about us health outcomes and biomedical informatics

At HOBI, we conduct innovative research and leverage data to promote population health, improve health care delivery and outcomes, and advance health research.

UF HOBI

The frontier of data-driven health research

Our multidisciplinary faculty includes health services researchers, epidemiologists, biomedical informaticians, economists, epidemiologists, psychologists and social scientists. They provide leadership and expertise in prevention science, health promotion, policy evaluation research, quality of care, health disparities, data analytics and implementation science. The department is also the home of the UF Institute for Child Health Policy, which conducts innovative studies and intervention trials to promote the health of children, adolescents and young adults.

HOBI home base: Malachowsky Hall Data Science & Information Technology Building.

FActs at a glance


Cancer innovation

Cancer Institute

Research & mobile screenings

Our faculty conduct innovative research and serve as leaders in the UF Health Cancer Institute. Its new mobile cancer screening bus is outfitted with leading-edge technology to bring a range of cancer screening and health care services directly to communities in North Central Florida.

The Mobile Cancer Screening Connector

Research divisions

The department has three major research divisions:

Implementation Science and Health Interventions

Health outcomes researchers use medical records, insurance databases, patient questionnaires and other data to evaluate the overall effectiveness of medical treatments or health interventions, including clinical outcomes, financial impact and patient-reported quality-of-life and satisfaction. Implementation science involves the study of methods to promote the successful integration of research findings and evidence into health care policy and practice.

Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Defined as “the study of information at the intersection of computer science, biology and health,” biomedical informatics is the new frontier of health research. The biomedical informatics team at HOBI asks critical questions about the very nature of data and its integrity in an effort to leverage the ever-increasing amount of health data available today to improve health outcomes, health care delivery and health policy.

Clinical and Population Health Integration

This division conducts clinical and population-based research that integrates biomedical informatics and implementation sciences while supporting educational programs that improve health outcomes across the lifespan. With a team approach, it supports large, interdisciplinary projects and medical interventions in patients intended to improve public health.

Collaboration in research

Our faculty are recognized for their leadership and service in state and national organizations such as the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI®), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the National Institutes of Health, and the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). HOBI faculty also hold major leadership roles in the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the UF Institute for Child Health Policy, the UF Health Cancer Center, and the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network.

Our annual extramural funding portfolio includes current funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration—Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the State of Florida, State of Texas, and the National Cancer Institute.

Integrity in Research

Community Scientist Program

Community Scientists are members of the community who contribute their life experiences to the research process. We coordinate this program in collaboration with the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

A noteworthy group of four attendees were UF citizen scientists.

Quality of CARE

Institute for Child Health Policy

This institute examines factors that contribute to disparities in health and health care outcomes for children and youth and develops strategies to address these issues.

Photo of child learning to test blood sugar

Big Data

OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network

The network’s partners include many systems or universities across several states. Combined, these partners provide health care to more than 26 million patients. 

Presentation about machine learning technology, scientist touching screen, artificial intelligence

HOBI ADMINISTRATION

Ricky Whitney

Leadership

A core group of faculty members and administrators help our department to grow and thrive.

Video from UF Health

“Respect,” featuring Elizabeth Shenkman, PhD, chair and professor, HOBI (starting at 2:28)
HOBI Administrative Staff

administrative support

HOBI's Administrative Support

Need help with a grant submission? Got a question for the fiscal team? Don't know who to ask or where to go? We’re happy to help!