Who We Are


The Institute for Social and Health Equity (ISHE) at the University at Albany is a dynamic research hub committed to addressing social and health disparities through interdisciplinary collaboration. Our mission is to advance equitable solutions by connecting faculty, researchers, and community stakeholders with the resources and expertise needed to foster impactful, evidence-based change.

As part of UAlbany’s Division for Research & Economic Development, ISHE facilitates cutting-edge research and provides comprehensive support for project development, grant strategies, and proposal writing. We aim to enhance the success of researchers by offering tailored assistance in navigating the complexities of funding, and interdisciplinary partnerships.
 

How We Can Help You


ISHE offers a range of support services to assist researchers in the grant application process. Our goal is to support researchers in securing funding and advancing the fields of public health, social work, education and policy studies. Contact ISHE.

 

An Institute with a Vision

UAlbany President presenting ISHE director to a room full of people on a large projector
$1.7 Million University Investment in Social and Health Equity

ISHE brings together researchers exploring topics such as disparities in maternal and childhood health, healthy aging, emergency management, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, exposure to environmental toxins, as well as social services that support vulnerable populations.

 

"Understanding the drivers that underly and perpetuate these disparities, and developing strategies to mitigate them, requires a cross-cutting approach that includes building partnerships within and beyond the University."

Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas
Vice President for Research and Economic Development


 

Proposal Development Support Services
four men sitting at a table with their laptops open, and taking notes.

Enhance your proposals with expert guidance focused on effective writing techniques. Receive detailed feedback and actionable suggestions to strengthen your draft proposal. 

Project Management and Budgetary Support
U Albany sign

Get help with budgeting, compliance, and submission requirements to ensure your applications are accurate and complete. 

Administrative and Media Support
man staring at computer with a lap top in front of him

To streamline proposal creation and effectively convey research concepts, we offer essential administrative support, including media image development and model construction services.

Group of researchers sit around a table in discussion

Collaborative Research

The Institute will coordinate research interest groups (RIGs) to bring together researchers working on related issues across disciplines. 

In partnership with UAlbany’s AI Plus Initiative, ISHE takes an AI-driven approach to social and health equity research. AI Plus leverages artificial intelligence to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges in cybersecurity, climate science, emergency preparedness and health sciences. 

ISHE also collaborates with the BILPOC Faculty Advancement Initiative to support efforts to improve faculty diversity through hiring, retention, and promotion of current UAlbany faculty who identify as people of color.

News and Events

Stay up to date with all things ISHE! Connect with us on LinkedIn, follow us on X and download our newsletter.

A researcher collects a sample from a test tube at The RNA Institute.
UAlbany Researchers Make Top 2% Worldwide List
More than 40 researchers from the University at Albany have been ranked among the world’s top researchers, according to a Stanford University study published annually through Elsevier.
Four people stand together outdoors. The woman in the center, wearing a purple and white patterned jacket and glasses, smiles at three female students facing her. A tree and red brick building are in the background.
Victoria Rizzo Named Director of UAlbany’s Center for Healthy Aging
University at Albany’s Victoria Rizzo, senior vice dean of the College of Integrated Health Sciences and director of the School of Social Welfare, will lead UAlbany’s new Center for Healthy Aging as its inaugural director.
The title slide of Tips for a Successful Grant Proposal to the Institute of Education Sciences with details about the presentation and presenter.
Recording: Tips for a Successful Grant Proposal to the IES
Missed "Tips for a Successful Grant Proposal to the Institute of Education Sciences"? You can watch ISHE Director Paul Morgan's presentation as he talks about how to write a successful grant for the Institute of Education Sciences.
Adam Gamoran wears a dark suit and red tie as he stands in front of a crowded room in UAlbany's ETEC building during the Inaugural Speaker Series and Institute for Social and Health Equity Launch. His lecture slides, too small to be readable in the photo, are projected on screens behind him.
Adam Gamoran Presents at ISHE Launch
Adam Gamoran, president of the William T. Grant Foundation, is leading a groundbreaking initiative to address youth inequality, complementing ongoing efforts to enhance research impact on policies affecting young lives. Gamoran presented his lecture, "Improving the Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Practice" as a part of the launch event for the Institute for Social and Health Equity on February 14. View his lecture slides from the presentation.
Thenkurussi (Kesh) Kesavadas wears a dark suit, light blue shirt, and purple tie, with a name tag and glasses as he stands behind a podium that holds a monitor and microphone. He gestures with his hands as he addresses the a room of people in UAlbany's ETEC building.
ISHE Featured on Spectrum News, NewsChannel 13, Daily Gazette
With it's official launch, the Institute for Social and Health Equity, is gaining attention as it aims to address longstanding societal problems related to health disparities and inequity.
Five men wearing suits pose and smile for a casual group portrait.
UAlbany Launches the Institute for Social and Health Equity
UAlbany has launched the Institute for Social and Health Equity — a new research and training hub designed to leverage UAlbany’s existing strengths, together with community engagement, to address longstanding societal problems related to health disparities and inequity in the Capital Region and beyond.
Paul Morgan stands at a table addressing a room of students gathered for a lunch meeting. Morgan is smiling, wearing a tan blazer and white button up shirt.
Introducing the Inaugural Director of the Institute for Social and Health Equity: A Q&A with Professor Paul Morgan
Professor Paul Morgan, inaugural director of UAlbany's Institute for Social and Health Equity, shares insights on the importance of studying health disparities, his path to this research area and what drew him to the University.