The only laboratory of its kind in the social work field, the UH-GCSW Virtual Reality Clinical Research Laboratory advances the study of human behavior in astounding ways. Established in 2002 under the expert guidance of visionary researcher and Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Patrick Bordnick, the lab immerses subjects in virtual environments that are highly conducive to the study of addiction, mental health disorders and coping strategies. Utilizing highly advanced hardware and software, researchers bring incredibly realistic locations, sights, sounds, smells and tactile sensations to life. Providing “best-of-both-worlds” opportunities for study, the advanced facility bridges the gap between laboratory controls and real-world situations. While researchers oversee, observe and measure the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms of phenomena such as addiction and relapse, true-to-life environments and encounters enable research subjects to learn more about triggers and temptations. Social work practitioners and therapists can also join in virtual sessions, helping subjects to refine coping skills. Frequently employed in research surrounding alcoholism, nicotine and drug addiction, the lab quite literally makes virtually anything possible, such as study of food cravings, combat-related post-traumatic stress and hostage-negotiation techniques.

An astoundingly accomplished pioneer in social work research and education, Dr. Allen Rubin joined UH-GCSW in 2013 after more than three decades as a University of Texas faculty member. He has served as president of the Society of Social Work and Research, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council on Social Work Education and authored a best-selling textbook, Research Methods for Social Work, which can be found at roughly 40 percent of social work schools. “After I got my master’s degree in 1969 and began working, I saw very little research based evidence of effectiveness surrounding social work and mental health practices,” says Dr. Rubin. This realization prompted him to earn a Ph.D. in 1976, launching a now celebrated career dedicated to research methodology and the efficacy of social service programs, policies and interventions. Today, much of Dr. Rubin’s work centers on bridging the gap between experimental outcomes and those realized in everyday practice. “Real world conditions typically make it impossible to achieve results as good as those seen in rigorous studies. Ideally, we can maximize the degree to which satisfactory results are achieved in the field, where there are often limited resources or intervention opportunities.” An immense source of knowledge and insight for students and faculty members alike, Dr. Rubin envisions a day when UH-GCSW sets a bold standard for social work education, focusing an entire doctoral curriculum on evidence-based practice.

A research subject doesn’t readily drink, smoke or use drugs in a traditional lab. The environment is incongruent with these behaviors. This stark, simple realization inspired creation of the Virtual Reality Clinical Research Laboratory. Researchers have long attempted to emulate real-world conditions through role-playing, videos or even physical construction of staged settings, but these methods are not genuine enough to produce meaningful results. Our lab is built upon the premise that both substances and environments engender cravings. For this reason, we engineer the most realistic settings and scenarios possible. We partner with field agency professionals and forerunners in virtual reality technologies to craft virtual cocktail bars, parties or drug dens imbued with incredible degrees of finely tuned detail – reflections in facets of an ice cube, the aroma of smoke, authentically tattooed avatars. In service to the social work profession and those it benefits, we are poised to venture as far as technology takes us.

Dr. Luis Torres is an incredibly passionate ambassador for UH-GCSW. In his words, “We not only serve the community, we are the community.” A native of Puerto Rico, he earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fordham University in Bronx, New York. Joining the UH-GCSW faculty in 2008, Dr. Torres conducts vital research on health disparities impacting the Latino population. A vanguard for international outreach, borders cannot confine Dr. Torres’ definition of the word community. “Houston is a major gateway to Latin America, yet until recently, we had no study abroad program in the region.” In 2013, Dr. Torres and students closed the distance themselves, launching the Latin American Initiative, with field studies and university alliances established in El Salvador and Bolivia. It is Dr. Torres’ hope that the Latin American Initiative not only grows, but continues to illuminate issues close to home. “Houston’s Latino community faces many challenges. With a greater understanding of these phenomena in the countries of origin, we are better equipped to address them in our backyard.”

The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, established in 1967, has grown from modest beginnings into a nationally renowned graduate and doctoral program. Today UH-GCSW stands poised to become a global destination for those who will define social work’s future. UH-GCSW is the #1 Ranked College at the University of Houston, which is recognized as a Tier One research university and designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution. UH-GCSW mirrors the diversity of Houston, the nation’s 4^th most populous city, home to more than two million residents, global industries, acclaimed arts venues, deep-rooted ethnic communities and the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. Our MSW and Ph.D. students hail from near and far, embodying an astounding array of origins, ages, experiences, outlooks and aspirations. Moreover, UH-GCSW is home to many of social work’s boldest, most-esteemed scholars, including a Nobel Peace Prize winner, an author of two New York Times Bestsellers and the preeminent authority on social work research methodology. As an autonomous college housed in a dedicated facility, UH-GCSW preserves a dynamic, efficient, resource-rich environment, which supports inspired academics, leading-edge research, authentic community outreach and enduring relationships among those who study, teach and empower social work’s enduring promise.