Message from the Director

Welcome to the Center for Research on U.S. Latinos HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA) at the Florida International University. CRUSADA is the result of the merger of two research centers: the Latino Drug Abuse Research Center (funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse) and the Latino HIV/AIDS Behavioral Science Center (funded by the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities).

CRUSADA came about as a reaction to a lack of research on the twin epidemics of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse in South Florida’s rapidly growing Latino populations. CRUSADA’s geographical location and its association with Florida International University (one of the premier Latino-serving universities in the United States) provide a unique setting to increase our understanding on these epidemics in South Florida’s Latino populations. It also provides an exceptional opportunity to translate research results into best-practice models that could be utilized by community-based agencies to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse in the area.

CRUSADA aspires to become the top Latino HIV/AIDS and substance abuse research center in the nation. As one of only a score of NIH-funded centers in these areas of health, we are making strides toward reaching this goal. I invite you to learn more about us throughout this website.

Mario De La Rosa , Ph.D.
Director