Center for Health Communications Research
An institutionally embedded digital agency for Research & Innovation
We design and build web and mobile apps for research, clinical care, and innovation.
CHCR partners with researchers, clinicians, and teams to design and develop custom applications and digital platforms. As part of the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine, we work within institutional systems and processes, helping projects move from concept to deployment smoothly.
Explore CHCR
Why Work with CHCR
CHCR combines software development expertise with deep experience working within academic and healthcare environments.
Built for research and clinical work
We understand how studies, clinical programs, and academic projects operate, and design solutions that fit those workflows.
Embedded within U-M and Michigan Medicine
We work within institutional systems, standards, and expectations from the start.
Aligned with governance, privacy, and security
We build with institutional requirements in mind, reducing rework and delays later.
Navigate approvals more efficiently
Our experience with internal processes helps reduce friction during reviews and implementation.
Work end to end with your team
From early concept through launch and ongoing support, we stay involved throughout the project lifecycle.
What We Build
We develop a wide range of applications and platforms, including:
- Patient and participant-facing mobile apps
- Clinical tools and workflow applications
- Research study platforms and interventions
- Data collection and dashboard systems
- Web-based tools and digital experiences
- Early-stage prototypes and pilot applications
How We Build
We design and develop solutions using a range of approaches, depending on project needs.
- Web applications and platforms
- Mobile apps
- SMS and text messaging tools
- Wearable and device integrations
- Authoring and content systems
- Data integration and dashboards
- AI-enabled features
Featured Projects
WELLCENTIV
A mobile and web platform supporting research studies that use verified daily check-ins and financial incentives to drive behavior change.
ProAct
A digital intervention designed to support patients and families in understanding, communicating, and acting on hereditary cancer risk information.
CareCircle
A mobile platform for organizing, sharing, and coordinating caregiving across individuals, families, and communities.
CHCR Authoring Platform
A web-based platform that transforms surveys and study content into structured, participant-facing digital experiences for research and education.
Who We Work With
We collaborate with researchers, clinicians, departments, and teams at the University of Michigan, as well as partner institutions including Stanford, Emory, Harvard, and NYU.
Projects are typically supported through academic, institutional, grant, or gift funding.
Get Started
Have a project in mind? We’d be happy to talk through it.
For general questions, you can also contact us at [email protected].
