Lauren Brookman-Frazee

Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine. She serves as Co-Director of the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) in Clinical Psychology, a dual-institution training program emphasizing research and practice in clinical psychology. Her work is deeply rooted in community-partnered research to enhance mental health services for children with developmental and mental health needs.

Her research focuses on implementation science and community effectiveness trials, particularly in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children’s mental health services. She develops and evaluates strategies to implement evidence-based practices in public mental health and school systems. Her work emphasizes therapist training, organizational change, and sustainability of interventions such as AIM HI and 4KEEPS.

The recent articles highlight a strong trend in pragmatic, community-based implementation research. They focus on therapist fidelity, caregiver outcomes, cluster randomized trials, and sustainability of mental health interventions for youth with ASD. Collectively, these works reflect a commitment to bridging the gap between research and practice in real-world settings.

Scientific Awards:

• SDSU/UC San Diego JDP Advancement of Student Development (Teaching) Award (2020)
• UC San Diego Faculty Integrity Award (2017)
• ABCT Transformational Contribution Award, ASD & Developmental Disabilities SIG (2016)
• NIMH Implementation Research Institute Fellow (2010–2011)

Dr. Brookman-Frazee has secured significant grant funding from NIH/NIMH, HRSA, and the California Department of Developmental Services. As Principal Investigator or Project Director on multiple large-scale grants, she leads efforts to improve team effectiveness, scale interventions like PUENTE, and implement digital measurement-based care. She mentors junior researchers and doctoral students, particularly through K-awards and diversity supplements. Her grants consistently emphasize community partnerships and translational research.

She is affiliated with several research centers and training programs, including the IN STEP program, the ACTRI, San Diego LEND, CASRC, and the 4KEEPS and TEAMS research initiatives. These teams focus on improving access, engagement, and quality of care for children with ASD and their families through interdisciplinary, systems-level approaches.