Breaking barriers: TREE Center models a new way forward in health disparities research

The July 2025 supplement of Health Education & Behavior features a powerful collection of eight articles highlighting the innovative work of the Transdisciplinary Research, Equity and Engagement (TREE) Center at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Designated a Center of Excellence by the NIH, the TREE Center stands at the forefront of participatory team science aimed at eliminating health disparities through community-engaged, equity-focused research.

This special issue, titled Participatory Team Science in Action, documents how TREE has transformed health disparities research by integrating academic theory with traditional community knowledge. The articles explore a range of topics, from immigrant mental health and Latinx youth resilience to COVID-19 policy response and Tribal–academic partnerships.

Key highlights include:

• Innovative multi-level interventions rooted in community priorities
• Mentorship and leadership development of early-stage investigators from underrepresented groups
• Research conducted in partnership with Tribal, Latinx, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities
• Evaluation of TREE’s impact on community partnerships and knowledge translation

TREE’s interdisciplinary model aligns with the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) framework and emphasizes co-leadership, cultural relevance, and systems-level change. It mobilizes more than 300 community partners through statewide networks and supports scholars with $763,000 in pilot project funding.

As the supplement underscores, TREE’s approach is both timely and vital—particularly in an era when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts face increasing resistance. This issue offers a blueprint for how collaborative, culturally centered research can lead to lasting public health impact.

The TREE Center and its partners continue to push the boundaries of health disparities research, working with and for communities to co-create solutions rooted in equity, resilience, and shared knowledge.