A team of community leaders and researchers from UCLA and RAND, led by principal investigator Dr. Kenneth Wells, a senior scientist at RAND and a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA, has received the 2014 Joint Team Science Award from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science. The team was recognized for a 10-year effort to conduct community engaged, population-based translational science to improve care for depression in low-income areas. The award, presented on April 10, was established to acknowledge the growing importance of interdisciplinary teams to translate research discoveries into clinical applications.
 
The research team included interdisciplinary scientists and stakeholders from South Los Angeles, downtown L.A. and Hollywood working in partnership, contributing expertise to develop a collaborative approach to science development and implementation, as well as an evidence basis for the added value of community engagement and partnership. Taking part were the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and 40 other health and advocacy agencies. More than 100 academic and community leaders — including ministers and representatives from child welfare agencies, barbershops, beauty salons and homeless shelters — participated in the project, Wells said.