The Institute
Established in 1980, USC’s Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research utilizes behavioral epidemiology to inform the development and testing of preventive intervention in early phase intervention trials as well as in larger scale randomized trials. IPR is recognized as international leaders in interdisciplinary research and training in epidemiology and prevention science, and for more than 20 years have developed research and educational programs that have addressed the complex public health needs in local, national and international settings.
Our Mission
The mission of IPR is to prevent multiple health risk behaviors (MHRBs) that contribute to the development of chronic and infectious diseases related to behavioral lifestyle. The major MHRBs include substance use (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, other drugs); sedentary behavior, low physical activity, and dysregulated eating; inadequate health screening behavior; unprotected sexual behavior; and stress. These MHRBs have been related to several types of cancer (including but not limited to colon, breast, lung, esophageal, cervical), as well as to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular as well as respiratory disease. To maximize prevention, the primary emphasis is on youth and young adults. IPR utilizes behavioral epidemiology to inform the development and testing of preventive intervention in early phase intervention trials as well as in larger scale randomized trials. The overall goals of IPR research are to prevent disease, promote health behavior, and train future generations of independent researchers in translational preventive intervention science. IPR addresses successive stages in research, from initial prevention intervention development to implementation, dissemination, policy change, practice, and sustainability.