Life Span Institute Research Centers
The Life Span Institute is home to several centers of research. Each center supports an important aspect of our mission to develop science that supports health and quality of life for people in Kansas and beyond.
Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors
The Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE) was established as a Center in 2024 to improve the lives of people with the second deadliest form of mental illness. Research at the Center aims to improve understanding of the diversity of eating disorders and develop tools to to improve screening and diagnosing as well as treatment.
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Center for Community Health and Development
The Center for Community Health and Development began in 1975 as a workgroup at the Life Span Institute. The center has developed tools used worldwide in participatory research and community work and, since 2004, has served as a designated World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.
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Center for Research on Learning
The Center for Research on Learning began in 1978 and brings together scientists from different disciplines to create solutions to educational challenges in areas including literacy, math, and social-emotional learning skills. By developing evidence-based programs and practices, researchers improve outcomes for all learners, including those with learning differences or disabilities.
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Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment
The Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment began in 2018 with the mission to understand, prevent and treat addiction and related disorderse. Research combines behavioral science and neuroscience methods to promote health, improve quality of life, and reduce stigma.
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Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
The Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies conducts timely and meaningful research and evaluation to inform health and disability policy, with the goal of improving access and quality of care for all people, particularly for those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
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Juniper Gardens Children's Project
Juniper Gardens launched its early-childhood research in the 1960s, shortly after President Lyndon Johnson introduced his anti-poverty initiatives. Today, it stands as a national model for community-based projects and is recognized as one of the longest-running research centers to actively partner with locals.
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Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training
Since 2008, the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART) works to better understand autism and related neurodevelopmental issues. Researchers study brain and behavioral development, sensory issues, social-communication factors, and more, while the Center supports autistic individuals and their families through outreach and community resources.
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KU Center on Disabilities
The KU Center on Disabilities was established in 1969 and has served as a resource for training, research, and outreach on developmental disabilities for Kansas and the nation. The Center is home to a multitude of programs, initiatives, and research projects that work with and for the disability community in Kansas.
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SWIFT Education Center
SWIFT Education Center, established in 2015, leads the nation in equity-based Multi-tiered System of Support education research and services. It aims to transform education so that it benefits each and every student, their families, and ultimately the communities in which they live.
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