The SPOTLIGHT (Strategy and Policy for Optimization and Transformation through Learning, Informatics, Governance, Human Services, and Treatment) Lab is an interdisciplinary research team based at NYU Langone Health. We convene experts in epidemiology, data science, ethics, policy analysis, and systems design, working together to build and evaluate interventions and strategies that help public systems respond more effectively to health, safety, and social crises.

We partner with civic institutions, healthcare and social service systems, and community-based organizations to co-develop projects that address urgent challenges across the social policy spectrum. Our research employs rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods, ranging from predictive modeling and quasi-experimental designs to implementation science and participatory evaluation.

Our work sits at the nexus of evidence, ethics, and strategy. We ask not just what works, but how, for whom, and under what conditions. No matter the topic, we focus on the questions that policymakers actually face, marrying an exacting, scientific approach with real-world relevance. Our overarching goal is to deliver decision-ready insights that clarify difficult choices, strengthen public sector capacity, and improve the performance and fairness of health and safety systems under pressure.

Our Approach

• Systems and Policy Focus: We engage at the institutional level, shaping frameworks that influence service delivery, resource allocation, and operational design.
• Methodological Rigor: From causal inference and artificial intelligence to economic modeling and simulation to qualitative inquiry and implementation science, we apply cutting-edge methods geared toward credible inference and actionable insight.
• Ethics and Governance: We emphasize transparency, legitimacy, and ethical deployment of policies and interventions in high-stakes spaces.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Our projects integrate stakeholders across public health, public safety, social services, and community advocacy, ensuring that work is grounded in local realities.

Our Reach

The SPOTLIGHT portfolio spans local, state, and national initiatives. We conduct applied research, policy and program evaluation, translation and tool development, and policy consultation. Our projects typically run in partnership with public agencies and nonprofit organizations, allowing us to blend academic inquiry with real-world systems change.

Contact Us

We are part of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health, located at 180 Madison Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York, New York 10016. For general inquiries, please contact us at SPOTLIGHT@NYULangone.org.

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