The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $19.5 million to 26 academic institutions in 25 states to study how people and their communities can avoid or counter the risks for chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, obesity, and cancer. The funds will support the development and evaluation of practical public health prevention interventions. The awards are for the first year of a five-year funding period.

“Prevention Research Centers have reached up to 31 million people in 103 partner communities, some of which are the most underserved in the country,” said Dr. Ursula E. Bauer, director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “By involving communities in conducting and disseminating research, this network of centers ensures that effective and innovative health strategies can be readily shared and applied where most needed.”

Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) are leaders in translating research results into public health policies and practices that drive major sustainable community changes that can prevent and control chronic diseases and improve overall health.

“Preventing chronic disease is critical to improving our nation’s well-being and avoiding excessive health care costs,” said Dr. Wayne Giles, director of CDC’s Division of Population Health. “Our investment in the prevention research centers moves us closer to ensuring all Americans share the richness of good health.”

Of the 26 PRCs that will design, test, and disseminate innovative and effective applied public health prevention research strategies, the following ASPPH members are involved:

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health

University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health

University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health

University of Iowa College of Public Health

Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

University of Kentucky College of Public Health

University of Minnesota School of Public Health

University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Public Health Program

Oregon Health & Science University

University of Pennsylvania, Master of Public Health Program

University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

University of South Florida College of Public Health

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

University of Washington School of Public Health

West Virginia University School of Public Health

Yale School of Public Health

To read more, click here.