New Mexico State University is partnering with the University of Texas at El Paso to explore interdisciplinary collaborations focusing on research in brain and behavioral health.
The collaboration spans a number of disciplines and departments at both NMSU and UTEP. In early September, UTEP Research and Innovation hosted faculty and staff from both universities at a successful workshop to explore how to address major research questions, including those that affect communities in the region.
“NMSU is proud of the important research our faculty are leading in brain and behavioral health,” said Patricia Sullivan, interim NMSU vice president of research, creativity and economic development. “This collaboration with UTEP reflects a shared commitment to advancing research that not only deepens knowledge but also delivers solutions to challenges facing New Mexico and our border region. Building on this strong foundation, NMSU is committed to expanding opportunities, pursuing competitive partnerships, and ensuring our research makes a lasting difference in the communities we serve.”
“This meeting was an important first step in developing collaborations and partnerships with our regional neighbors and researchers at UTEP,” said Michael Hout, associate dean of research in the NMSU College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. “We have an extraordinary amount of complementary expertise across institutions in neuroscience, mental health, behavioral health, rehabilitation and more. I look forward to forthcoming events and to the research projects and collaborative grant proposals that will come from these new relationships.”
Since the workshop, leadership from both universities have begun identifying funding sources to explore some of the challenges identified at the initial discussions.
“Our next steps are to start identifying specific funding opportunities that can be pitched to our teams of potential collaborators,” Hout said. “We're doing this following the group identification of several ‘grand challenges’ in the research spaces surrounding mental health, neuroscience, rehabilitation science and more. We’re also going to be discussing ways to create space for the researchers to work on proposals together, and ways for us to remove barriers to their execution.”
Hout said an example of one of the challenges researchers are examining is looking at burnout among mental health professionals, and ways to mitigate it among health care workers. Brain and behavioral health research have been identified as a priority at both NMSU and UTEP.
“Hispanic health disparities research is a major research priority for UTEP,” said Ahmad Itani, UTEP vice president for research and innovation. “This interdisciplinary brain and behavioral health research workshop builds on our institutional strengths in behavioral health and neuroscience. We look forward to expanding our collaborations with NMSU as a regional partner in brain and behavioral health, working together to serve our border communities.”
Members of the collaboration include 24 NMSU representatives and 25 representatives from UTEP across fields such as biology, economics, chemistry, psychology, kinesiology, sociology, chemistry and biochemistry, public health, nursing, pharmacy and more.
“We are excited by the enthusiasm, engagement and ideation demonstrated by participating faculty from both our institutions to move forward with team science to address brain and behavioral health disparities,” said Thenral Mangadu, UTEP associate vice president for interdisciplinary research.
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PHOTO CAPTION: New Mexico State University is partnering with the University of Texas at El Paso to explore interdisciplinary collaborations focusing on brain and behavioral health research. From left, Tanner Schaub, NMSU assistant vice president for search; Patricia Sullivan, NMSU interim vice president of research, creativity and economic development; and Michael Hout, associate dean of research at NMSU’s College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, are leading collaboration efforts at NMSU. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Three people standing outdoors.