School/Department-Based Centers

Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Training and Technical Assistance

Purpose: To provide consultation and support services to boost infectious disease prevention and control efforts across Alabama.
Director: Lisa McCormick, DrPH

Alzheimer’s Disease Center

Purpose: To alleviate the morbidity and mortality associated with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and related disorders and improving the quality of life for sufferers of AD and related disorders, and their families.
Director: Erik Roberson, M.D., Ph.D.

Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Purpose: To foster an entrepreneurial community and innovative ecosystem at UAB and and to provide the infrastructure required for students, staff, and faculty to commercialize innovation on campus, within the region, and beyond.
Director: Kathy Nugent, Ph.D.

Cardiovascular Institute

Purpose: To provide an administrative and clinical organizational framework to support the effective treatment of cardiovascular disease across multiple UAB departments and divisions.
Director: James Davies, M.D., Nicole L. Lohr, M.D., Ph.D.

Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention

Purpose: To improve patient experiences through an interdisciplinary collaboration of scientists, clinicians, and educators at UAB.
Director: Karen Cropsey, Psy.D.

Center for Advanced Surgical Aesthetics

Purpose: To serve as a multidisciplinary center of excellence in the field of aesthetic surgery.
Director: Jorge de la Torre, M.D.

Center for Aids Research

Purpose: To support the conduct of cutting-edge research in basic science, therapeutics, prevention, community-engaged research, clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of HIV and related disorders. Five core facilities provide vital support and specialized services to advance the HIV enterprise within UAB and beyond.
Director: Renee Heffron, Ph.D., MPH

The Center for Community Outreach Development (CORD)

Purpose: To advance the outreach efforts of UAB in the Birmingham community.
Director: J. Michael Wyss, Ph.D.

Center for Engagement in Disability, Health, and Rehabilitation Sciences

Purpose: To address the health, wellness and rehabilitation needs of millions of Americans with disabilities.
Directors: Dr. David A. Brown and Dr. James H. Rimmer

Center for Economic Education

Purpose: To provide economic education to Alabama students from kindergarten through high school. The center does this by educating the educators—providing the curriculum tools, the pedagogical support, and the community of peers that instruct, inspire and guide.
Director: Sarah E. Culver, Ph.D.

Center for Epigenomics and Translational Research in Inflammatory Skin Diseases (CETRISD)

Purpose: To promote interdisciplinary collaboration among UAB scientists, clinicians, and educators with a goal of improving outcomes for patients through excellence in clinical care and advances in the science of inflammatory skin diseases.
Director: Mohammad Athar, Ph.D.

Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

Purpose: To improve the well-being and quality of life across the lifespan for individuals and families impacted by developmental disabilities.
Director: Sarah O’Kelley, Ph.D.

Center for Healthcare Management and Leadership

Purpose: To coordinate continuing education programs for the Department of Health Services Administration.
Director: Jerry "Mickey" Trimm, Ph.D.

Center for Health Informatics for Patient Safety/Quality

Purpose: To disseminate new approaches to the development, implementation, evaluation, and management of healthcare information and healthcare information technology.
Director: Eta Berner, Ph.D.

Center for Injury Science

Purpose: To provide a multidisciplinary focus for the care of injured patients and for research related to both prevention and treatment of injuries.
Director: Shannon Stephens, EMTP, CCEMTP

Center for Integrated Systems

Purpose: To provide diverse efforts that will allow for collaborations between researchers in various fields of medicine, sciences, and engineering.
Director: Murat Tanik, Ph.D.

Center for Integrative Structural Biology

Purpose: To leverage novel and transformative biophysical methodologies to study human diseases and develop smart therapeutics.
Director: Gino Cingolani, Ph.D.

Center for Interprofessional Education & Simulation

Purpose: To bring together students and other learners from multiple schools across campus, together with faculty and staff from the UAB Health System, into a cohesive and integrated system of interprofessional education and training. CIPES is based in the Office of the UAB Provost.
Director: Scott Phillips, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Innovative Teaching and Academic Engagement

Center for Lung Analytics and Imaging Research (CLAIR)

Purpose: To leverage advances in imaging and analytic tools such as magnetic resonance imaging of the lungs, molecular imaging, and micro-CT, as well as artificial intelligence.
Director: Surya P. Bhatt, M.D., MSPH

Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration

Purpose: To conduct interdisciplinary research and and to provide student training focusing on the synthesis and characterization of nanoscale materials and structures with applicability and integration into the biomedical arena.
Director: Yogesh K. Vohra, Ph.D.

Center for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces (CNBCI)

Purpose: To build UAB’s research portfolio in Neuroengineering/Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI), establish a strong foundation for Neuroengineering/BCI research through creation of an integrated data repository, and increase Neuroengineering/BCI technology transfer, outreach, and education.
Director: Nicole Bentley, M.D.

Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education

Purpose: To improve the quality of patient outcomes research at UAB, to enhance the competitive positions of UAB research projects as they are submitted for funding, and to allow UAB to develop a training program for future outcomes researchers and technicians.
Director: Michael J. Mugavero, M.D., MHSc

Center for Palliative and Supportive Care

Purpose: To serve patients and families experiencing life-threatening, life-limiting, or advanced illness by providing compassionate clinical care, demonstrating leadership in teaching health professionals and trainees, conducting collaborative research, and influencing health care delivery and public policy.
Director: Rodney O. Tucker, M.D.

Center for Pediatric-Onset Demyelinating Disease

Purpose: To provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care for children and teens with MS and other CNS demyelinating diseases.
Director: Jayne Ness, M.D.

Center for Psychiatric Medicine

Purpose: To provide the highest quality services and treatments in the areas of neuropsychiatry, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and addiction recovery for adolescents, adults, geriatrics, and families.

Center for Sales Leadership

Purpose: To foster the study of professional selling and provide unique opportunities for students to receive education and training in advanced selling practices. The center advances sales performance through education, research, and outreach to the business community.
Director: Mike Wittmann, Ph.D.; John Hansen, Ph.D.; Ken Miller, Ed.D.

Center for Teaching and Learning

Purpose: To promote student learning via faculty development with a commitment to pedagogical best practices, appropriate and effective use of technology, and innovative collaboration.
Director: Scott L. Phillips, Ph.D.

Cleft and Craniofacial Center, UAB

Purpose: To deliver the highest quality treatment for patients with facial differences.
Director: John H. Grant, III, M.D.

Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center at UAB

Purpose: To improve outcomes for patients through excellence in clinical care and advances in the science of cardiovascular disease through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Director: Sumanth D. Prabhu, M.D.; Co-Director: James K. Kirklin, M.D.

Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center

Purpose: To develop new strategies to treat and cure sickle cell disease.
Co-Directors: Julie Kanter, M.D. and Jeffrey Lebensburger, D.O., M.S.P.H.

Comprehensive Neurovascular and Stroke Center

Purpose: To provide comprehensive clinical care through prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation of stroke victims.
Director: David Standaert, M.D.

Comprehensive Transplant Institute

Purpose: To improve outcomes for patients through excellence in clinical care and advances in the science of transplantation.
Director: Devin E. Eckoff, M.D.

Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety

Purpose: To develop professionals who protect and promote the health and safety of workers through interdisciplinary education, research, and outreach.
Director: Claudiu T. Lungu, Ph.D.

Depression and Suicide Center

Purpose: To advance the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology by accelerating the discovery of new ways to treat and prevent debilitating disorders that may result in depression and suicide.
Directors: Richard C. Shelton, M.D. and Yogesh Dwivedi, Ph.D.

Diabetes Research Center

Purpose: To promote excellence in diabetes research in order to decrease morbidity and mortality and increase the quality of life of diabetes patients.
Director: W. Timothy Garvey, M.D.

Educational Accountability, Center for

Purpose: To promote the improvement of educational outcomes of students, schools, and agencies through responsive and valid data-based decisions focused on reform.
Director: Scott W. Snyder, Ph.D.

Emerging Drug Discovery, UAB Center for

Purpose: To provide a UAB campus-based center for drug development.
Director: Richard Whitley, M.D.

Epilepsy Center, UAB

Purpose: To promote patient care, research and education in the field of epilepsy; and to prevent, treat and cure epilepsy.
Acting Director: Jerzy Szaflarski, M.D.

Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute

Purpose: To advance the understanding of the biological basis of the effects of the normal aging process on the human brain's capacity for learning and memory through fundamental research.
Director: Ronald M. Lazar, Ph.D.

Geriatric Education Center

Purpose: To provide geriatric training opportunities and outreach activities aimed toward improving the quality of life for the geriatric population.
Director: Richard M. Allman, M.D.

Glial Biology in Medicine, UAB Center for

Purpose: To support basic and clinical research on the biology of glial cells which have been recognized to be of critical importance in many brain and spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders.
Director: Maurizio Grimaldi, M.D., Ph.D.

Gorgas (William Crawford) Center for Geographic Medicine

Purpose: To provide leadership in tropical and preventive medicine; to develop and oversee research and training at the forefront of biomedical science; and to support international health programs in the fields of research, education, program development, administration, and public service.
Director: German Henostroza, M.D.

Hepatorenal Fibrocystic Kidney Disease Core Center

Purpose: To expand the catalogue of genetic mutations in ARPKD and other HRFD patients, to facilitate access and sharing of clinical and genetic data as well as bio-specimens (DNA and tissues) for the investigator base, and to expand the portfolio of educational material related to HRFD.
Director: Bradley K. Yoder, Ph.D.; Associate Director: Lisa M. Guay-Woodford, M.D.

Human Rights, The Institute for

Purpose: To employ innovative technologies and scientific methods to integrate existing UAB and community strengths to create and foster new research, policy solutions, outreach activities and educational programming relating to all aspects of human rights, including training programs in such areas as diversity awareness, sexual harassment prevention and effective communication in the workplace to business, industry, and government entities.
Director: Tina Kempin Reuter, Ph.D.

Hypertension Center

Purpose: To demonstrate the recognition of outstanding hypertension research taking place at UAB and provides a model for the leadership of the center.

INTO UAB Center

Purpose: The INTO Center at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) creates opportunities for students around the world to access a quality education at UAB while enhancing the institution’s reputation abroad.
Director: David Hofmann

Joint Replacement, Center for

Purpose: To combine state-of-the-art surgery for the hip and knee with improvements in patient education and patient satisfaction.
Director: John M. Cuckler, M.D.

Lister Hill Center for Health Policy

Purpose: To facilitate the conduct of health policy research, to disseminate the findings of that research beyond the usual academic channels, and to sponsor the health policy fellowship program.
Director: Michael A. Morrisey, Ph.D.

Liver Center, UAB

Purpose: To provide specialized care to children and adults with all types of liver and biliary tract disease, to develop clinical and basic research programs to support clinical care activities for such individuals, and to educate the profession and public about liver disease.
Director: Joseph R. Bloomer, M.D.

Low Vision Rehabilitation, UAB Center for

Purpose: To provide quality patient care, teaching, and research to advance knowledge in the area of vision rehabilitation.
Director: Dawn DeCarlo, O.D.

Lung Health Center

Purpose: To provide treatment, education and research programs related to the prevention and management of lung diseases.
Director: Victor J. Thannickal, M.D.

Materials Processing and Applications Development (MPAD) Center

Purpose: To meet the increasing demand for low cost composites in various applications such as aerospace, transport, mass transit, automotive, energy, military, sporting goods and commodity markets and the accompanying need for developing innovative and newer material forms and processing technologies.
Director: Selvum Pillay, Ph.D.

Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center

Purpose: To sustain Dr. Maryann Manning’s legacy of commitment and work in the field of literacy, the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center supports and disseminates research in literacy, provides professional development for teachers and students, centralizes the operation and organization of numerous projects begun by Dr. Manning, and creates innovative literacy projects, both locally and globally.
Director: Jennifer Summerlin, Ph.D.

Multiple Sclerosis Center

Purpose: To foster clinical and fundamental research on multiple sclerosis and related diseases; to provide clinical and research training in multiple sclerosis and related diseases; and to evaluate and treat acute and chronic multiple sclerosis and related diseases.
Director: Khurram Bashir, M.D.

Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, UAB

Purpose: To assist scientists in pursuing research focused on the interplay of aging, comparative biology, and energetics. Its goal is to act as a multiplier to stimulate innovation and increase the success of scientists studying the basic biology of aging.
Director: Steven N. Austad, Ph.D.

Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET), UAB Center for

Purpose: To promote the discovery of novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, to teach scientists and clinicians about these diseases, and to facilitate the application of these discoveries to clinical care of patients.
Directors: Erik Roberson, M.D., Ph.D.

Optical Sensors and Spectroscopies, The Center for

Purpose: To improve sensor techniques using recently developed revolutionary laser and spectroscopic technologies for the detection of biological, chemical, environmental, and explosive agents with high sensitivity.
Director: Sergey Mirov, Ph.D.

Oral Health Research, Institute of

Purpose: To provide an umbrella organization that will promote, facilitate and concentrate all research activities conducted within the School of Dentistry.
Director: Mary B. MacDougall, Ph.D.

Pancreatobiliary Disease Center, UAB

Purpose: To provide a comprehensive, centralized, multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and innovative treatment of complex pancreatobiliary diseases.
Co-Directors: Mohamad A. Eloubeidi, M.D., Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., and Mel Wilcox, M.D.

Parkinson’s Disease Information and Referral Center

Purpose: To provide support to families and patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease by offering top-notch clinical treatment as well as educational, emotional, and political support. The center also performs basic science research of Parkinson's disease.
Director: David G. Standaert, M.D.

Pediatric Pulmonary Center

Purpose: To improve the health and well-being of the nation's children and youth, and especially those with special health care needs.
Co-Directors: James S. Hagood, M.D.; Nancy Woolridge

Pulmonary Injury and Repair Center, UAB

Purpose: To promote, support, and enhance cutting-edge research on lung biology, including studies of disease through translational investigation in humans.
Director: Sadis Matalon, Ph.D.

Regions Institute for Financial Education, The

Purpose: To provide opportunities for UAB students, faculty, staff and the community at large to learn the skills and knowledge essential to successfully manage their personal finances. The Institute aims to carry out this mission by focusing on teaching, service and research.
Director: Stephanie R. Yates, Ph.D.

Research in Applied Gerontology, Center for

Purpose: To develop and evaluate interventions which will allow older individuals to remain independent and to experience a high quality of life.
Director: Karlene Ball, Ph.D.

South Central Preparedness & Emergency Response Learning Center

(formerly South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness) 
Purpose: To design assessments and train public health practitioners to prepare for and respond to public health threats and emergencies, particularly those which may be bioterrorist in nature.
Director: Peter M. Ginter, Ph.D.

Southeast Center for Excellence in Geriatric Medicine

Purpose: To provide advanced academic training for physicians preparing for careers in geriatric medicine.
Director: Richard M. Allman, M.D.

Sparkman Center for Global Health

Purpose: To contribute to solutions of health problems in developing countries by implementing graduate-level training and educational programs that are organized collaboratively with academic institutions, international agencies and health ministries within the host country.
Director: Craig Wilson, M.D.

Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center, UAB

Purpose: To coordinate multi-disciplinary research in the area of sustainable infrastructure systems.
Director: Fouad H. Fouad, Ph.D., P.E.

UAB-Hudson Alpha Center for Genomic Medicine

Purpose: To explore the complexities of human DNA to understand the genetic underpinnings for the onset and progression of diseases and to use that knowledge to predict, diagnose and develop personalized therapies.
Co-Directors: Richard Myers, Ph.D. (HudsonAlpha); Bruce Korf, M.D., Ph.D.

University Transportation Center for Alabama

Purpose: To advance technology in transportation education and research and then transfer technologies over multiple disciplines.
(1) Management and Safety (UA, UAB, UAH)
Director: Fouad Fouad, Ph.D.
(2) Injury Control Research
Director: P. Russ Fine, Ph.D.

Urban Education, Center for

Purpose: To promote quality education for socially and economically disenfranchised groups residing in urban areas.
Director: Deborah L. Voltz, Ed.D.

Voice Treatment Center, UAB

Purpose: To bring together medical and vocal expertise to evaluate and treat individuals who use their voices as a primary part of their profession.
Co-Directors: Richard McHugh, M.D. and Dan Phillips, Ed.D.

Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center

Purpose: The Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center (VMASC) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham fosters undergraduate student success by creating a supportive environment and delivering academic services designed to facilitate persistence towards academic goals and degree completion.
Director: Lisa Marie Kerr, Ed.D.

Women’s Reproductive Health, Center for

Purpose: To conduct research aimed at improving the health of all women, especially minority and underserved women and their families; and to bring researchers and developing scholars interested in women's health issues at UAB into a more formal research collaboration.
Director: Dwight J. Rouse, M.D.