By Cara Zitko, Director of Illume
When Illume: The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence launched in July 2020, our focus was rooted in serving the St. Louis region through a close partnership with Places for People. What began as a local initiative has grown into a multi-state effort dedicated to advancing behavioral health through research, innovation, and training. Over the past five years, Illume has transformed, evolving from a regional program into a collaborative force working with partners across Missouri and beyond.
With Places for People joining the Brightli Healthcare system in July 2024, a new opportunity emerged to expand Illume’s reach. We are excited to announce that on July 1, 2025, Illume formally integrated with the Brightli Research Team—a merger that strengthens our shared mission to improve behavioral health outcomes system-wide and beyond.
This integration brings two outstanding professionals to the Illume team:
- Estevan Limon Lopez, PhD, Director of Research and Scientific Affairs, based in Springfield, MO. Dr. Limon Lopez brings over 20 years of experience conducting preclinical and clinical research in academic, industry, and non-profit settings.
- Lauren Hacala, BA, Clinical Research Specialist, based in Seattle, WA. Supports research project execution, from survey design and data collection to analysis and reporting.
(Extended bios are available on the Illume website.)
Bringing Brightli Research under the Illume umbrella marks a major step toward centralized, streamlined processes for research, innovation, and advanced practice training across the entire Brightli system. Now operating in six states, Brightli’s footprint allows Illume to stay closely connected to diverse regional needs, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based care is available and accessible to everyone we serve.
This expansion is not only about internal alignment. As we grow within Brightli, we remain committed to broader impact, continuing to collaborate with universities, agencies, and institutions to improve the behavioral health landscape nationwide.
Illume’s journey began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to community needs, we quickly mobilized to support behavioral health workers and community members with specialized resources, including:
- Motivational Interviewing & COVID
- Finding Strength During COVID
- COVID & Suicide Prevention
Even during those uncertain times, our commitment to research and training never wavered. And as the world began to heal, our focus deepened.
Since 2020, Illume has:
- Trained 6549 individuals across 75 partner organizations
- Completed 58 research publications by or in collaboration with Illume staff
- Provided expertise in 13 evidence-based practice trainings, along with dozens of evidence-informed offerings
With the addition of the Brightli Research team, we look forward to expanding our expertise, publications, and impact even further.
As we enter this new chapter, our pursuit remains the same: to create a stronger, more responsive behavioral health system—grounded in science, shaped by collaboration, and driven by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.