Established in 2000, PIRE Louisville Center’s work is focused on improving the health, education, safety, and well-being of children, adults, and families locally, regionally, and internationally. Our research has included the evaluation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use interventions targeting youth, college students and adults; prevention technology transfer; character education and civic engagement program evaluation; school violence prevention and student safety; curriculum evaluation; HIV/STD and pregnancy prevention; program performance improvement and organizational development; state and community capacity-building and sustainability research; and evaluation of corrections and public safety programs. Our scientists collaborate with universities, federal, state, and local community organizations, educators, and health practitioners to study, develop, test, and disseminate innovative ideas and programs that enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities.
Over the past 20 years, Louisville Center has continued to promote international research, knowledge dissemination, and technology transfer within PIRE by engaging in cross-cultural projects and developing regional, national, and international networks of research partners, support services, funding sources, and influential contacts. As a result of studies conducted in the U.S., Peru, Brazil, Thailand, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Liberia, the Center has developed international expertise, multinational research collaborations, and resources relating to cross-cultural and transnational research. The Center has developed expertise in social policy experimental design, selection of appropriate prevention programs and methodology for international settings, development of instruments that are culturally appropriate, and advanced multivariate analyses.
Dr. Melissa Abadi, as Louisville’s current Center Director, continues to expand local and statewide partnerships and enhance collaboration across PIRE centers. She encourages all projects, interventions, and evaluations to focus on generalizability and replicability. In 2020, as our world changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social and political changes, the goal of our work is to always be focused on health equity and inclusivity of the most vulnerable populations. Our current projects focus on a variety of populations including U.S. Veterans, Medicare and Medicaid users, intellectually and developmentally disabled adults living in group homes, youth and young adult substance users, and rural and urban populations.
Dr. Abadi is also focused on increasing the Louisville Center’s engagement and visibility in the scientific community, developing strong mentoring plans for early and mid-career scientists, and strategically planning for obtaining new funds in emerging and evolving areas of research, including tobacco regulatory science, tobacco and polydrug use among youth and young adults, women’s health issues, aging, and healthcare services and systems change.
If you are interested in learning more about PIRE Louisville partnership or employment opportunities, we encourage you to contact us at: mabadi@pire.org or call 502-238-7335.
