The Institute for Health Policy was established at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston to assist researchers throughout the UT Health Science Center in translating their technical findings into usable advice for program administrators
and practical recommendations for health policymakers.

All six schools have research components, but some of their findings never reach the people they could help the most, explains Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D., interim director of the Institute.

"We want to get the results of our science out to communities of potential users, who can put this new knowledge to practical use," he said.

 Linder cites the example of CATCH, a ground- breaking school of public health program in 1,500 elementary schools in Texas currently teaching 650,000 children how to be healthy for a lifetime. CATCH began as a research project, developed at the UT School of Public Health; its results were carefully translated into usable knowledge and then disseminated to users throughout the state. The effort was so successful that the Texas Legislature passed a bill requiring exercise programs for all elementary students in the state's public schools. This program serves as a model guiding the Institute's future endeavors.

Once fully funded, the Institute will also serve as a catalyst for policy-relevant research and will broker opportunities for faculty to apply their expertise to inform current policy debates. in addition, specialized training and education in policy translation, design and development will be offered.