News & Updates
We develop innovative approaches and tools to improve health and advance equity. Read our blog posts, announcements, and news items to learn more about our work.
Meet the recipients of the Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research
About the program The Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research, a program of the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, has been driving medical breakthroughs by launching the careers of newly independent biomedical researchers for more than three decades….
The Violence & Overdose Prevention Training for Incarcerated Young Adults Initiative: an HRiA Innovation Incubator Project
Staff: Mike Leonard, Gracie Rolfe, and Laurie Jo Wallace In Massachusetts, emerging adults aged 18-25 face higher rates of arrest, incarceration, and reincarceration than those of other age groups. In recent years, the state government and…
Improving Maternal Support by Expanding Doula Access in Rural Massachusetts: an HRiA Innovation Incubator Project
Staff: Allison Egan, Jen Masdea, Ben Wood, Kristin Mikolowsky, Joanne Lau, Destiny King Doulas provide vital non-medical support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Their assistance helps reduce adverse outcomes such as preterm labor, preterm birth,…
The Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) NOW Expansion Initiative: an HRiA Innovation Incubator Project
Staff: Megan Ahlburn, Angela Kelly, and Jennifer Cyran Every day, HRiA’s 24/7 Substance Use Helplines receive calls from people urgently seeking treatment and support for themselves or loved ones. Many have faced repeated setbacks and…
The Legal Barriers LGBTQ+ Assessment and Coalition Building Initiative: an HRiA Innovation Incubator Project
Staff: Kelly Danckert, Meghan Guptill, Kathleen McCabe, Lex Vasquez, and Ben Wood Across the United States, LGBTQ+ communities — especially transgender and gender diverse individuals — are facing an alarming surge in political attacks. From…
Addressing Black Maternal Health in Massachusetts: an HRiA Innovation Incubator Project
HRiA Staff: Allyson Shifley, Mo Barbosa, and Victoria Nemeth A MA Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health report recognizes “Racism, not race, is a primary driver of the social determinants of health. It drives…