Program Overview
Established in 2015 and concluding in 2025, the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders (IRL) functioned as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national leadership program. The initiative convened fellows in tripartite teams—comprising one community leader and two researchers from diverse academic disciplines—to execute community-engaged research. These teams collaborated with local communities to investigate critical challenges and implement evidence-based findings to promote health equity.
The program’s innovative initiatives were designed to establish a Culture of Health, facilitating improved longevity and well-being for all individuals within the United States. From its inception, the initiative supported seven distinct cohorts, each consisting of 12 to 15 teams receiving three-year funding cycles. By the conclusion of the program, more than 300 IRL fellows across the nation had received support. Participants enhanced their leadership capabilities, executed rigorous, community-engaged research, and developed sophisticated strategies for research dissemination and community mobilization. Fellows engaged in cross-sector collaboration to address annual health-equity themes, such as early childhood development, housing, environmental health, and rural healthcare delivery. Furthermore, the final two cohorts, C6 and C7, focused specifically on the critical objective of dismantling structural racism.
Interdisciplinary Research Leaders National Program Center was located at the University of Minnesota. Please see the Land Acknowledgement for IRL.
Teams
Each IRL team consisted of a community partner and two researchers dedicated to applied research for the establishment of a Culture of Health. To facilitate cross-sectoral transformation, these teams were required to be interdisciplinary, integrating both health-related and non-health-related expertise. Eligible IRL teams were required to submit joint applications and satisfy the following criteria:
- Demonstrate the integration of diverse disciplines, including but not limited to public policy, urban planning, health, social work, education, and transportation.
- Include two researchers who possess either a terminal degree (such as a PhD, MD, or DrPH) or a master’s degree supported by substantial professional experience, including a record of significant research and peer-reviewed publications.
- Incorporate one community partner with established local relationships and specialized knowledge, seeking to enhance their research capacity to achieve greater community impact.
Research Project and Themes
Teams submitted research proposals characterized by methodological rigor and deep community integration, intended for execution throughout their three-year tenure in the IRL program. Participation was contingent upon alignment with designated thematic areas. The thematic focuses for each cohort were as follows:
- Cohort 1 (entered in 2016): Housing and Community Development or Early Childhood
- Cohort 2 (entered in 2017): Community and Individual Resilience or Youth Development and the Prevention of Violence
- Cohort 3 (entered in 2018): Health Care Delivery in Rural America or Social Determinants of Health in Rural America
- Cohort 4 (entered in 2019): Community development and health or Clinical practice, social services, and health
- Cohort 5 (entered in 2020): Community Environment and Health or Families and Child Health
- Cohort 6 (entered in 2021): Structural racism in health care or Structural racism and community health and well-being
- Cohort 7 (entered in 2022): Structural racism in health care or Structural racism and community health and well-being
Program Elements
Throughout the three-year duration of the initiative, fellows received the following forms of institutional support:
- Individual Annual Grants: Provision of stipends to support individual participation in the program.
- Research Allocation: Dedicated funding for the team-based research project during the fellowship.
- Expert Mentorship: Access to advisors with specialized expertise in research methodologies, community engagement, and relevant thematic domains.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for leadership advancement facilitated by networking and a rigorous curriculum.
The IRL Curriculum
The Interdisciplinary Research Leaders (IRL) curriculum comprised four primary components. Through the integration of in-person seminars, weekly webinars, and digital mini-courses, the leadership curriculum provided fellows with a diverse range of pedagogical activities and experiential learning opportunities across each programmatic segment. Detailed below are concise descriptions outlining the fundamental objectives for each component of the curriculum.
Results: Enhanced Skills & Leadership
Following the successful conclusion of the IRL program, participants were formally inducted into RWJF’s prestigious national alumni network of professionals across various sectors. These individuals are now prepared to execute the following professional competencies:
- Exercise leadership and facilitate collaboration across diverse sectors, professions, and academic disciplines.
- Engage substantively with community stakeholders to influence institutional systems and organizational structures.
- Utilize rigorous research methodologies and data analysis to enhance the efficacy of programs and public policies.
- Exhibit a comprehensive mastery of equity principles, the Culture of Health framework, and advanced research concepts.
- Advocate for transformative systemic change within their respective fields.
- Articulate complex issues effectively to generate and sustain broad public support.
Leadership Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Interdisciplinary Research Leaders was just one of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s leadership programs for people who are interested in applying their expertise—no matter what they do—to help make our country healthier and more equitable. Some other programs were:
- Clinical Scholars, for health professionals in clinical, academic, or community settings
- Health Policy Research Scholars, for second-year doctoral students from underrepresented populations and/or disadvantaged backgrounds
- Culture of Health Leaders, for individuals from every field, profession, and sector
Culture of Health
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation believes everyone deserves to live the healthiest life possible.
- In support of this vision, a Culture of Health Leader envisions and declares a future where everyone has a just and fair opportunity for health and well-being; is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion; and creates space for collective action with others to realize this future.
- To read more and join the movement to build a Culture of Health in the US, visit cultureofhealth.org.
