> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Rand also partners with UCLA on health issues
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/rand-also-partners-with-ucla-on-health-issues/
- Published: 2005-09-21T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:48:23.000Z
- Author: Ryan Hyatt
- Tags: Health, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Rand also partners with UCLA on health issues*

RAND HDQTRS. — One of the nation’s foremost think tanks has signed an agreement with a local university in hopes of improving Los Angeles-based research efforts.

The Rand Corp. and the University of Southern California announced a partnership on Friday to encourage collaboration between the institutions on research projects, educational programs and staff recruitment.

One of the goals of the partnership will be to foster joint research projects focusing on the challenges facing the greater Los Angeles area.

“This partnership brings together two leading research institutions to benefit the entire region,” said James A. Thomson, Rand’s president. “We look forward to a successful and productive collaboration between Rand and USC.”

Officials from both institutions said the focus of their joint efforts will likely involve transportation, security, infrastructure, public health and education issues.

Michael Rich, Rand’s executive vice president, said there were three components to the agreement.

The first has to do with being able to share staff. As a result of the agreement, more USC faculty members will be working on Rand research projects and vice versa, Rich said.

Also, the two institutions will expand the number of research initiatives they jointly take on, which will also include joint proposals and fund-raising efforts, Rich said.

Finally, both institutions are expected to be able to make a bigger difference on local urban problems as a result of the agreement, Rich said.

The partnership marks the first formal relationship between the Santa Monica-based think tank and USC, said Warren Robak, Rand spokesperson. However, Rand and USC have collaborated on projects before.

The most recent was a conference on the future of terrorism risk insurance. Robak said that in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, insurance claims were made because of the destruction of the Twin Towers. Eventually, Congress requested that a special type of insurance be developed to address needs in the wake of widescale terrorist acts.

Rand and USC were involved in the research used by policymakers to create the terrorism risk insurance. Both institutions also held a national conference this summer on the subject at USC.

Rand also has a long-standing relationship with UCLA that revolves mostly around health issues, Robak said.

For years, Rand’s budget has been split between national defense and domestic policy work. The joint agreement with USC isn’t expected to change Rand’s budgetary emphasis, Robak said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)