobacco control; and cancer prevention, treatment, and control.
Students engaged in the lab gain real world experience designing and implementing research studies in partnership with community partners, as well as facilitating community outreach and awareness raising programs.
Current community partners working with GRIT include Children’s Chance International, Swim Safe Uganda, and Energy in Action. Other collaborators include the Makerere School of Public Health, Ugandan Ministry of Health, University of Zambia, US Peace Corps, Center for Tobacco Control in Africa, and the World Health Organization.
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