Emory + Children’s Announce the Launch of the Research and Epidemiology for Adolescent and Child Health (REACH) Center

ATLANTA, GA – March 4, 2025 – Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are pleased to announce the launch of the Research and Epidemiology for Adolescent and Child Health (REACH) Center. Led by newly recruited distinguished faculty members, Philip Lupo, PhD and Michael Scheurer, PhD, and in partnership with the former CORPH Interim Director, Shasha Bai, PhD, REACH is designed to serve as a leading hub for child-focused and population-based research and aims to advance collaborative research initiatives to improve pediatric health outcomes.

The vision for REACH is to reduce the burden of disease experienced by children and adolescents across Georgia and beyond. The mission is:

• Research: Conduct impactful studies into the causes of and outcomes associated with childhood and adolescent diseases and disorders.
• Education: Train clinicians and scientists in pediatric epidemiology and population-based research while disseminating findings to healthcare professionals and researchers nationally and internationally.

REACH builds upon the work of the Center for Clinical Research and Public Health (CORPH), which was founded in 2011 by Dr. Ann Mertens to support child health-focused clinical outcomes and public health research. CORPH has played a crucial role in promoting high-quality epidemiologic and clinical research, mentoring young investigators, and linking healthcare practices to patient outcomes to improve quality of care. The work of CORPH was transformative and has led to this important next phase.

By centralizing and coordinating child-focused population-based and epidemiologic research, REACH will strengthen ties with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The center will also play a key role in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s wellness initiatives, furthering its commitment to improving the health of Georgia’s children.

We are excited to welcome Drs. Lupo and Scheurer to this vibrant research community and look forward to their leadership in advancing pediatric epidemiology research. For more information or to collaborate, please do not hesitate to REACH out to Dr. Philip Lupo, Dr. Michael Scheurer, or Dr. Shasha Bai.