Improving Lives Through Research
We are more than 130 investigators working on dozens of projects spanning education, neuroscience, behavior, and child development.
Research Areas
Child Development
Our research helps parents and practitioners assure children's biological, social, emotional, and educational needs so that they are placed on an optimal trajectory for their achievements and outcomes in adolescence and adulthood.
Education Science
Our education science research includes work on instructional coaching, leadership development, and technical innovation that make educational achievement easier and more efficient. We aim to improve both student achievement and inclusive education.
Behavioral & Mental Health
We explore a wide range of conditions and behaviors that bear on behavior and mental well-being, including work on addiction, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. We seek to understand, prevent, and treat mental health related disorders, promote health and improved quality of life, and reduce stigma.
Intellectual & Developmental Disability
We seek to understand the origins of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. Our scientists develop interventions designed to enhance the quality of life, self-determination, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Research Areas
Health and Disability Policy
We study how public policy, law and innovation affect the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities. We also explore how communities can better support the independence, education and careers of people with disabilities to assure quality of life.
Inclusion and belonging
Inclusion and belonging are the very foundation of the research conducted at the Life Span Institute. We study ways to foster justice and equity in schools, build healthy communities, and develop inclusive practices that help people with disabilities lead full lives.
Community Health and Development
We seek to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve through collaborative and community-based participatory research, training, resources and services in areas as diverse as early childcare, juvenile justice, and community enrichment.
Get Involved
Participate in our Research
Much of our research depends on the generous contributions of children, their families and adults from our communities who volunteer to participate in research studies. Some volunteers may have specific conditions, while others volunteer to serve as controls, or people who don’t have those conditions. View current studies seeking volunteers.