News and events
Keep up on the latest information and opportunities from the Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health.
Featured in The New York Times
A story from April 2023 cited a study by VCU IRBEH faculty in the Journal of American College Health that found 70 percent of college students report that they have been exposed to at least one traumatic event.


IRBEH & related news
Undergraduates get national exposure as research presenters
Educational Expectorate: VCU students give gobs for nationwide research
VCU summer program gave psychology major Vanessa Olazabal a GREAT research subject: fellow Rams
One conversation led to exciting research projects and ‘a new passion’
Social work’s Chartier to lead behavioral health research institute and its signature survey


News and events
IRBEH supports events and collaborations that bring research to the public—benefiting students, communities, and the broader public at VCU and beyond. Stay informed about upcoming IRBEH translational research events by visiting the VCU Research Weeks calendar.
Event highlights for 2025-26
Fellowship Poster Session
Every fall semester, IRBEH holds an undergraduate fellowship poster symposium to showcase the research our fellows complete with their mentors throughout the year.
Spit for Science Research meetings
Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we host virtual research meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. ET. If you’re working with the Spit for Science data – or would like to – we invite you to join us. These meetings offer a great opportunity to connect with researchers across the campuses who share interests, explore collaborative projects and emerging ideas, and stay informed about ongoing work and upcoming opportunities.
IRBEH events calendar
Upcoming events in Spring 2026
Research to Recovery Conference
In 2016, the institute, then known as COBE, created the Research to Recovery Conference. Today, we proudly co-sponsor the event in partnership with Rams in Recovery, bringing together research, community, and lived experience at VCU each spring.
Translational Research Events
IRBEH supports events and collaborations that bring research to the public—benefiting students, communities, and the broader public at VCU and beyond. Stay informed about upcoming IRBEH translational research events in spring semester by visiting the VCU Research Weeks calendar.
Past Translational Research events
Spring 2025: Spit for Science: Research Insights & Bites. View/download the 2025 poster.


Spring 2025: Christinia Sheerin, Ph.D. (School of Medicine), shares Spit for Science findings on the rates of alcohol and cannabis use in VCU students compared to national averages


Spring 2024: Doing Translational Research: Understanding and Navigating Impactful and Meaningful Research


Spring 2024: Stacie Lefeavers, M.P.H., R.N, went on to earn her Ph.D. from the School of Public Health in May 2025.


Spring 2024: Ethan Coston, Ph.D., speaks on their most recent applied research project, which assessed LGBTQ needs and opportunities in the Greater Richmond Area.


Spring 2024: Nicole Corley, Ph.D., shares how she conceptualizes translational research:

