ORAU Rural Health Research Innovation Cluster
Advancing sustainable, community-driven solutions for rural health
Rural communities face interconnected health challenges, including workforce shortages, fragile health systems, limited access to care, behavioral health gaps, infrastructure barriers, and weather-related disruptions.
The Rural Health Research & Innovation Cluster (RHRIC) is a national initiative led by ORAU. It connects academic researchers, rural communities, healthcare organizations, technology partners, funders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to move promising ideas from research to action – and improve rural health.
Four priorities for rural impact
Workforce pipeline, recruitment, and retention
Build rural training pipelines and strengthen recruitment, retention, career advancement, and workforce well-being.
Integrated access and care delivery
Expand coordinated, affordable care through telehealth, mobile services, behavioral health, transportation, care coordination, and patient navigation.
Maternal, women’s, and family health
Improve access to prenatal, postpartum, reproductive, behavioral, and family-centered services.
Preparedness, weather, and rural resilience
Strengthen rural health systems and communities before, during, and after disasters, weather-related events, and other disruptions.
From research to action
The RHRIC helps turn promising ideas into practical, evidence-driven solutions by:
- Connecting the right partners across research, policy, healthcare, technology, and communities
- Identifying and developing promising approaches
- Building evidence through research and evaluation
- Supporting implementation in rural settings
- Sharing what works so effective solutions can be adapted and scaled
Partner with us
The RHRIC offers funders, public agencies, researchers, and rural organizations a connected platform for investing in solutions that are community-informed, evidence-driven, and built for measurable impact.
Connect with the Rural Health Research Innovation Cluster
Contact Casey Thomas.
