Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health

The Opportunity:

Melissa Gilliam, pediatric and adolescent gynecologist in the Biological Sciences Division, came to Arete with a big idea.  She wanted to bring together a unique interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners, on and off campus, who cared about sexual and reproductive health so that they could further research and share tools.  Arete helped connect Gilliam to researchers from different fields and organize an agenda setting workshop.  This preliminary work led to a white paper and with Arete’s assistance, Gilliam was able to get the institutional buy in and support needed to launch the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) that works to advance sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice locally, nationally, and globally.

What we did for them:

• Invest institutional support in early stage ideas
• Facilitate research feasibility and agenda-setting workshops
• Launch center, from conception to hiring dedicated staff
• Convene interdisciplinary partnerships across the University
• Engage foundations
• Help funders achieve their funding visions
• Develop integrated and holistic funding strategy
• Convene and manage university support and leadership
• Bridge institutional gaps at University
• Facilitate strategic, long-term sustainability planning

Principal Investigator:  Melissa Gilliam

Website:  http://ci3.uchicago.edu/