Skip to main content

Research Center and Programs Overview

The Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH) at Northwestern University consists of one research center (THRIVE) and three research programs (ADVOCATE, CONNECT, and EDIT).

The Center for Translational Health Research and Interventions Advancing Equity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (THRIVE)

THe THRIVE Center conducts cutting-edge translational research that aims to understand and mitigate health disparities among SGM youth. THRIVE’s research spans the entire translational spectrum, from basic science discovery, to intervention development and evaluation, and onward toward implementation research.

Advancing Opportunities in Clinical and Translational Equity in SGM Health Program (ADVOCATE)

The ADVOCATE SGM Health Program is dedicated to clinical and translational health equity for sexual and gender minorities. The program includes affiliate faculty from ISGMH, Northwestern Medicine, and Lurie Children’s Hospital, and builds critical partnerships between clinicians in Northwestern’s hospital network and researchers studying sociobehavioral and public health throughout the university. ADVOCATE's primary goal is building tools that help clinicians engage with SGM health equity work and provide better SGM patient care.

CONNECT Complex Systems and Health Disparities Research Program (CONNECT)

The CONNECT Program is focused on elucidating the complex mechanisms driving the health disparities of stigmatized populations, particularly sexual and gender minorities. CONNECT employs a systems science perspective and innovative techniques (including simulation modeling, machine learning, and network analysis) to model, understand, and alter interconnected health disparities.

The Evaluation, Data Integration, and Technical Assistance Program (EDIT)

The EDIT Program is a leader in community-based evaluation focused on improving the health and wellbeing of SGM individuals. EDIT empowers community agencies to strategically plan, implement, and evaluate innovative and culturally responsive programming that serves SGM individuals.