Institute of Behavioral Research

IBR teams often work in the field, meeting people and programs where the work is happening.

The Mobile Health Unit adds another layer to that work by bringing health-focused research and services directly into community settings. Instead of relying only on office or clinic-based spaces, the unit gives teams a flexible place to support outreach, field-based projects, and clinical work where people are.

Swipe through for a closer look inside the unit.

IBR’s work focuses on real-world issues connected to public health, public safety, and service delivery.

Our research includes substance use treatment, recovery, corrections and re-entry settings, HIV prevention, behavioral health, training, and program evaluation.

Across projects, the goal is to better understand what works and how research can help strengthen programs, systems, and outcomes.

Master’s degrees ✅
Next stop: PhD 🎓

Congrats to SOAR graduate researchers Brooke Preston, Brianna Pitz, and Reneé Castillo, who will continue at TCU in the Experimental Psychology PhD program.

Several IBR SOAR Lab students are closing out the semester with major milestones.

Anne Shubert is heading to Creighton University School of Law for her J.D., and Grace Sikiyan will attend Northern Arizona University for a PsyD program. Jefflyn Hall was also nominated as Psi Chi president, highlighting her role and leadership within the group.

SOAR graduate researchers Renee Castillo, Brianna Pitz, and Brooke Preston defended their theses and will continue their work at TCU in the Experimental Psychology PhD program.

A strong way to close out the semester and a clear look at what’s next.

Congrats to our 2026 graduates!

The Institute of Behavioral Research 2025 Annual Report is live.

A year of growth, funding, and real-world impact — all in one place.

Read the full report: https://ibr.tcu.edu/ibr-releases-2025-annual-report/

New tools available from the Institute of Behavioral Research are helping connect people to the treatment they need.

The Opioid-Treatment Linkage Model (O-TLM) offers practical strategies and resources for public health and public safety agencies supporting individuals with substance use and opioid use disorders.

Explore the resources: ibr.tcu.edu/o-tlm-navigation

At IBR, we’re all about learning from each other and celebrating what makes us unique. Our Hispanic Heritage Month gathering was full of flavor, color, and connection — a reminder of how culture brings people together. 🌎💜

Swipe through to see highlights from our celebration!

ICYMI: The NIH awarded TCU’s Institute of Behavioral Research a $7.2 million grant to advance research in deflection — strategies that connect people to care instead of jail.

This collaborative project brings together TCU researchers, law enforcement, and community partners to reduce arrests and overdoses through real-world solutions.

To read the full story, https://www.tcu.edu/news/2025/nih-awards-tcus-institute-of-behavioral-research-7-2-million-grant.php

Proud moment for IBR 💜 Excited to see this important work recognized.

Learn more about the BRIDGE project: https://ibr.tcu.edu/projects/current-projects/bridge/

NIH Awards TCU's Institute of Behavioral Research $7.2 Million Grant The grant supports TCU researchers ongoing work with ‘deflection' strategies that support local law enforcement and first responders as well as better help people with unmet substance use needs.

We’re proud to amplify this resource from the JEAP Initiative and Chestnut Health Systems — the final chapters of their CBPR Toolkit are now live! This is a valuable guide for building inclusive, community-centered research partnerships.

Explore the toolkit here: https://www.jeapinitiative.org/resources-cbpr

🎉 Big news - the final chapters have been added to our CBPR toolkit! In collaboration with our partners, the JEAP Initiative team has just released the complete version of our toolkit on working with community boards. This free online resource was created to help substance use researchers build meaningful partnerships with people with lived experience.

➡️ Access the toolkit here: https://www.jeapinitiative.org/resources-cbpr/