Research Focus: 

• The MISSION Behavioral Health Lab is dedicated to conducting state-of-the-art research towards advancing our understanding of the etiology, consequences, and treatment of addiction and mental health, as well as the implementation of evidence-based practices.
  
  
• The MISSION Behavioral Health Lab serves as an academic incubator for collaborations within the Department of Medicine, the UMass Chan Medical School, other University of Massachusetts campuses, and beyond.
  
  
• Some examples of our research include testing novel behavioral and pharmacological treatments, community-based treatment engagement approaches, racial and ethnic disparities in care, mobile health devices, multisite implementation trials, and examining psychiatric epidemiological research across all expressions of addiction (i.e., substance and behavioral, including gambling). 

Representative Publications

• Shaffer PM, Rodriguez CP, Gaba A, Byrne T, Casey SC, Harter J, Smelson D. (2021) Engaging vulnerable populations in drug treatment court: Six month outcomes from a co-occurring disorder wraparound intervention. Int J Law Psychiatry. 
  
  
• Smelson DA, Kline A, Kuhn J, Rodrigues S, O'Connor K, Fisher W, Sawh L, Kane V. (2013) A wraparound treatment engagement intervention for homeless veterans with co-occurring disorders. Psychol Serv.
   
• Smelson DA, Zaykowski H, Guevermont N, Siegfriedt J, Sawh L, Modzelewski D, Tsemberis S, Kane V. (2016) Integrating Permanent Supportive Housing and Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment for Individuals Who Are Homeless. J Dual Diagn. 
  
  
• Smelson DA, Chinman M, McCarthy S, Hannah G, Sawh L, Glickman M. (2015) A cluster randomized Hybrid Type III trial testing an implementation support strategy to facilitate the use of an evidence-based practice in VA homeless programs. Implement Sci. 

More Publications

Join us

We are currently recruiting for several positions in the Mission Behavioral Health Lab. View open positions.

Contact for open positions: Maritza Vazquez-Byrnes