The origins of the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR) began in 1980 when Dr. C. Anderson Johnson was recruited by USC from the University of Minnesota to develop and direct an innovative research unit to promote multidisciplinary study in health-related behaviors. The challenge was to create an environment where crossing disciplinary lines to collaborate on projects would be encouraged and unimpeded by structural or procedural impediments.

Over the last two decades, IPR has become a world-class research institute with 23 full-time faculty, 39 affiliated faculty members, and numerous research collaborators in over 20 schools, departments, and research centers at the University. IPR investigators conduct both domestic and international health behavior research.

IPR has also developed three highly successful training programs: the Ph.D. in Preventive Medicine Health Behavior Research in 1984, B.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in 1997 and Master of Public Health in 1998.